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Verse
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Malachi 2:7
ESV For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
NIV For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.
NASB For the lips of a priest should maintain knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of armies.
CSB For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Armies.
NLT The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
KJV For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

What does Malachi 2:7 mean?

This book of prophecy is attributed to Malachi, or Mal'akiy in the original Hebrew, which literally means "My messenger." Since this name appears exactly once in all of Scripture (Malachi 1:1), it's possible that this is meant to be a title, not a personal name. This first message, from God's messenger, has been directed at the priests of Israel. As this verse indicates, priests are supposed to be resources of truth for the people. As God's messengers, truth and knowledge should be their goals.

The priesthood of Israel has failed to teach the truth, and they have not honored God (Malachi 2:8). In fact, they have been offering impure sacrifices and sneering at the requirements given them by God (Malachi 1:7–8, 13). As a result, the people who look up to them have been led astray. There is a natural assumption, from the average person, that someone claiming the title of "priest" would be an honest and open teacher of the truth. This is one reason that spiritual leadership comes with greater scrutiny, and greater judgment, in the eyes of God (James 3:1). Failures in a culture's spiritual leaders will drag the people down as well (Malachi 2:8).
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