Malachi 2:17

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied [him]? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil [is] good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where [is] the God of judgment?

Ye have wearied {H3021} the LORD {H3068} with your words {H1697}. Yet ye say {H559}, Wherein have we wearied {H3021} him? When ye say {H559}, Every one that doeth {H6213} evil {H7451} is good {H2896} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}, and he delighteth {H2654} in them; or, Where is the God {H430} of judgment {H4941}?

You have wearied ADONAI with your words. Yet you ask, "How have we wearied him?" By saying that anyone who does wrong is good from ADONAI's perspective, and that he is delighted with them; or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"

You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, โ€œHow have we wearied Him?โ€ By saying, โ€œAll who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,โ€ or, โ€œWhere is the God of justice?โ€

Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?

Commentary

Malachi 2:17 presents a stark confrontation between God and His people, highlighting their spiritual apathy and their cynical questioning of His justice and presence. The Lord declares that Israel has "wearied" Him with their words, specifically their blasphemous assertions and doubts.

Context

The book of Malachi is set in the post-exilic period, after the Jews have returned from Babylon and rebuilt the Temple. Despite this restoration, the people, including the priests, had fallen into spiritual lukewarmness, ritualistic worship without true heart, and moral decay. Prior to this verse, Malachi has addressed the priests' contemptible sacrifices (Malachi 1:6-14) and the people's unfaithfulness, including marrying foreign women and divorcing their Israelite wives (Malachi 2:10-16). Malachi 2:17 captures the height of their insolence: they are not merely sinning, but actively accusing God of injustice or indifference, essentially challenging His character and His role as a righteous judge.

Key Themes

  • God's Weariness with Human Sin: The phrase "Ye have wearied the LORD with your words" is a powerful anthropomorphism, indicating God's deep displeasure and frustration with their persistent sin and cynical unbelief. It's not that God literally gets tired, but that their actions and words have pushed His divine patience to its limits.
  • Questioning Divine Justice: The core of their sin is their accusation that God either condones evil ("Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them") or is absent in judgment ("Where is the God of judgment?"). This reflects a profound misunderstanding or willful rejection of God's holy nature.
  • Moral Inversion: They are essentially calling evil good and good evil, a dangerous spiritual state that Isaiah 5:20 warns against. Their perspective suggests that since the wicked often prosper and immediate judgment is not seen, God must either approve of their actions or not exist as a just judge.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "wearied" is yaga (ื™ึธื’ึทืข), which means to be weary, to toil, to be exhausted, or to be burdened. When applied to God, it conveys His profound grief and indignation over the persistent rebellion and cynical questioning of His people. It's a strong expression of divine emotional response to human sin. The phrase "God of judgment" (ืึฑืœึนื”ึตื™ ื”ึทืžึดึผืฉึฐืืคึธึผื˜, Elohei ha-mishpat) emphasizes God's inherent attribute as the righteous and ultimate arbiter of justice, a role they were denying or demanding to see fulfilled on their terms.

Reflection and Application

Malachi 2:17 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual cynicism and the temptation to question God's character when circumstances don't align with our expectations. When we see evil prosper or justice delayed, it's easy to fall into the same trap as the Israelites, doubting God's sovereignty or His commitment to righteousness. However, this verse reminds us:

  • Our Words Matter: Our speech, especially concerning God, carries weight. Blasphemous or cynical words can grieve the Holy Spirit and provoke God's displeasure.
  • God is Just and Will Judge: The very question "Where is the God of judgment?" is answered emphatically in the subsequent chapters of Malachi, promising a day of the Lord's judgment and purification (Malachi 3:5). God's justice may seem slow, but it is certain and perfect, as Deuteronomy 32:4 declares.
  • Beware of Moral Relativism: We must never confuse good with evil or assume God approves of sin because He is patient. God's patience and forbearance are meant to lead us to repentance, not to be mistaken for indifference.

This verse challenges believers to maintain faith in God's perfect justice and to align their words and attitudes with His revealed truth, even when the world around them seems to contradict it.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 43:24

    Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

  • 2 Peter 3:3

    ยถ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

  • 2 Peter 3:4

    And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

  • Zephaniah 1:12

    And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:11

    Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

  • Isaiah 5:18

    ยถ Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

  • Isaiah 5:20

    Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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