Malachi 2:16

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for [one] covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

For the LORD {H3068}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, saith {H559} that he hateth {H8130} putting away {H7971}: for one covereth {H3680} violence {H2555} with his garment {H3830}, saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}: therefore take heed {H8104} to your spirit {H7307}, that ye deal not treacherously {H898}.

"For I hate divorce," says ADONAI the God of Isra'el, "and him who covers his clothing with violence," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and don't break faith.

“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Commentary

Malachi 2:16 delivers a powerful and often quoted declaration from God concerning the sanctity of marriage and His profound disapproval of divorce. This verse stands as a strong admonition to the people of Israel regarding their unfaithfulness in marital covenants.

Context of Malachi 2:16

Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, addresses a post-exilic Israel that had grown complacent and unfaithful. The people, including the priests, were neglecting their covenant with God, evident in their corrupt sacrifices, social injustice, and widespread divorce. Leading up to this verse, Malachi condemns the men for dealing "treacherously" with their wives, the wives of their youth (Malachi 2:14-15), often divorcing them to marry younger, pagan women. The Lord emphasizes that this act of "putting away" was a violation of the sacred marriage covenant, which He Himself had witnessed.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Hatred of Divorce: The explicit statement "he hateth putting away" (divorce) is a central and unambiguous declaration of God's heart on the matter. It reveals not merely a legal prohibition but a profound divine sorrow over the breaking of a sacred bond and the suffering it causes.
  • Betrayal and Violence in Divorce: The enigmatic phrase "for [one] covereth violence with his garment" points to the cruel and unjust nature of divorce, particularly when initiated without biblical grounds. It suggests that divorce is often accompanied by or is itself an act of treachery and harm against the discarded spouse, leaving them vulnerable and stripped of protection. The "garment" could symbolize covering, protection, or even the marriage covenant itself, implying that breaking it exposes the other party to harm and injustice.
  • Guard Your Spirit from Treachery: The command "therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously" is a direct call to introspection and integrity. It urges individuals to examine their motives and attitudes, ensuring they act with faithfulness and not with deceit or betrayal, especially within the covenant of marriage. This highlights the importance of inner character and moral integrity in all relationships, echoing the broader call to guard one's heart with all diligence.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "putting away" is shalach, meaning "to send away" or "dismiss," directly referring to divorce.
  • The word for "hateth" is sane', indicating a strong aversion or abhorrence. It conveys God's deep displeasure and sorrow over the practice.
  • "Covereth violence with his garment" is translated from the Hebrew hamas al libsho (violence upon his garment). This vivid imagery suggests that the act of divorce is an act of violence or treachery that a man might try to conceal or justify, perhaps by claiming a legal right while acting with cruelty towards his wife.
  • "Treacherously" comes from bagad, meaning "to deal faithlessly," "to betray," or "to violate a covenant." This term is used frequently in Malachi to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God and to each other, highlighting the covenantal nature of marriage.

Related Scriptures

This verse underscores God's original design for marriage as a lifelong union, as established in Genesis 2:24, where a man and woman become "one flesh." Jesus Himself affirmed this foundational principle in the New Testament, emphasizing that what God has joined together, no one should separate, reinforcing the sacredness and permanence of the marriage bond. Paul also speaks to the importance of marital fidelity and the sanctity of the marriage bed in Hebrews 13:4.

Practical Application

Malachi 2:16 serves as a timeless reminder of the sanctity of marriage and the seriousness with which God views marital fidelity. It challenges believers to:

  • Uphold the marriage covenant with integrity, faithfulness, and love, striving for reconciliation and healing in troubled marriages.
  • Examine their inner spirit and motives, ensuring they are not acting out of selfishness, cruelty, or treachery in any relationship, but rather with kindness and respect.
  • Recognize that while God hates divorce, He offers grace, forgiveness, and compassion to all who have experienced its pain, whether as perpetrators or victims, encouraging repentance and new beginnings for those who turn to Him.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 19:3 (11 votes)

    ¶ The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

  • Matthew 19:9 (11 votes)

    And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except [it be] for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

  • Matthew 5:31 (10 votes)

    It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

  • Matthew 5:32 (10 votes)

    But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

  • Mark 10:2 (9 votes)

    And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [his] wife? tempting him.

  • Mark 10:12 (9 votes)

    And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

  • Luke 16:18 (7 votes)

    Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from [her] husband committeth adultery.