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You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. <a href="/nlt/malachi/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. <a href="/esv/malachi/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. <a href="/bsb/malachi/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. <a href="/kjv/malachi/2.htm">King James Bible</a> And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/nkjv/malachi/2.htm">New King James Version</a> But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. <a href="/nasb_/malachi/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And why the one? He was seeking a godly offspring. Be careful then about your spirit, and see that none of you deals treacherously against the wife of your youth. <a href="/nasb/malachi/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. <a href="/nasb77/malachi/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then, to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. <a href="/lsb/malachi/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But not one has done so, even one who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly seed? Be careful then to keep your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. <a href="/amp/malachi/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. <a href="/csb/malachi/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Didn’t God make them one and give them a portion of spirit? What is the one seeking? Godly offspring. So watch yourselves carefully, so that no one acts treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/hcsb/malachi/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Didn&#8217t the one God make us with a remnant of His life-breath? And what does the One seek? A godly offspring. So watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously against the wife of your youth.&#8221 <a href="/asv/malachi/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/cev/malachi/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Didn't God create you and your wife to become like one person? And why did he do this? It was so you would have children, and then lead them to become God's people. Don't ever be unfaithful to your wife. <a href="/erv/malachi/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/gwt/malachi/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Didn't [God] make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. And what does the same [God] look for but godly descendants? So be careful not to be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. <a href="/gnt/malachi/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> Didn't God make you one body and spirit with her? What was his purpose in this? It was that you should have children who are truly God's people. So make sure that none of you breaks his promise to his wife. <a href="/isv/malachi/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> Did he not make them one? And the vestige of the spirit remains in him. And why did he make them one? He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and don't be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. <a href="/msb/malachi/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. <a href="/net/malachi/2.htm">NET Bible</a> No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth. <a href="/nheb/malachi/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/wbt/malachi/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And did he not make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And why one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/web/malachi/2.htm">World English Bible</a> Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/malachi/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And He did not make one [only], "" And a remnant of the Spirit [is] for him. And what [is] the one [alone]! He is seeking a godly seed. And you have been watchful over your spirit, "" And with the wife of your youth, "" None deal treacherously. <a href="/ylt/malachi/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And He did not make one only, And He hath the remnant of the Spirit. And what is the one alone! He is seeking a godly seed. And ye have been watchful over your spirit, And with the wife of thy youth, None doth deal treacherously. <a href="/slt/malachi/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And did he not make one? And the remainder of the spirit to him. And why one? Seeking a seed of God. And ye matched in your spirit, and he shall not deal faithlessly against the wife of thy youth.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/malachi/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Did not one make her, and she is the residue of his spirit? And what doth one seek, but the seed of God? Keep then your spirit, and despise not the wife of thy youth. <a href="/cpdv/malachi/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Did not One make her, and is she not the remainder of his spirit? And what does one seek, except offspring of God? So then, preserve your spirit, and do not despise the wife of your youth. <a href="/nabre/malachi/2.htm">New American Bible</a> Did he not make them one, with flesh and spirit? And what does the One require? Godly offspring! You should be on guard, then, for your life, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. <a href="/nrsvce/malachi/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Did not one God make her? Both flesh and spirit are his. And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/malachi/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Did not he make them one? And the rest of the spirits are his also. And therefore a man seeks one offspring from God. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/hpbt/malachi/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Was there not one man and the remainder of the spirits was his? One seeks seed from God. Watch over your spirit and a man shall not be unfaithful with the wife of his youth<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/malachi/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And not one hath done so Who had exuberance of spirit! For what seeketh the one? A seed given of God. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. <a href="/sep/malachi/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And did he not do well? and there was the residue of his spirit. But ye said, What does God seek but a seed? But take ye heed to your spirit, and forsake not the wife of thy youth. <a href="/parallel/malachi/2-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6KyAs1WSHw?start=390" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/malachi/2.htm">Judah's Unfaithfulness</a> …14Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15<a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Has not the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">made them</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">one,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7605.htm" title="7605: ū·šə·’ār (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Rest, residue, remnant. From sha'ar; a remainder.">having a portion</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·aḥ (N-cs) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">of the Spirit?</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: ū·māh (Conj-w:: Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">And why</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: hā·’e·ḥāḏ (Art:: Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">one?</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: mə·ḇaq·qêš (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">Because He seeks</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">godly</a> <a href="/hebrew/2233.htm" title="2233: ze·ra‘ (N-msc) -- A sowing, seed, offspring. From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.">offspring.</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: wə·niš·mar·tem (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">So guard yourselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: bə·rū·ḥă·ḵem (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 2mp) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">in your spirit</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">and do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/898.htm" title="898: yiḇ·gōḏ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To act or deal treacherously. A primitive root; to cover; figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage.">break faith</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ū·ḇə·’ê·šeṯ (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">with the wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/5271.htm" title="5271: nə·‘ū·re·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Or naur; and nturah; properly, passive participle from na'ar as denominative; youth, the state or the persons.">of your youth.</a> 16“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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a> For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. <a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a> Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” <a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31-32</a> “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” / This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. <a href="/1_corinthians/6-16.htm">1 Corinthians 6:16-17</a> Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” / But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit. <a href="/mark/10-6.htm">Mark 10:6-9</a> However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ / ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, / and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ... <a href="/genesis/1-27.htm">Genesis 1:27-28</a> So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. / God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.” <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a> Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. <a href="/proverbs/2-16.htm">Proverbs 2:16-17</a> It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words / who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. <a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4-7</a> Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. / And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. / These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/7-14.htm">1 Corinthians 7:14</a> For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. <a href="/hebrews/13-4.htm">Hebrews 13:4</a> Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. <a href="/psalms/127-3.htm">Psalm 127:3-5</a> Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. / Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. / Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate. <a href="/1_timothy/5-8.htm">1 Timothy 5:8</a> If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. <a href="/isaiah/54-5.htm">Isaiah 54:5</a> For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. <a href="/1_john/3-9.htm">1 John 3:9</a> Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And why one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.did.<a href="/genesis/1-27.htm">Genesis 1:27</a> So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.<a href="/genesis/2-20.htm">Genesis 2:20-24</a> And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him… <a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a> And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, … residue.<a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a> And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.<a href="/job/27-3.htm">Job 27:3</a> All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;<a href="/ecclesiastes/12-7.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:7</a> Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.That he.<a href="/genesis/24-3.htm">Genesis 24:3-7,44</a> And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: … <a href="/genesis/26-34.htm">Genesis 26:34,35</a> And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: … <a href="/genesis/27-46.htm">Genesis 27:46</a> And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?godly seed.<a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Genesis 6:2</a> That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.<a href="/hosea/1-10.htm">Hosea 1:10</a> Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.<a href="/acts/3-25.htm">Acts 3:25</a> Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.take.<a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14</a> Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.<a href="/proverbs/4-23.htm">Proverbs 4:23</a> Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.<a href="/proverbs/6-25.htm">Proverbs 6:25</a> Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/habakkuk/3-17.htm">Although</a> <a href="/malachi/2-10.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/haggai/2-7.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/micah/7-2.htm">Godly</a> <a href="/zechariah/11-11.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/malachi/2-5.htm">Life</a> <a href="/malachi/2-3.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-7.htm">Remnant</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-2.htm">Residue</a> <a href="/malachi/2-3.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/malachi/2-7.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/daniel/1-8.htm">Seeketh</a> <a href="/daniel/9-3.htm">Seeking</a> <a href="/zechariah/6-7.htm">Sought</a> <a href="/zechariah/13-2.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-16.htm">Sustained</a> <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Treacherously</a> <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Youth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/14-5.htm">Although</a> <a href="/malachi/2-16.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/john/9-31.htm">Godly</a> <a href="/malachi/2-16.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/matthew/2-20.htm">Life</a> <a href="/matthew/3-7.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/matthew/22-6.htm">Remnant</a> <a href="/mark/16-13.htm">Residue</a> <a href="/matthew/13-3.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/matthew/7-8.htm">Seeketh</a> <a href="/matthew/2-20.htm">Seeking</a> <a href="/matthew/2-20.htm">Sought</a> <a href="/malachi/2-16.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/luke/1-54.htm">Sustained</a> <a href="/malachi/2-16.htm">Treacherously</a> <a href="/matthew/6-30.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/malachi/2-16.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/matthew/19-20.htm">Youth</a><div class="vheading2">Malachi 2</div>1. <a href="/malachi/2-1.htm">He sharply reproves the priests for neglecting their covenant;</a> 10. <a href="/malachi/2-10.htm">and the people for marrying strange wives;</a> 13. <a href="/malachi/2-13.htm">and for putting away their former ones,</a> 17. <a href="/malachi/2-17.htm">and for infidelity.</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>Has not the LORD made them one This phrase refers to the divine institution of marriage, where God unites a man and a woman into one flesh (<a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a>). This unity is not merely physical but spiritual and covenantal, reflecting God's design for marriage as a lifelong commitment. The oneness in marriage is a reflection of God's covenant relationship with His people, emphasizing fidelity and unity.having a portion of the Spirit? The "portion of the Spirit" suggests that God's Spirit is involved in the marriage covenant, providing the spiritual bond that unites the couple. This implies that marriage is not just a social contract but a sacred union blessed by God. The presence of the Spirit indicates that marriage is meant to reflect God's holiness and purpose, aligning with the broader biblical theme of the Spirit's role in sanctification and guidance (<a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a>).And why one? This rhetorical question emphasizes the purpose behind God's design for marriage. It invites reflection on the divine intention for unity and partnership. The question points to the deeper reasons for marriage beyond companionship, highlighting God's sovereign plan and purpose.Because He seeks godly offspring. The purpose of marriage, according to this passage, includes raising children who are godly and faithful. This reflects the biblical mandate for parents to teach their children the ways of the Lord (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-6.htm">Deuteronomy 6:6-7</a>). The emphasis on godly offspring underscores the importance of a stable, faithful family environment for spiritual nurturing, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant promises being passed down through generations.So guard yourselves in your spirit This admonition calls for vigilance and self-control, urging individuals to protect their inner spiritual life. It highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and faithfulness in one's relationship with God and others. The call to guard one's spirit is a recurring biblical theme, emphasizing the need for personal holiness and accountability (<a href="/proverbs/4-23.htm">Proverbs 4:23</a>).and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. This phrase warns against infidelity and the breaking of marital vows. It underscores the seriousness of the marriage covenant and the expectation of lifelong faithfulness. The reference to "the wife of your youth" suggests a long-term commitment, reminding individuals of their initial love and promises. This aligns with the biblical condemnation of divorce and unfaithfulness (<a href="/matthew/19-6.htm">Matthew 19:6</a>), emphasizing the sanctity and permanence of marriage.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a> The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who desires faithfulness and godly offspring. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_prophet_malachi.htm">The Prophet Malachi</a> The last prophet of the Old Testament, addressing the spiritual and moral decay of Israel. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a> The people of God, who are being admonished for their unfaithfulness in marriage. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_wife_of_your_youth.htm">The Wife of Your Youth</a> A reference to the covenant relationship between a husband and his wife, emphasizing the importance of marital fidelity. 5. <a href="/topical/g/godly_offspring.htm">Godly Offspring</a> The desired result of a faithful marriage, highlighting the importance of raising children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_marriage.htm">The Sanctity of Marriage</a> Marriage is a divine institution established by God, meant to reflect His covenantal faithfulness. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_spirit.htm">The Role of the Spirit</a> The Spirit's involvement in marriage signifies its sacredness and the need for spiritual unity between spouses. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_faithfulness.htm">The Importance of Faithfulness</a> Faithfulness in marriage is not just a personal commitment but a spiritual obligation before God. <a href="/topical/r/raising_godly_offspring.htm">Raising Godly Offspring</a> The purpose of marriage extends beyond companionship to include the responsibility of raising children who know and honor God. <a href="/topical/g/guarding_your_spirit.htm">Guarding Your Spirit</a> Spiritual vigilance is necessary to maintain faithfulness in marriage and to resist temptations that lead to unfaithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_malachi_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Malachi 2</a> <a href="/q/what_does_vivification_mean.htm">What does vivification mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_abuse_divorce.htm">What does the Bible say about divorce due to abuse?</a> <a href="/q/main_themes_of_2_thessalonians.htm">What are the main themes of 2 Thessalonians?</a> <a href="/q/is_there_a_double_standard_in_numbers_5.htm">Does Numbers 5 imply a double standard for men and women regarding marital faithfulness?</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>(15, 16) These are two very difficult verses, which should perhaps, be rendered as follows:--For did He not make [man and his wife, <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm" title="Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.">Genesis 2:24</a>] one? and has he [the husband] any superiority of spirit [that he should divorce at will]? And what is this [pair which is become] one? [Answer.] It seeketh a godly seed. Therefore take heed to yourselves [literally, your spirit], and with respect to the wife of thy youth--Let none be faithless.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/malachi/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 15. - And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. The passage has always been a crux, and has received many interpretations. The Anglican rendering (which, however, is probably not correct) is thus explained: God made at first one man and one woman, to show the oneness of marriage, and God gave man the breath of life and the residue to the woman; he made them both equally living souls; therefore divorce was never contemplated in the first institution of marriage. Others take "one" to mean Abraham, and explain: Abraham did not do so, i.e. did not repudiate his legitimate wife, though barren; and he had a share of the spirit of right, or he had excellence of spirit. But these are very forced interpretations, and do not occur naturally from a consideration of the words. The Hebrew may be translated more satisfactorily, Not any one has done so who has a remnant of the spirit (ruach)." No one acts as you have done who has in him any of that Divine life which God at first breathed into man; in other words, no man of conscience and virtue has ever thus divorced his wife. The reading of the Septuagint varies here, the Vatican manuscript giving, Οὐ καλὸν ἐποίησε; "Did he not well?" and the Alexandrian, οὐκ ἄλλος ἐποίησε: but both seem to imply an interpretation such as we have just given. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Why did one act in this way? was it that he might have godly children? Surely not. No one would divorce his lawful Hebrew wife, and marry an idolatress, who wished to leave a holy posterity behind him. Many commentators, thinking that Abraham is here meant, and that the prophet is meeting an objection which might be founded upon his action with regard to Hagar, translate, "And what did the one? He was seeking a godly seed." Abraham at Sarah's request took Hagar to wife, in order to have the promised seed; he dismissed her in order to carry out the purpose of God in confining the promise to Isaac. Therefore his conduct is no support for those who repudiate their own wives and marry strange women, not to raise up children for God, but to satisfy their carnal lusts. It is difficult, however, to see how the prophet's hearers could have understood the allusion without further explanation. As Ribera pithily observes (quoted by Knabenbauer), "Neque ita clare ex re allata designatur (Abraham), ut non potius divinatione quam explicatione opus sit ad eum eruendum." It may also be remarked that the reference to the patriarch would not have been altogether successful, if the auditors remembered the Keturahites, who, though sprung from Abraham, were not "a godly seed." The LXX. has, Καὶ εἴπατε, τί ἄλλο η} σπέρμα ζητεῖ ὁ Θεός; "And ye said, What else than seed doth God seek?" as if the increase of population, from whatever source, was the only object required. This may have been one thought of the people, but it can hardly be got out of the present Hebrew text. Take heed to your spirit. Beware lest ye lose the spirit which God has given you. By acting thus contrary to conscience and the light vouchsafed to them, they ran the risk of being deprived altogether of this heavenly guide, and losing all distinction between right and wrong. <a href="/commentaries/malachi/2-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Has not [the LORD] וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no made them עָשָׂ֗ה (‘ā·śāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make one, אֶחָ֣ד (’e·ḥāḏ) Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> United, one, first having a portion וּשְׁאָ֥ר (ū·šə·’ār) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7605.htm">Strong's 7605: </a> Rest, residue, remnant of the Spirit? ר֙וּחַ֙ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit And why וּמָה֙ (ū·māh) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what one? הָֽאֶחָ֔ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ) Article | Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> United, one, first Because He seeks מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (mə·ḇaq·qêš) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> To search out, to strive after godly אֱלֹהִ֑ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative offspring. זֶ֣רַע (ze·ra‘) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2233.htm">Strong's 2233: </a> Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity Therefore guard yourselves וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ (wə·niš·mar·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to in your spirit בְּר֣וּחֲכֶ֔ם (bə·rū·ḥă·ḵem) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit and do not אַל־ (’al-) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> Not break faith יִבְגֹּֽד׃ (yiḇ·gōḏ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_898.htm">Strong's 898: </a> To cover, to act covertly, to pillage with the wife וּבְאֵ֥שֶׁת (ū·ḇə·’ê·šeṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female of your youth. נְעוּרֶ֖יךָ (nə·‘ū·re·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5271.htm">Strong's 5271: </a> Youth, the state, the persons <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/malachi/2-15.htm">Malachi 2:15 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/malachi/2-15.htm">OT Prophets: Malachi 2:15 Did he not make one although he (Malachi Mal Ml) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/malachi/2-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Malachi 2:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Malachi 2:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/malachi/2-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Malachi 2:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Malachi 2:16" /></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>