King James Version

What Does Malachi 2:11 Mean?

Malachi 2:11 in the King James Version says “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the ...” — study this verse from Malachi chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. loved: or, ought to love”

Malachi 2:11 · KJV

Love

Context

9

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. have been: or, lifted up the face against: Heb. accepted faces

10

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?

11

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. loved: or, ought to love

12

The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. the master: or, him that waketh, and him that answereth

13

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

Read Malachi 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed—the תּוֹעֵבָה (to'evah, abomination) typically describes idolatrous practices that provoke God's revulsion (Deuteronomy 7:25-26). Malachi equates covenant-breaking with idolatry itself. For Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved—the קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh, holiness/sanctuary) likely refers both to the temple and to Israel as God's holy people, His treasured possession set apart from the nations.

And hath married the daughter of a strange god—נֵכָר (nekar, foreign/strange) describes not mere ethnicity but pagan religious affiliation. These marriages weren't culturally diverse unions but covenant compromises that brought idolatry into Israelite homes. The violation wasn't racial but theological—taking wives who served other deities undermined Israel's distinct witness as Yahweh's covenant people, repeating Solomon's catastrophic error (1 Kings 11:1-8).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The returned exiles faced pressure to intermarry with 'the people of the land' for economic and political security. These marriages to women who worshiped Canaanite, Moabite, and Ammonite deities threatened to replay the pre-exilic apostasy that had led to Babylonian judgment. Ezra's discovery of this widespread practice (Ezra 9:1-2) led to a covenant to put away foreign wives—a traumatic but necessary measure to preserve Israel's theological purity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do modern 'mixed marriages' (believer with unbeliever) parallel the theological compromise Malachi condemns?
  2. What 'strange gods' do contemporary Christians effectively 'marry' through compromising partnerships and alliances?
  3. Why does God characterize covenant-breaking relationships as 'profaning' His holiness rather than mere personal choice?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
בָּגְדָ֣ה1 of 17

“hath dealt treacherously”

H898

to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage

יְהוּדָ֗ה2 of 17

“Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וְתוֹעֵבָ֛ה3 of 17

“and an abomination”

H8441

properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e., (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol

נֶעֶשְׂתָ֥ה4 of 17

“is committed”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל5 of 17

“in Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וּבִירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם6 of 17

“and in Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

כִּ֣י׀7 of 17
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

חִלֵּ֣ל8 of 17

“hath profaned”

H2490

properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

יְהוּדָ֗ה9 of 17

“Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

קֹ֤דֶשׁ10 of 17

“the holiness”

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

יְהוָה֙11 of 17

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֲשֶׁ֣ר12 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָהֵ֔ב13 of 17

“which he loved”

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

וּבָעַ֖ל14 of 17

“and hath married”

H1166

to be master; hence, to marry

בַּת15 of 17

“the daughter”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

אֵ֥ל16 of 17

“god”

H410

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)

נֵכָֽר׃17 of 17

“of a strange”

H5236

foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Malachi. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Malachi 2:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Malachi 2:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Corinthians 6:14-18Ezra 9:1-2Nehemiah 13:23-29Exodus 19:5-6Deuteronomy 7:3-6Leviticus 20:26

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Malachi 2 →

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