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 take seriously the need to honor my name,” says the Lord who rules over all, “I will send judgment on you and turn your blessings into curses – indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart. 3I am about to discipline your children and will spread offal on your faces, the very offal produced at your festivals, and you will be carried away along with it. Then you will know that I sent this commandment to you so that my covenant may continue to be with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all. 5“My covenant with him was designed to bring life and peace. I gave its statutes to him to fill him with awe, and he indeed revered me and stood in awe before me. 6He taught what was true; sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin.

Malachi 2:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And ye shall knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that I have sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• this commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• unto you, that my covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• might be with Leviלֵוִיlêvîy · LeviH3878
• saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635

Cross-references for Malachi 2:4

• 1 Kings 22:25Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.”
• Isaiah 26:11O Lord, you are ready to act, but they don’t even notice. They will see and be put to shame by your angry judgment against humankind, yes, fire will consume your enemies.
• Jeremiah 28:9So if a prophet prophesied peace and prosperity, it was only known that the Lord truly sent him when what he prophesied came true.”
• Ezekiel 33:33When all this comes true – and it certainly will – then they will know that a prophet was among them.”
• Ezekiel 38:23I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’
• Luke 10:11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this: The kingdom of God has come.’
• Isaiah 1:24Therefore, the sovereign Lord who commands armies, the powerful ruler of Israel, says this: “Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies.
• Isaiah 27:9So in this way Jacob’s sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.
• Ezekiel 20:38I will eliminate from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will bring them out from the land where they have been residing, but they will not come to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
• Ezekiel 44:9This is what the sovereign Lord says: No foreigner, who is uncircumcised in heart and flesh among all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, will enter into my sanctuary.
• Matthew 3:12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”
• John 15:2He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will 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