Malachi 2:10

Authorized King James Version

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Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Original Language Analysis

הֲל֨וֹא H3808
הֲל֨וֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 1 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ father H1
אֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ father
Strong's: H1
Word #: 2 of 15
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אֶֽחָ֖ד Have we not all one H259
אֶֽחָ֖ד Have we not all one
Strong's: H259
Word #: 3 of 15
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
לְכֻלָּ֔נוּ H3605
לְכֻלָּ֔נוּ
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 4 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הֲל֛וֹא H3808
הֲל֛וֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 5 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֵ֥ל God H410
אֵ֥ל God
Strong's: H410
Word #: 6 of 15
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)
אֶֽחָ֖ד Have we not all one H259
אֶֽחָ֖ד Have we not all one
Strong's: H259
Word #: 7 of 15
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
בְּרָאָ֑נוּ created H1254
בְּרָאָ֑נוּ created
Strong's: H1254
Word #: 8 of 15
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
מַדּ֗וּעַ H4069
מַדּ֗וּעַ
Strong's: H4069
Word #: 9 of 15
what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?
נִבְגַּד֙ us why do we deal treacherously H898
נִבְגַּד֙ us why do we deal treacherously
Strong's: H898
Word #: 10 of 15
to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage
אִ֣ישׁ every man H376
אִ֣ישׁ every man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 11 of 15
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
בְּאָחִ֔יו against his brother H251
בְּאָחִ֔יו against his brother
Strong's: H251
Word #: 12 of 15
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
לְחַלֵּ֖ל by profaning H2490
לְחַלֵּ֖ל by profaning
Strong's: H2490
Word #: 13 of 15
properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin
בְּרִ֥ית the covenant H1285
בְּרִ֥ית the covenant
Strong's: H1285
Word #: 14 of 15
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
אֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ father H1
אֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ father
Strong's: H1
Word #: 15 of 15
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

Cross References

Psalms 100:3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Malachi 2:11Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.1 Corinthians 8:6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.Ephesians 4:6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.Isaiah 63:16Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.Isaiah 64:8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.Acts 7:26And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?Isaiah 43:7Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.Isaiah 43:1But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.Isaiah 44:2Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

Analysis & Commentary

Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? Malachi invokes the dual concept of אָב אֶחָד (av echad, one father)—both Abraham as Israel's patriarch and Yahweh as Creator. The rhetorical questions establish covenant brotherhood before indicting Israel's treachery. Why do we deal treacherously uses בָּגַד (bagad), meaning to act covertly against, to betray—a term frequently describing marital infidelity and covenant violation.

By profaning the covenant of our fathers—the חִלֵּל (chillel) denotes desecration, treating the sacred as common. This verse frames the subsequent condemnation of intermarriage (v. 11) and divorce (v. 14-16) not as isolated sins but as covenant treachery against both God and the community. The appeal to shared paternity makes Israel's internal betrayals all the more heinous—they are defrauding their own brothers.

Historical Context

Written circa 430 BC to post-exilic Jews who had returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel and Ezra. Despite the temple's reconstruction (515 BC), spiritual apathy had set in. The community faced internal division over mixed marriages with pagan women and the casual divorce of Jewish wives—issues Ezra and Nehemiah also confronted (Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 13:23-27).

Questions for Reflection