New English Translation
Malachi 2:8
8You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law; you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all.
Malachi 2:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
- New International Version (NIV)But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,
- New King James Version (NKJV)But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Context of Malachi 2:8
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. 7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all. You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law; you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all. 9“Therefore, I have caused you to be ignored and belittled before all people to the extent to which you are not following after me and are showing partiality in your instruction.” 10Do we not all have one father? Did not one God create us? Why do we betray one another, in this way making light of the covenant of our ancestors?
Read all of Malachi 2Malachi 2:8 word by word
וְאַתֶּם֙ סַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ הִכְשַׁלְתֶּ֥ם רַבִּ֖ים בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה שִֽׁחַתֶּם֙ בְּרִ֣ית הַלֵּוִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But ye are departedסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
- out of the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- ye have caused manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- to stumbleכָּשַׁלkâshal · to stumbleH3782
- at the lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
- ye have corruptedשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- the covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- of Leviלֵוִיlêvîy · LeviH3878
- saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
Cross-references for Malachi 2:8
- Psalms 18:21For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; I have not rebelled against my God.
- Psalms 119:102I do not turn aside from your regulations, for you teach me.
- Isaiah 30:11Turn aside from the way, stray off the path. Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.”
- Isaiah 59:13We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord; we turned back from following our God. We stir up oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds.
- Jeremiah 17:5The Lord says, “I will put a curse on people who trust in mere human beings, who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength, and whose hearts have turned away from the Lord.
- Ezekiel 44:10“‘But the Levites who went far from me, straying off from me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for their sin.
- Daniel 9:5we have sinned! We have done what is wrong and wicked; we have rebelled by turning away from your commandments and standards.
- Hebrews 3:12See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.
- Malachi 2:9“Therefore, I have caused you to be ignored and belittled before all people to the extent to which you are not following after me and are showing partiality in your instruction.”
- 1 Samuel 2:17The sin of these young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.
- Isaiah 9:16The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed.
- Jeremiah 18:15Yet my people have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level.
- Jeremiah 23:11Moreover, the Lord says, “Both the prophets and priests are godless. I have even found them doing evil in my temple!
- Matthew 15:2“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”
- Luke 11:45One of the experts in religious law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”
- Romans 2:19and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
Commentaries on Malachi 2:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8But ye are departed out of the way - Ye are become impure yourselves, and ye have led others into iniquity.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8But ye - oare departed out of the way “of knowledge, truth, equity, fear of God, which I appointed to Aaron and the Levites.” “Ye have caused many to stumble at the law.” He does not simply say, “in the law,” but “at” it. The law was what they stumbled at. They did not only misunderstand the law, through the false teaching of the priests, as though it allowed things which in truth were sins (although this too); itself was their source of stumbling. As…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-9Malachi’s second message confirms the Lord as God and father of Israel. God alone deserves true worship. The first part (Malachi 1:6–14) shows how the Israelites dishonored God despite his fatherly care and great power. The second part (Malachi 2:1–9) warns the priests of Judah against sacrificing sick and defective animals and criticizes them for not teaching God’s instructions (2:6–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-95-9. He describes the promises, and also the conditions of the covenant; Levi's observance of the conditions and reward (compare Nu 25:11-13, Phinehas' zeal); and on the other hand the violation of the conditions, and consequent punishment of the present priests. "Life" here includes the perpetuity implied in Nu 25:13, "everlasting priesthood." "Peace" is specified both here and there. Maurer thus explains it; the Hebrew is, literally, "My covenant was…Read the comment
Topics related to Malachi 2:8
In the dictionaries
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
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