What does Malachi 2:10 mean?
This verse begins the second of Malachi's three prophetic messages. The first was directed against the priests of Israel, and ended with a stinging rebuke. Specifically, that the people of Israel were stumbling due to failed spiritual leadership. This message from Malachi shows just how much the nation has slipped. Just as the priests are being unfaithful to God, the people are being unfaithful to each other.This verse uses a Hebrew term referring to deception, or the breaking of an agreement. The people are not merely being immoral, they are violating their word and their covenants with each other. Later verses will detail the worst effects of this: divorce and pagan intermarriage.
This particular accusation is interesting, as it is the only time in Malachi where Israel does not answer back. In all of the other messages, Israel responds to criticism with doubt and disbelief. In this case, though, there is no particular answer. It's possible that this is because there is no response to be given. This may well be the one area where not even spiritually numb Israel can deny their own failure.