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Malachi 2:12

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Malachi 2:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.
Malachi 2:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Malachi 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.
10Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
11Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Jehovah which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a foreign god.
12Jehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.
13And this again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand.
14Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
← Malachi 2:11Malachi 2:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, etc.] That is guilty of such treachery, wickedness, and idolatry: or “to the man that doeth this”f46; all that belong to him, his children and substance: it denotes the utter destruction, not of a single man and his family only, but of the whole Jewish nation and its polity, civil and ecclesiastical, as follows: the master and the scholar out of the tabernacles of Jacob; the Targum paraphrases it, “the son, and son’s son, out of the cities of Jacob;” agreeable to which is Kimchi’s note, “it is as if it was said, there shall not be left in his house one alive; that there shall not be in his house one that answers him, that calls by name.” In the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“master and . . . scholar--literally, "him that watcheth and him that answereth." So "wakeneth" is used of the teacher or "master" (Isa 50:4); masters are watchful in guarding their scholars. The reference is to the priests, who ought to have taught the people piety, but who led them into evil. "Him that answereth" is the scholar who has to answer the questions of his teacher (Luk 2:47) [GROTIUS]. The Arabs have a proverb, "None calling and none answering," that is, there being not one alive. So GESENIUS explains it of the Levite watches in the temple (Psa 134:1), one watchman calling and another answering. But the scholar is rather the people, the pupils of the priests "in doing this,"…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar - , literally “The Lord cut off from the man that doeth this, watcher and answerer.” A proverbial saying apparently, in which the two corresponding classes comprise the whole. Yet so, probably, that the one is the active agent; the other, the passive. The one as a “watcher” goes his rounds, to see that nothing stirreth against that which he is to guard; the other “answereth,” when roused. Together, they express the two opposite classes, active and passive sin; those who originate the sin, and those who adopt or retain it at the instigation of the inventor or active propagator of it. It will not exempt from punishment,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The master and the scholar - There shall be left neither any to teach nor any to learn. Him that offereth - The priests. Malachi 2:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:12 cut off: The intent was to blot out or destroy evildoers, in contrast to social banishment or religious excommunication.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“cut: Lev 18:29, Lev 20:3; Num 15:30, Num 15:31; Jos 23:12, Jos 23:13; Sa1 2:31-34 the master and the scholar: or, him that waketh, and him that answereth, Ch1 25:8; Ezr 10:18, Ezr 10:19; Neh 13:28, Neh 13:29; Isa 9:14-16, Isa 24:1, Isa 24:2; Eze 14:10; Hos 4:4, Hos 4:5; Mat 15:14; Ti2 3:13; Rev 19:20 out: Num 24:5; Zac 12:7 and him: Mal 2:10; Gen 4:3-5; Sa1 3:14, Sa1 15:22, Sa1 15:23; Isa 61:8, Isa 66:3; Amo 5:22 Malachi 2:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification