Malachi 2:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 2:1-9

What was said in the foregoing chapter was directed to the priests (Mal. 1:6): Thus saith the Lord of hosts to you, O priests! that despise my name. But the crimes there charged upon them they were guilty of as sacrificers, and for those they might think it some excuse that they offered what the people brought, and therefore that, if they were not so good as they should be, it was not their fault, but the people?s; and therefore here the corruptions there complained of are traced to the source... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 2:3

Behold, I will corrupt your seed ,.... Or, "the seed for you" F18 לכם "propter vos", Munster, Drusius. ; that is, for your sake, as Kimchi and Ben Melech explain it; meaning the seed they cast into the earth, which the Lord threatens to corrupt and destroy; so that it should not spring up again, and bring forth any increase: or, "rebuke" F19 גער "increpabo", Tigurine version; "increpo", Drusius, Cocceius; "increpans", Burkius. it, as the word sometimes signifies; and so the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:3

Behold, I will corrupt your seed - So as to render it unfruitful. Newcome translates, - "I will take away from you the shoulder." This was the part that belonged to the priest, Leviticus 7:32 ; Deuteronomy 18:3 . Spread dung upon your faces - Instead of receiving a sacrifice at your hands, I will throw your offerings back into your faces. Here God shows his contempt for them and their offerings. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:3

Verse 3 He confirms here again what he had said in the last verse, — that they would perceive God’s curse in want and poverty. The curse of God is any kind of calamity; for as God declares especially his favor by a liberal support, so the sterility of the land and defective produce most clearly evidence the curse of God. The Prophet then shows, by mentioning one thing, what sort of curse was nigh the Jews, — that God would destroy their seed. Some read, but improperly, “I will destroy you and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:1-3

Spiritual reformation. "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you," etc. The grand subject we gather from these words is spiritual reformation. "Now, O ye priests." The priests are specially addressed and reproved, for they, whose mission it was to raise the people to true worship and to holiness, led them into sin. Notice— I. THE NATURE OF THE SPIRITUAL REFORMATION REQUIRED . "If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my Name,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:1-4

§ 4. For these derelictions of duty the priests are threatened with punishment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:3

I will corrupt your seed. Henderson, "I will rebuke the seed to your hurt." God would mar the promise of their crops; but, as the priests did not concern themselves with agriculture, such a threat would have had no particular application to them. It is best, therefore, to take the pointing of some of the versions, and to translate, I will rebuke your arm; i.e. I will take from you the power of performing, or, I will neutralize your official duties, the arm being the instrument of labour,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Malachi 2:3

Lo, I will rebuke the seed for your sake - o, i. e., that it should not grow. He who worketh by His sustaining will all the operations of nature, would at His will withhold them. Neither priests nor Levites cultivated the soil; yet, since the tithes were assigned to them, the diminution of the harvest affected them. The meal-offering too was a requisite part of the sacrifice. (See also Joel 1:13; Joel 2:14.)And spread dung upon your phaces, the dung o of your solemn feasts - , or, “of your... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Malachi 2:1-4

Malachi 2:1-4. O ye priests, this commandment is for you Or decree, rather, for properly speaking no commandment is here given to the priests, only punishment is denounced upon them if they did not repent. If ye will not hear, &c., to give glory unto my name Which you have despised and dishonoured, by your irreverent performance of my service, Malachi 1:6. I will send a curse upon you I will send poverty and affliction upon you, and you shall not prosper in any thing. And I will... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Malachi 2:1-9

Unworthy priests (2:1-9)The priests are chiefly to blame for the poor spiritual condition of Israel. If they do not quickly reform their ways, God will punish them. He will reduce their income from the people’s tithes and offerings, and bring public disgrace upon them. He may even remove them from their position as priests, in order to stop the priesthood from becoming so corrupt that it has to be abolished. God prefers to maintain the priesthood, according to the promise he gave to the tribe... read more

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