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.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שַׁלַּ֗ח
putting away
H7971
שַׁלַּ֗ח
putting away
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
3 of 18
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
יְהוָ֣ה
For the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
For the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
6 of 18
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
7 of 18
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְכִסָּ֤ה
for one covereth
H3680
וְכִסָּ֤ה
for one covereth
Strong's:
H3680
Word #:
8 of 18
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
חָמָס֙
violence
H2555
חָמָס֙
violence
Strong's:
H2555
Word #:
9 of 18
violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
10 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְבוּשׁ֔וֹ
with his garment
H3830
לְבוּשׁ֔וֹ
with his garment
Strong's:
H3830
Word #:
11 of 18
a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife
יְהוָ֣ה
For the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
For the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֑וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֑וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
14 of 18
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם
therefore take heed
H8104
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם
therefore take heed
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
בְּרוּחֲכֶ֖ם
to your spirit
H7307
בְּרוּחֲכֶ֖ם
to your spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
16 of 18
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
Cross References
Luke 16:18Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.Proverbs 28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.Isaiah 50:1Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.Isaiah 59:6Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
Historical Context
In ancient Israel, a husband could divorce his wife with a written certificate (Deuteronomy 24:1), but a wife had no reciprocal right. This left divorced women vulnerable, often destitute. The prophets consistently condemned oppression of widows and the fatherless (Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 7:6); Malachi extends this protection to divorced wives, characterizing their abandonment as violence. Jesus would later restore God's original intent by forbidding divorce except for sexual immorality (Matthew 19:8-9).
Questions for Reflection
- How should God's hatred of divorce shape Christian counseling and pastoral care in struggling marriages?
- In what ways do legal divorce proceedings 'cover violence with a garment'—appearing civilized while inflicting deep harm?
- What does treating divorce as 'violence' (not merely 'unfortunate') reveal about covenant marriage's sacred nature?
Analysis & Commentary
For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away—שָׂנֵא שַׁלַּח (sane shalach, literally 'he hates sending away/divorce') is God's unambiguous verdict. While Deuteronomy 24:1-4 permitted divorce certificates to regulate an existing practice, Malachi reveals God's heart: He hates divorce itself. This doesn't merely describe divine distaste but covenant violation that provokes holy hatred of injustice. The triadic title 'LORD, the God of Israel' emphasizes the speaker's authority—this is covenant Yahweh's definitive word.
For one covereth violence with his garment—the obscure phrase likely means divorce attempts to conceal (כָּסָה, kasah) חָמָס (chamas, violence/wrong) with the בֶּגֶד (beged, garment), perhaps referring to the husband's garment spread over a wife in betrothal (Ruth 3:9, Ezekiel 16:8). The legal 'covering' of divorce papers doesn't hide the violence of covenant-breaking. Therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously—the repeated warning (cf. v. 15) frames divorce as premeditated treachery requiring spiritual vigilance to prevent.