MAL 2:14 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) So you ask, “Why not?” Well, it’s because Yahweh can testify that you’ve been unfaithful to the wife that you married when you were young, even though she was your companion, and despite your vows.

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Καὶ εἴπατε, ἕνεκεν τίνος; ὅτι Κύριος διεμαρτύρατο ἀναμέσον σου, καὶ ἀναμέσον γυναικὸς νεότητός σου, ἣν ἐγκατέλιπες, καὶ αὕτη κοινωνός σου, καὶ γυνὴ διαθήκης σου.
(Kai eipate, heneken tinos; hoti Kurios diemarturato anameson sou, kai anameson gunaikos neotaʸtos sou, haʸn egkatelipes, kai hautaʸ koinōnos sou, kai gunaʸ diathaʸkaʸs sou. )

BrTr Yet ye said, Wherefore? Because the Lord has borne witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, whom thou hast forsaken, and yet she was thy partner, and the wife of thy covenant.

ULT But you say, “For what?” Because Yahweh is a witness between you and between the wife of your youth, with whom you yourself have dealt treacherously, though she was your companion and the wife of your covenant.

UST You may wonder what I mean and ask, “Why does he not accept them?” It is because Yahweh knows that you have not been faithful to the wife you married as a young man. You did this even though she was your partner and you promised to be her husband.

OEB Yet you ask, ‘Why?’ Because the Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young. You have been unfaithful to her, even though she is your companion, and your legal wife.

WEBBE Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Yet you ask, “Why?” The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law.

LSV And you have said, “Why?” Because YHWH has testified between you
And the wife of your youth,
That you have dealt treacherously against her,
And she [is] your companion, and your covenant-wife.

FBV “Why not?” you ask. Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife exchanged when you were young.[fn] You were unfaithful to her, your wife and partner joined to you by marriage contract.

2:14 Some believe that these priests not only divorced their wives but then married foreign women.

T4T You cry out, saying, “Why does Yahweh not like our offerings?” The answer is that Yahweh heard what each of you men solemnly promised to your wives when you were young. But you men have not done what you promised your wives; you sent them away, the ones to whom you made that agreement.

LEB But you ask, “_⌊For what reason_⌋?”[fn] Because Yahweh stands as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have been unfaithful, even though she is your marriage partner and _⌊your wife by covenant_⌋.[fn]

2:14 Literally “Because of what?”

2:14 Literally “the wife of your covenant”

BBE But you say, For what reason? Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your early years, to whom you have been untrue, though she is your friend and the wife to whom you have given your word.

Moff You ask, Why? It is because the Eternal was a witness at your marriage in youth to the wife with whom you have now broken faith--though she is your own mate and lawful wife.

JPS Yet ye say: 'Wherefore?' Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

ASV Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

DRA And you have said: For what cause? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee, and the wife of thy youth, whom thou hast despised: yet she was thy partner, and the wife of thy covenant.

YLT And ye have said, 'Wherefore?' Because Jehovah hath testified between thee And the wife of thy youth, That thou hast dealt treacherously against her, And she thy companion, and thy covenant-wife.

Drby Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been a witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt unfaithfully: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

RV Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
(Yet ye/you_all say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath/has been witness between thee/you and the wife of thy/your youth, against whom thou/you hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy/your companion, and the wife of thy/your covenant. )

SLT And ye said, For what? For that Jehovah testified between thee and between the wife of thy youth, which thou didst deal faithlessly against her, and she thy companion and the wife of thy covenant.

Wbstr Yet ye say, Why? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

KJB-1769 ¶ Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
(¶ Yet ye/you_all say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath/has been witness between thee/you and the wife of thy/your youth, against whom thou/you hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy/your companion, and the wife of thy/your covenant. )

KJB-1611 ¶ Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath bene witnes betweene thee and the wife of thy youth, against whome thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy couenant.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Yet ye say, wherin? Because the Lord hath ben witnesse betweene thee and thy wyfe of thy youth, against whom thou hast transgressed, yet is she thyne owne companion, and the wyfe of thy couenaunt.
(Yet ye/you_all say, wherin? Because the Lord hath/has been witness between thee/you and thy/your wife of thy/your youth, against whom thou/you hast transgressed, yet is she thine/your own companion, and the wife of thy/your covenant.)

Gnva Yet yee say, Wherein? Because the Lord hath beene witnesse betweene thee and the wife of thy youth, against whome thou hast transgressed: yet is shee thy companion, and the wife of thy couenant.
(Yet ye/you_all say, Wherein? Because the Lord hath/has been witness between thee/you and the wife of thy/your youth, against whom thou/you hast transgressed: yet is she thy/your companion, and the wife of thy/your covenant. )

Cvdl And yet ye saye: wherfore? Euen because that where as the LORDE made a couenaut betwixte ye and the wife off thy youth, thou hast despysed her: Yet is she thyne owne copanyon and maried wife.
(And yet ye/you_all say: wherfore? Even because that where as the LORD made a covenant between ye/you_all and the wife off thy/your youth, thou/you hast despised her: Yet is she thine/your own copanyon and married wife.)

Wycl And ye seiden, For what cause? For the Lord witnesside bitwixe thee and the wijf of thi `puberte, that is, tyme of mariage, which thou dispisidist, and this is thi felowe, and wijf of thi couenaunt.
(And ye/you_all said, For what cause? For the Lord witnessed between thee/you and the wife of thy/your puberte, that is, time of marriage, which thou/you despisedist, and this is thy/your fellow, and wife of thy/your covenant.)

Luth Und so sprechet ihr: Warum das? Darum, daß der HErr zwischen dir und dem Weibe deiner Jugend gezeuget hat, die du verachtest, so sie doch deine Gesellin und ein Weib deines Bundes ist.
(And so speaker you(pl)/their/her: Why that? Therefore, that the/of_the LORD between you/to_you(sg) and to_him woman your(s) youth conceived has, the you(sg) verachtest, so they/she/them though/but your fellow/companionin and a woman your(s) federation/agreements is.)

ClVg Et dixistis: Quam ob causam? Quia Dominus testificatus est inter te et uxorem pubertatis tuæ, quam tu despexisti: et hæc particeps tua, et uxor fœderis tui.
(And you_said: How because cause? Because Master testificatus it_is between you(sg) and wife puberty yours, how you(sg) despexisti: and these_things participant your, and wife covenant yours(sg). )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:10–16: Malachi rebuked the people of Israel because they had been unfaithful to the LORD

This section contains the central message of the book. It highlights its main theme: that is, that both the priests and the people had been unfaithful to the LORD. The LORD here called them to repent and to follow him again.

This section lists three specific ways in which the people of Israel as a nation had broken their covenant with the LORD:

They had married wives who worshipped foreign gods.
They had been unfaithful to their wives.
They had even divorced their wives.

Also the people had been hypocritical. They asked the LORD to help them in order to show that they trusted him. Yet, at the same time, they continued to be unfaithful to him and to disobey him.

The Hebrew word bagad which means “faithless, treacherous” occurs five times in these verses. The repeated use of the word highlights both the unfaithfulness of the people to the LORD and their unfaithfulness to their wives.

This section contains one of the few places in the book in which it was the prophet himself who addressed the people. The prophet rebuked the people of Israel because they had been unfaithful to the LORD. He began his rebuke with a series of rhetorical questions. The first two questions in this section form a doublet, which makes an emphatic beginning, and all the questions indicate strong feeling.

Paragraph 2:13–16

Paragraph 2:10–12 shows that the people were unfaithful to the LORD and unfaithful to his covenant because they had married women who worshipped foreign gods (idols). Paragraph 2:13–16 tells another way that the people of Israel were unfaithful. They were also unfaithful to each other in marriage.

Notice the use of the “Statement, Question, Response” pattern, introducing a new discourse unit. See note 6 in “Literary structure and recurring features in Malachi” in the Introduction.

2:14

you…you…your…you…: The first you in this verse translates a plural form in Hebrew. As in 2:13, this form refers to the people of Israel. However the other forms which the BSB translates as you in 2:14 are singular. They refer to each individual man who had been unfaithful. The Display indicates this by the phrase “each of you” in 2:14b.

2:14a

Yet you ask, “Why?”

You^(plur) ask, “Why do our^(excl) sacrifices not please Yahweh any longer?”

Why?: That is, why does the LORD not accept our sacrifices?

2:14b

It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth,

It is because Yahweh heard the promises/vows each of you^(plur) made when you^(sing) were young and married your^(sing) wife.

witness: The text does not specify exactly how the LORD was a witness between a person and the wife of his youth. The most likely meaning is that the LORD was a witness to their covenant of marriage. Therefore the LORD was responsible to punish the men who broke their marriage covenants. He punished them by not accepting their offerings.

the wife of your youth: That is, the wife you married when you were young.

2:14c

against whom you have broken faith,

But you^(sing) have not kept those promises to her,
But you^(sing) have not been faithful/loyal to her, as you^(sing) promised to be,

you have broken faith: The Hebrew word which the BSB translates as broken faith is the same one used in 2:10–11. It is the key term in this section. See the note on 2:10c. Husbands were being unfaithful to their wives. In this way, they were not keeping the promises they had made to their wives at their marriage.

2:14d

though she is your companion

even though she has been your^(sing) partner.
even though she has stayed with you^(sing).

your companion: The Hebrew word which the BSB translates as companion means here “a female companion in marriage.” It is a synonym of “wife.”

2:14e

and your wife by covenant.

You^(sing) have done this even though you^(sing) had promised/agreed with her that she would always be your^(sing) wife.

covenant: The Hebrew word which the BSB translates as covenant is the same word used in 2:4b and 2:10d. This word is normally used in the Old Testament to refer to the relationship the LORD established at Sinai between himself and the people of Israel.

Here it refers to marriage and the promises which a man and woman make to be faithful to each other. In many languages it may be appropriate to use a word like “promise” or “vow” here. This may be better than the word used for the covenant between the LORD and the people of Israel.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יְהוָה֩ הֵעִ֨יד בֵּינְ⁠ךָ֜ וּ⁠בֵ֣ין ׀ אֵ֣שֶׁת נְעוּרֶ֗י⁠ךָ

YHWH witness between=you(ms) and=between wife_of your_youth(s)_of,of

In this culture, when people made promises to one another, they often did this with witnesses watching. The role of those witnesses included holding the people to their promises. The Judean men had made covenant promises to their wives when they married them. Malachi assumes that those men will know that when he refers to Yahweh as a witness, he means that Yahweh is holding them to those promises. Yahweh is doing that by showing his disfavor through not accepting their offerings. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [Because Yahweh is enforcing the covenant promises you made to the wife of your youth]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

בֵּינְ⁠ךָ֜ & נְעוּרֶ֗י⁠ךָ & אַתָּה֙ בָּגַ֣דְתָּה & חֲבֶרְתְּ⁠ךָ֖ & בְּרִיתֶֽ⁠ךָ

between=you(ms) & your_youth(s)_of,of & you(ms) faithless & companion_of,[was]_your & your_covenant_of,of

Except for the first occurrence of the the word you, the words you, your, and yourself are singular in this verse because, even though Malachi is speaking to the Judeans as a group, he is addressing an individual situation. So use singular forms in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

אֵ֣שֶׁת נְעוּרֶ֗י⁠ךָ

wife_of your_youth(s)_of,of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of youth, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the wife you married when you were young]

Parallel MAL 2:14