Malachi 2:9

Malachi 2:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
• New International Version (NIV)“So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law.”

Context of Malachi 2:9

7For a kohen’s lips should guard knowledge, and instruction must be sought from his mouth. For he is a messenger of Adonai-Tzva’ot. 8But you have turned from the way. You caused many to stumble in Torah by the instruction, You corrupted the covenant of the Levites,” —says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “So I also have made you despised and lowly to all the people, because you are not keeping My ways but show favoritism in Torah.” 10Do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously —a man against his brother— defiling the covenant of our fathers? 11Judah has dealt treacherously, an abomination done in Israel, even in Jerusalem! For Judah has defiled Adonai’s Sanctuary, which He loves, and married the daughter of a foreign god.

Malachi 2:9 word by word

וְגַם־אֲנִ֞י נָתַ֧תִּי אֶתְכֶ֛ם נִבְזִ֥ים וּשְׁפָלִ֖ים לְכָל־הָעָ֑ם כְּפִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽינְכֶם֙ שֹׁמְרִ֣ים אֶת־דְּרָכַ֔י וְנֹשְׂאִ֥ים פָּנִ֖ים בַּתּוֹרָֽה׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore have I also madeנָתַןnâthan · to give: makeH5414
• you contemptibleבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• and baseשָׁפָלshâphâl · lowH8217
• before all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• accordingפֶּהpeh · lip: accordingH6310
• as ye have not keptשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
• my waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• but have been partialפָּנֶהpânîym · face: kindnessH6440
• but have been partialנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: kindnessH5375
• in the lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451

Cross-references for Malachi 2:9

• Malachi 2:3Behold, I am rebuking the seed on account of you, and will spread dung on your faces —the dung of your festivals— and take you away together with it.
• 1 Samuel 2:30Therefore Adonai God of Israel declares, I indeed said that your house and your father’s house should walk before Me forever. But now declares Adonai, far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
• Proverbs 10:7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
• Daniel 12:2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake—some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting contempt.
• Micah 3:6“Therefore you will have night without vision, and darkness without divination. The sun shall set on the prophets, the day shall become dark upon them.”
• 1 Kings 22:28Micaiah then said, “If you ever return safely, then Adonai has not spoken through me.” And he added, “Did you hear, all you people?”
• Jeremiah 28:15Then said the prophet Jeremiah to the prophet Hananiah: “Hear now, Hananiah! Adonai has not sent you, yet you have caused this people to trust in a lie.
• Jeremiah 29:20“But you, hear the word of Adonai, all you of the exile whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon,”
• Ezekiel 13:12Behold, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said about you, ‘Where is the whitewash that you plastered it with?’’’
• Mark 7:13making void the word of God with your tradition that you’ve handed down. And you do many such things.”
• Luke 20:45Then with all the people listening, Yeshua said to the disciples,
• Malachi 2:8But you have turned from the way. You caused many to stumble in Torah by the instruction, You corrupted the covenant of the Levites,” —says Adonai-Tzva’ot.
• Matthew 5:21“You have heard it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.’
• Matthew 19:17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Yeshua said to him. “There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
• Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he is obligated.’
• Mark 7:8Having left behind the commandment of God, you hold on to the tradition of men.”

Commentaries on Malachi 2:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Therefore have I also made you contemptible - The people despised you because they saw that you acted contrary to your functions. This has happened repeatedly since, to several classes of priests. Not maintaining, by purity of life and soundness of doctrine, the dignity of the ministerial function, they became contemptible before the people; their meager preaching was disregarded, and their persons at last cast out as a general loathing to the universe!…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Therefore have I made you contemptible - They had said in their hearts Malachi 1:7, “The table of the Lord is contemptible.” So God would requite them “measure for measure.” Yet not only so, but in their office as judges, against the repeated protestations in the law Leviticus 19:15, “Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty, in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor Deuteronomy 1:17, ye shall not respect…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9shown partiality (literally lifted up the face): The expression also appears in Malachi 1:8 ("pleased with you"). The priests should have applied the law with kindness and fairness, but they did not. It was unreasonable for the priests to think that God would favor them when they had shown partiality in performing their duties.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 2:9

• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Corrupt
• Profane
• Wherein
• Malachi
• Priests and Levites
• partial, partiality

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