God hates divorce?

I’ve edited since I first posted this over 2 years ago. I’ve been called a lot of things because of it, but no one has challenged my Hebrew yet. I can’t make this say anything else in good conscience.

My Only Comfort

Does Malachi 2:16 teach that God hates divorce?

The King James: For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The New King James: “For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”

The New American Standard: “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

The English Standard: Malachi 2:16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of…

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4 responses to “God hates divorce?

  1. Sorry for the abuse you have likely endured. I enjoy following your translations and Hebrew word origins. They help to validate what some of us know instinctively and emotionally, but can’t demonstrate.

    Something that I think is important for people to understand, if God actually hates something, that doesn’t translate to He hates us. God can hate all the sin that leads up to divorce, he can hate what divorce does to people, but that doesn’t mean He hates the people themselves. I think that is really hard for some people to separate in their minds.

    We people tend to use hate like a punitive form of control, “don’t do that, I hate it.” I don’t think God operates that way. That’s the nature of people and God is so much bigger.

  2. So glad you reblogged this, Sam! I didn’t see it the first time around for some reason, and I’m beyond excited about it. I love it when people break down the original languages carefully for me. I appreciated David Instone-Brewer’s take on this passage, but yours is, I think, even more detailed. Thank you!

  3. Bunkababy

    Same conclusion, a little easier to understand. Thank you!! I wish more were this diligent at deciphering scripture.http://margmowczko.com/divorce-malachi-2/

  4. Steve

    Thank you for taking the time to expound on this, which you did a great job on. However, I am having a hard time reconciling this with other scriptures like Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:19 and 1 Cor. 7:11

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