Malachi 2:9 - Printer Friendly

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."

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."

NASB: So I also have made you despised and of low reputation in the view of all the people, since you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.'

CSB: "So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction."

NLT: So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions.'

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.

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.”

In verse 3, God described His humiliation of the priests in graphic terms. The priesthood would be shamed and disgraced as clearly as if God had smeared animal waste on their faces. They would be discarded as surely as animal filth was removed from the carcass prior to sacrifice. In order to purify the priesthood, and to preserve His covenant with the tribe of Levi, God would judge the priests. Though they were worthy of death (Numbers 18:32), God instead chooses to use shame.

This is both a prophetic statement as well as a description of Israel's current state. Malachi's book of prophecy delivers three main lessons, and the second one is an accusation against the people in general. That charge will involve divorce from their wives and marriage to pagan women. A culture which brazenly joins itself to idol worshippers, and which breaks marriage vows to God, is clearly not one which respects its spiritual leaders. More than likely, the priests of Malachi's day have already seen their reputation in the eyes of the people fading—in no small part because of their own apathy and sin (Malachi 1:13).

As this verse indicates, this is simply a consequence of the priests' own actions. They don't obey God, so there is no reason for them to receive blessing, honor, or wisdom from Him. They don't live lives which reflect the truth, so there is no reason for the people to hold them in high esteem.

Malachi 1:6—2:9 is directed specifically at the priests of Israel. Despite having knowledge of the Old Testament Law, they are offering improper sacrifices to God. Instead of following the requirements for pure offerings, they are sacrificing animals so defective that a mere politician would not accept them. This shows their apathy and disrespect towards God. In response, God warns that He will be praised properly, even if it's by the Gentiles, even if it's in spite of His own chosen people. This includes a threat to humiliate the priesthood, if they don't lead the people as they have been instructed.

God will humiliate the priests who are insulting Him with improper sacrifices. While the priests are being unfaithful to God, the people of Israel are also being unfaithful to each other. In particular, they are marrying pagans, and committing divorce, which God absolutely despises. God's covenant with Israel included both blessings for obedience, and consequences for disobedience. And yet, as Israel disobeys, they blame God for their hardships. God's people are defying Him, then blaming Him for the end results!

Malachi's structure is intricate, but can be divided into three primary messages. The first message is to Israel's priests, and runs from Malachi 1:2 through Malachi 2:9. Chapter 2 begins with a warning, to the priests, that God will humiliate them for their arrogant, apathetic attitudes. The topic then transitions to Malachi's second message, directed to Israel as a whole, accusing them of being unfaithful to each other. This rebuke of infidelity continues through the beginning of chapter 3, before calling Israel to repentance in the final message.

Malachi is the last message of prophecy given to Israel prior to 400 years of silence. Israel has rebuilt the temple, following the invasions of Babylon, but they are still under foreign oppression. Israel's spiritual condition, however, is dire. Hosea depicted Israel as prone to failure, but repentant. Later, Ezekiel exposed Israel's blatant disobedience. By the time of Malachi, Israel has passed into numbness and apathy. Unlike other Old Testament prophets, Malachi takes the form of a dialogue, where Israel responds to accusations as if unaware that they've occurred. The next prophetic voice from God would not come until the ministry of John the Baptist.