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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/malachi/2-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/39_Mal_02_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Malachi 2:7 - A Warning to Priests" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/malachi/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should maintain knowledge, and <i>people</i> should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of armies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/malachi/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/malachi/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/malachi/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/malachi/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of the priest should guard <i>and</i> preserve knowledge [of My law], and the people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/malachi/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Armies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/malachi/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/malachi/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/malachi/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You priests should be eager to spread knowledge, and everyone should come to you for instruction, because you speak for me, the LORD All-Powerful. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/malachi/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/malachi/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"A priest's lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for the LORD of Armies, people will seek instruction from his mouth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/malachi/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the LORD Almighty. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/malachi/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he's the messenger of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/malachi/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/malachi/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the LORD who rules over all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/malachi/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/malachi/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/malachi/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/malachi/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest preserve knowledge, "" And they seek law from his mouth, "" For he [is] a messenger of YHWH of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/malachi/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For the lips of a priest preserve knowledge, And law they do seek from his mouth, For a messenger of Jehovah of Hosts he is.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/malachi/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For the lips of the priest shall watch knowledge, and they shall seek the law from his mouth: for he is the messenger of Jehovah of armies.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/malachi/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth: because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/malachi/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For the lips of the priests will keep knowledge, and they will request the law from his mouth, because he is an angel of the Lord of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/malachi/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For a priest’s lips preserve knowledge, and instruction is to be sought from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/malachi/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/malachi/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, because men seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/malachi/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because the lips of the Priest preserve knowledge and they request the Law from his mouth, because he is the Messenger of LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/malachi/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, And they should seek the law at his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/malachi/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/malachi/2-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6KyAs1WSHw?start=282" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/malachi/2.htm">A Warning to Priests</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/8193.htm" title="8193: śip̄·ṯê (N-fdc) -- Or sepheth; probably from caphah or shaphah through the idea of termination; the lip; by implication, language; by analogy, a margin.">the lips</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: ḵō·hên (N-ms) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">of a priest</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: yiš·mə·rū- (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">should preserve</a> <a href="/hebrew/1847.htm" title="1847: ḏa·‘aṯ (N-fs) -- Knowledge. From yada'; knowledge.">knowledge,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: yə·ḇaq·šū (V-Piel-Imperf-3mp) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">and people should seek</a> <a href="/hebrew/8451.htm" title="8451: wə·ṯō·w·rāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- Direction, instruction, law. Or torah; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.">instruction</a> <a href="/hebrew/6310.htm" title="6310: mip·pî·hū (Prep-m:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Mouth. From pa'ah; the mouth, whether literal or figurative; specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially according to.">from his mouth,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">he</a> <a href="/hebrew/4397.htm" title="4397: mal·’aḵ (N-msc) -- A messenger. From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. An angel.">is the messenger</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh- (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/6635.htm" title="6635: ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ (N-cp) -- Or tsbadah; from tsaba'; a mass of persons, especially reg. Organized for war; by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively.">of Hosts.</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/10-11.htm">Leviticus 10:11</a></span><br />so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-10.htm">Deuteronomy 33:10</a></span><br />He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/8-7.htm">Nehemiah 8:7-8</a></span><br />The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. / So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/18-18.htm">Jeremiah 18:18</a></span><br />Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a></span><br />My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/44-23.htm">Ezekiel 44:23-24</a></span><br />They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean. / In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/15-3.htm">2 Chronicles 15:3</a></span><br />For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/7-10.htm">Ezra 7:10</a></span><br />For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-27.htm">2 Kings 17:27-28</a></span><br />Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” / Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-3.htm">Isaiah 2:3</a></span><br />And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-2.htm">Matthew 23:2-3</a></span><br />“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-19.htm">Matthew 5:19</a></span><br />So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-52.htm">Luke 11:52</a></span><br />Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-16.htm">John 7:16-17</a></span><br />“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. / If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-20.htm">Acts 5:20</a></span><br />“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.</p><p class="hdg">the priest's.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/10-11.htm">Leviticus 10:11</a></b></br> And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/17-8.htm">Deuteronomy 17:8-11</a></b></br> If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, <i>being</i> matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Deuteronomy 21:5</a></b></br> And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be <i>tried</i>:</p><p class="hdg">the messenger.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Malachi 3:1</a></b></br> Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm">Isaiah 42:19</a></b></br> Who <i>is</i> blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger <i>that</i> I sent? who <i>is</i> blind as <i>he that is</i> perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/44-26.htm">Isaiah 44:26</a></b></br> That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/malachi/2-4.htm">Almighty</a> <a href="/malachi/2-4.htm">Armies</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-1.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/malachi/2-4.htm">Hosts</a> <a href="/malachi/2-6.htm">Instruction</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-9.htm">Lips</a> <a href="/zechariah/12-8.htm">Messenger</a> <a href="/malachi/2-6.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/psalms/76-11.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/micah/6-14.htm">Preserve</a> <a href="/zechariah/6-13.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-30.htm">Priest's</a> <a href="/zechariah/12-6.htm">Right</a> <a href="/zechariah/12-9.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/malachi/1-6.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-3.htm">Waiting</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/malachi/2-8.htm">Almighty</a> <a href="/malachi/2-8.htm">Armies</a> <a href="/malachi/2-16.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/malachi/2-8.htm">Hosts</a> <a href="/malachi/2-8.htm">Instruction</a> <a href="/matthew/15-8.htm">Lips</a> <a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Messenger</a> <a href="/matthew/4-4.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/matthew/3-15.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/luke/17-33.htm">Preserve</a> <a href="/matthew/8-4.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/matthew/26-51.htm">Priest's</a> <a href="/malachi/3-3.htm">Right</a> <a href="/malachi/2-15.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/malachi/3-17.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/matthew/11-3.htm">Waiting</a><div class="vheading2">Malachi 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/2-1.htm">He sharply reproves the priests for neglecting their covenant;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/2-10.htm">and the people for marrying strange wives;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/2-13.htm">and for putting away their former ones,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/2-17.htm">and for infidelity.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/malachi/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/malachi/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/malachi/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge</b><br>The role of the priest in ancient Israel was to be a custodian of divine knowledge. This knowledge included the Law given to Moses, which was central to the covenant relationship between God and His people. Priests were responsible for teaching the Law and ensuring that it was followed. This phrase emphasizes the importance of maintaining the purity and accuracy of God's Word. In the broader biblical context, this responsibility is echoed in passages like <a href="/deuteronomy/33-10.htm">Deuteronomy 33:10</a>, where priests are described as teaching God's ordinances to Israel. The preservation of knowledge is crucial for maintaining the community's spiritual health and fidelity to God.<p><b>and people should seek instruction from his mouth</b><br>This phrase highlights the priest's role as a teacher and guide for the people. In the historical context of Israel, priests were not only religious leaders but also served as judges and advisors. The people were expected to come to the priests for guidance on spiritual and legal matters. This is seen in passages like <a href="/leviticus/10-11.htm">Leviticus 10:11</a>, where priests are instructed to teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given. The expectation that people seek instruction from the priest underscores the priest's authority and the trust placed in him to convey God's truth accurately.<p><b>because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts</b><br>The term "messenger" here is significant, as it denotes the priest's role as a representative of God. The title "LORD of Hosts" emphasizes God's sovereignty and power, often associated with His command over the heavenly armies. This phrase indicates that the priest's authority comes directly from God, and his words should reflect God's will and purpose. The concept of a messenger is also seen in the prophetic tradition, where prophets are often referred to as messengers of God (e.g., <a href="/malachi/3.htm">Malachi 3:1</a>). This connection underscores the priest's duty to faithfully communicate God's message, much like the prophets who were called to speak on behalf of the LORD.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/malachi.htm">Malachi</a></b><br>The prophet who delivered God's message to the Israelites. His name means "my messenger" in Hebrew, emphasizing his role as a conduit of divine communication.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a></b><br>Religious leaders in Israel responsible for teaching the law and maintaining the spiritual well-being of the people. They were expected to be knowledgeable and faithful in their duties.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord_of_hosts.htm">The LORD of Hosts</a></b><br>A title for God that emphasizes His sovereignty and command over the heavenly armies. It underscores His authority and power.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God to whom Malachi was sent. They were in a period of spiritual decline and needed correction and guidance.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/temple_worship.htm">Temple Worship</a></b><br>The context in which the priests operated, serving as mediators between God and the people through sacrifices and teaching.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_priest.htm">The Role of the Priest</a></b><br>Priests are called to be custodians of divine knowledge. Their primary duty is to preserve and communicate God's truth to the people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_knowledge.htm">The Importance of Knowledge</a></b><br>Knowledge of God's Word is crucial for spiritual health. Without it, people are prone to error and spiritual decline.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_instruction.htm">Seeking Instruction</a></b><br>Believers should actively seek instruction from those who are knowledgeable in the Word, valuing sound teaching and guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_responsibility_of_leaders.htm">The Responsibility of Leaders</a></b><br>Spiritual leaders today, like the priests of old, have a responsibility to faithfully teach and live out the truths of Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/every_believer's_role.htm">Every Believer's Role</a></b><br>As part of the royal priesthood, every Christian is called to know God's Word and share it with others, acting as messengers of God's truth.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_malachi_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Malachi 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_priests_corrupted_covenant.htm">Malachi 2:7–8 – Where is the historical or archaeological support that the priests actually corrupted God’s covenant in this manner? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_2_kings_17_28_historically_credible.htm">2 Kings 17:28 – How historically credible is the claim that a single Israelite priest could effectively instruct the new inhabitants in proper worship? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/must_we_follow_our_pastor's_guidance.htm">Must we follow our pastor's guidance?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_the_bible's_chief_priests.htm">Who were the chief priests in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/malachi/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) Comp. <a href="/deuteronomy/33-10.htm" title="They shall teach Jacob your judgments, and Israel your law: they shall put incense before you, and whole burnt sacrifice on your altar.">Deuteronomy 33:10</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Keep.</span>--Not as in a repository, but rather, <span class= "ital">observe</span> (<a href="/zechariah/3-7.htm" title="Thus said the LORD of hosts; If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by.">Zechariah 3:7</a>)--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> speak in accordance with the <span class= "ital">knowledge</span> of God, as revealed in the Law.<p><span class= "bld">Messenger.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">angel.</span> (See Note on <a href="/malachi/3-1.htm" title="Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, said the LORD of hosts.">Malachi 3:1</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/malachi/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For the priest's lips should keep knowledge.</span> It was the priest's duty to study the Law and to teach it faithfully, as it is said of Aaron, in Ecclus. 45:17, "He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws." <span class="cmt_word">The law,</span> here and vers 6, 8, means system of teaching, or the <span class="accented">torah. <span class="cmt_word"></span>At his month.</span> The priest was the appointed interpreter of the Law (see <a href="/leviticus/10-11.htm">Leviticus 10:11</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/17-9.htm">Deuteronomy 17:9-11</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/33-10.htm">Deuteronomy 33:10</a>; and the note on Haggai 2:11). <span class="cmt_word">He is the messenger of the Lord.</span> He announces God's will to men, explaining the Law to meet the varied circumstances which occur in daily life; he intervenes between God and man, offering man's worship to the Lord. So Haggai (<a href="/haggai/1-13.htm">Haggai 1:13</a>) is called "the Lord's messenger," or angel. Some see here an allusion to Malachi's own name or office (see Introduction, § II.; comp. <a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Deuteronomy 21:5</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/17-9.htm">2 Chronicles 17:9</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/malachi/2-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the lips</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׂפְתֵ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(śip̄·ṯê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - fdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8193.htm">Strong's 8193: </a> </span><span class="str2">The lip, language, a margin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of a priest</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹהֵן֙</span> <span class="translit">(ḵō·hên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">should preserve</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׁמְרוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(yiš·mə·rū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">knowledge,</span><br /><span class="heb">דַ֔עַת</span> <span class="translit">(ḏa·‘aṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1847.htm">Strong's 1847: </a> </span><span class="str2">Knowledge</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and people should seek</span><br /><span class="heb">יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·ḇaq·šū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> </span><span class="str2">To search out, to strive after</span><br /><br /><span class="word">instruction</span><br /><span class="heb">וְתוֹרָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ṯō·w·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8451.htm">Strong's 8451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Direction, instruction, law</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from his mouth,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִפִּ֑יהוּ</span> <span class="translit">(mip·pî·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6310.htm">Strong's 6310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֛י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he</span><br /><span class="heb">הֽוּא׃</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is the messenger</span><br /><span class="heb">מַלְאַ֥ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(mal·’aḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4397.htm">Strong's 4397: </a> </span><span class="str2">A messenger, of God, an angel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָֽה־</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Hosts.”</span><br /><span class="heb">צְבָא֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6635.htm">Strong's 6635: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/malachi/2-7.htm">OT Prophets: Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge (Malachi Mal Ml) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/malachi/2-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Malachi 2:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Malachi 2:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/malachi/2-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Malachi 2:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Malachi 2:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>