Malachi 2:14
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.
Original Language Analysis
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מָ֑ה
Wherefore
H4100
מָ֑ה
Wherefore
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
3 of 19
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
עַ֡ל
H5921
עַ֡ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָה֩
Because the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֩
Because the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הֵעִ֨יד
hath been witness
H5749
הֵעִ֨יד
hath been witness
Strong's:
H5749
Word #:
7 of 19
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
בֵּינְךָ֜
H996
בֵּינְךָ֜
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
8 of 19
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
וּבֵ֣ין׀
H996
וּבֵ֣ין׀
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
9 of 19
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
נְעוּרֶ֗יךָ
of thy youth
H5271
נְעוּרֶ֗יךָ
of thy youth
Strong's:
H5271
Word #:
11 of 19
(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בָּגַ֣דְתָּה
against whom thou hast dealt treacherously
H898
בָּגַ֣דְתָּה
against whom thou hast dealt treacherously
Strong's:
H898
Word #:
14 of 19
to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage
וְהִ֥יא
H1931
וְהִ֥יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
16 of 19
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
Cross References
Isaiah 54:6For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.Ecclesiastes 9:9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.Genesis 31:50If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.Malachi 2:15And 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.Proverbs 2:17Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.Jeremiah 8:12Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 42:5Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.Malachi 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.Proverbs 30:20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.Ezekiel 16:8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern marriage was often transactional, viewing wives as property to be acquired and dismissed at will. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 regulated divorce but didn't mandate it. By Jesus's time, competing rabbinic schools debated divorce grounds—Shammai limiting it to sexual immorality, Hillel permitting it for any displeasure. Malachi's absolute language ('the wife of thy covenant') challenged cavalier divorce culture, a theme Jesus would later radicalize (Matthew 19:3-9).
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding God as witness to every marriage covenant transform how you view wedding vows?
- What does calling a spouse 'companion' rather than 'possession' reveal about God's design for marriage?
- In what ways does contemporary Christian divorce culture parallel Malachi's generation—technical legality replacing covenant fidelity?
Analysis & Commentary
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Israel's question reveals stunning spiritual obtuseness—they're genuinely puzzled why God rejects their worship. Malachi's entire prophecy features this pattern of divine accusation followed by incredulous denial (1:2, 1:6, 1:7, 2:17, 3:7-8, 3:13). Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth—עֵד (ed, witness) recalls God's role at the marriage covenant. Every marriage occurs before the divine witness who guarantees covenant fidelity.
Against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant—חֲבֶרֶת (chavereth, companion) denotes equal partnership, not mere property. The בְּרִית (berit, covenant) of marriage carries the same weight as Israel's covenant with Yahweh. Divorcing the wife of one's youth is בָּגַד (bagad, treachery), the same term used for Israel's apostasy from God (Jeremiah 3:20). This equation elevates marriage to sacred covenant status and makes divorce a form of covenant-breaking parallel to idolatry.