Malachi 2:16

 

(KJV)   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.

(1611 KJV) For the Lord the God of Israel saith, that he hateth putting away: for one couereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts, therfore take heed to your spirit, that ye deale not treacherously.

 

Counterfeit Versions

­Reads “hates and divorces his wife”

(CSB) “If he hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord God of Israel, “he covers his garment with injustice,” says the Lord of Armies. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously.

(1899 DOUAY-RHEIMS) When thou shalt hate her put her away, saith the Lord the God of Israel: but iniquity shall cover his garment, saith the Lord of hosts, keep your spirit, and despise not.

(ESV) “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

(HCSB) “If he hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord God of Israel, “he covers his garment with injustice,” says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously.

(NIRV) “Suppose a man hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord God of Israel. “Then he is harming the one he should protect,” says the Lord who rules over all. So be careful. And don’t be unfaithful.

(NIV) “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

 

Masoretic Text

כִּי־שָׂנֵא שַׁלַּח אָמַר יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכִסָּה חָמָס עַל־לְבוּשׁוֹ אָמַר יְהוָֹה צְבָאוֹת וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם בְּרוּחֲכֶם וְלֹא תִבְגֹּדוּ׃

 

כִּי־שָׂנֵא – “he hated”  A conjunction which is a combination of two words (ki) meaning “because or that” and (sane) which means “hate.” 

 

שַׁלַּח – (shallach) which is a word which means “sending out or putting out.”

 

אָמַר – (amar) which is a word that means “to say, call, or think”

 

So the King James is 100% correct in that it is stating that God hates putting away [divorce].  If you notice the modern versions, they take the meaning of the passage and makes it say that it is about a husband hating his wife which is totally erroneous plus they take a serious condemnation by God and re-word it so no one is offended.  The true meaning of this verse is totally obscured in these modern versions.  This way they can make divorce more acceptable so pastors can use their churches as matchmaking agencies and disregard the strong teachings of Scripture on divorce and remarriage so they can build their congregations and get one of those six figure salaries.

 

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