Malachi 2:4

Malachi 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
• New International Version (NIV)And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Context of Malachi 2:4

2If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of armies, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 3Behold, I am going to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, so that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of armies. 5“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and was in awe of My name. 6True instruction was in his mouth and injustice was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and justice, and he turned many back from wrongdoing.

Malachi 2:4 word by word

וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֚י שִׁלַּ֣חְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את לִֽהְי֤וֹת בְּרִיתִי֙ אֶת־לֵוִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

• Then you will knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that I have sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• continueהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• with Leviלֵוִיlêvîy · LeviH3878
• saysאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• of armiesצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635

Cross-references for Malachi 2:4

• 1 Kings 22:25And Micaiah said, “Behold, you are going to see how on that day when you go from one inner room to another trying to hide yourself.”
• Isaiah 26:11Lord, Your hand is lifted up, yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.
• Jeremiah 28:9As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”
• Ezekiel 33:33So when it comes--as it certainly will--then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
• Ezekiel 38:23So I will prove Myself great, show Myself holy, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”’
• Luke 10:11‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
• Isaiah 1:24Therefore the Lord God of armies, The Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will have satisfaction against My adversaries, And avenge Myself on My enemies.
• Isaiah 27:9Therefore through this Jacob’s wrongdoing will be forgiven; And this will be the full price of the pardoning of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones; When Asherim and incense altars will not stand.
• Ezekiel 20:38and I will purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the land of Israel. So you will know that I am the Lord.
• Ezekiel 44:9‘This is what the Lord God says: “No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.
• Matthew 3:12His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
• John 15:2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Commentaries on Malachi 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4This commandment - That in the first verse; to drive such priests from his presence and his service. That my covenant might be with Levi - I gave the priesthood and the service of my altar to that tribe.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you: - this, which He had just uttered. They who believe not God when threatening, know that He is in earnest and not to be trifled with, through His punishing. “That My covenant might be with Levi.” God willed to punish those who at that time rebelled against Him, that He might spare those who should come after them. He chastened the fathers, who showed their contempt toward Him, that their sons…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4My covenant with Levi: If the Levites dedicated themselves to serving God and gave up their own glory, God would grant them life and peace (Malachi 2:5; compare Numbers 8:5–26; 25:12–13). Their special responsibility was to teach God's instructions (Malachi 2:7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. ye shall know--by bitter experience of consequences, that it was with this design I admonished you, in order "that My covenant with Levi might be" maintained; that is, that it was for your own good (which would be ensured by your maintaining the Levitical command) I admonished you, that ye should return to your duty [Maurer] (compare Mal 2:5, 6). Malachi's function was that of a reformer, leading back the priests and people to the law (Mal 4:4).Read the comment

Topics related to Malachi 2:4

• Covenant
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• Levi
• Levi, Levite
• Matthew, Levi
• Lord of Hosts
• Corrupt
• Profane
• Wherein
• Covenant, in the Old Testament
• Malachi
• Priests and Levites

Commentaries on Malachi 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings