Chapter
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Verse
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Malachi 2:10
ESV Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
NIV Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?
NASB Do we not all have one Father? Is it not one God who has created us? Why do we deal treacherously, each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
CSB Don't all of us have one Father? Didn't one God create us? Why then do we act treacherously against one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?
NLT Are we not all children of the same Father? Are we not all created by the same God? Then why do we betray each other, violating the covenant of our ancestors?
KJV Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

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.
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