Malachi 2:17
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
Original Language Analysis
הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ
Wherein have we wearied
H3021
הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ
Wherein have we wearied
Strong's:
H3021
Word #:
1 of 20
properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֔ם
with your words
H1697
בְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֔ם
with your words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 20
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
בַּמָּ֣ה
H4100
בַּמָּ֣ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
5 of 20
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ
Wherein have we wearied
H3021
הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ
Wherein have we wearied
Strong's:
H3021
Word #:
6 of 20
properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֹ֨שֵׂה
Every one that doeth
H6213
עֹ֨שֵׂה
Every one that doeth
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
9 of 20
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
ט֣וֹב׀
is good
H2896
ט֣וֹב׀
is good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
11 of 20
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
בְּעֵינֵ֣י
in the sight
H5869
בְּעֵינֵ֣י
in the sight
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
12 of 20
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
ה֣וּא
H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
15 of 20
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
חָפֵ֔ץ
and he delighteth
H2654
חָפֵ֔ץ
and he delighteth
Strong's:
H2654
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire
א֥וֹ
H176
א֥וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
17 of 20
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
Cross References
Isaiah 43:24Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.Zephaniah 1:12And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.Ecclesiastes 8:11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.Isaiah 1:14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.Isaiah 30:18And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.Isaiah 7:13And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?Job 36:17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.Job 34:17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?Jeremiah 15:6Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.Amos 2:13Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
Historical Context
Post-exilic Judah's economic hardship and subjugation to Persia created a theodicy crisis. Despite returning from exile and rebuilding the temple, they remained politically powerless while pagan nations thrived. This fueled skepticism about divine justice—if God controls history, why do the wicked prosper? Malachi addresses this 'silence of God' problem by prophesying the coming Day of the Lord when all moral accounts will be settled (3:16-4:3).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the modern prosperity gospel replicate Israel's error of equating divine blessing with material success?
- In what ways do Christians 'weary the LORD' by questioning His justice when the wicked prosper?
- How should believers maintain faith in God's judgment when it appears delayed or absent?
Analysis & Commentary
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words—הוֹגַעְתֶּם (hoga'tem, wearied/exhausted) anthropomorphizes divine patience stretched to breaking. The metaphor depicts God as a parent exasperated by relentless childish defiance. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? The incredulous denial follows Malachi's pattern (1:2, 1:6, 1:7)—spiritual blindness preventing self-awareness of sin.
When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them—this reveals Israel's theological confusion. Observing wicked prosper while the righteous suffer (a perennial problem, cf. Psalms 73, Habakkuk 1:13), they conclude God approves evil or is indifferent. The חָפֵץ (chafets, delights) suggests God takes pleasure in wickedness—a slanderous inversion of His character. Or, Where is the God of judgment? The cynical question (אֱלֹהֵי הַמִּשְׁפָּט, Elohei hamishpat) either doubts God's existence or His justice. This sets up 3:1-5's prophecy of sudden divine judgment—the Lord they sarcastically seek will indeed come, but as refiner's fire.