Malachi 2:6
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Original Language Analysis
תּוֹרַ֤ת
The law
H8451
תּוֹרַ֤ת
The law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
1 of 15
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
אֱמֶת֙
of truth
H571
אֱמֶת֙
of truth
Strong's:
H571
Word #:
2 of 15
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
הָיְתָ֣ה
H1961
הָיְתָ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּפִ֔יהוּ
was in his mouth
H6310
בְּפִ֔יהוּ
was in his mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
4 of 15
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נִמְצָ֣א
was not found
H4672
נִמְצָ֣א
was not found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
7 of 15
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
בִשְׂפָתָ֑יו
in his lips
H8193
בִשְׂפָתָ֑יו
in his lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
8 of 15
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
בְּשָׁל֤וֹם
with me in peace
H7965
בְּשָׁל֤וֹם
with me in peace
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
9 of 15
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
וּבְמִישׁוֹר֙
and equity
H4334
וּבְמִישׁוֹר֙
and equity
Strong's:
H4334
Word #:
10 of 15
a level, i.e., a plain (often used (with the article prefix) as a proper name of certain districts); figuratively, concord; also straightness, i.e., (
הָלַ֣ךְ
he walked
H1980
הָלַ֣ךְ
he walked
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
11 of 15
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
אִתִּ֔י
H854
אִתִּ֔י
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
12 of 15
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
וְרַבִּ֖ים
many
H7227
וְרַבִּ֖ים
many
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
13 of 15
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
Cross References
Daniel 12:3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.Revelation 14:5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.Jeremiah 23:22But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.Luke 1:6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.Matthew 22:16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.Genesis 17:1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.Genesis 6:9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.Luke 20:21And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
Historical Context
The faithful priest combined right doctrine (truth in mouth) with right living (walking in peace/equity) to produce right results (turning many from sin). This threefold standard appears throughout Scripture: teachers must embody what they teach (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, James 3:1). Paul told Timothy to watch both doctrine and life (1 Timothy 4:16). Effective ministry requires both. By Malachi's time, priests taught falsehood and lived corruptly, causing many to stumble (v. 8). Christ fulfilled this prophecy perfectly—He is truth incarnate (John 14:6), sinless in life (Hebrews 4:15), and turns many from unrighteousness through His gospel (Acts 26:18, 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Questions for Reflection
- How does this verse establish the threefold standard for faithful spiritual leadership: sound doctrine, godly life, fruitful ministry?
- What does it mean to 'walk with God' in peace and equity?
- How should the goal of turning people from iniquity shape our teaching and discipleship?
Analysis & Commentary
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. God describes faithful priestly ministry. The law of truth was in his mouth (תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ, torat emet hayetah befihu)—תּוֹרָה (torah, law/instruction) and אֱמֶת (emet, truth) characterized faithful teaching. Iniquity was not found in his lips (וְעַוְלָה לֹא־נִמְצָא בִשְׂפָתָיו, ve'avlah lo-nimtza visefatav)—עַוְלָה (avlah, iniquity/perversity) was absent. The faithful priest taught truth without corruption.
He walked with me in peace and equity (בְּשָׁלוֹם וּבְמִישׁוֹר הָלַךְ אִתִּי, beshalom uviमshor halakh itti)—his life matched his teaching. מִישׁוֹר (mishor, equity/uprightness) describes moral integrity. The result: did turn many away from iniquity (וְרַבִּים הֵשִׁיב מֵעָוֹן, verabbim heshiv me'avon). הֵשִׁיב (heshiv, to turn back/restore) indicates effective ministry—faithful teaching produced repentance. This is the priesthood's ultimate purpose: turning people from sin to God.