Proof Texts: Whats the truth of the matter

Malachi 2:16: 16 “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.

This scripture reads so much diferent than what I ‘ve been taught. I’ve even quoted myself, God hates divorce. I apologize for being a part of misquoting this verse. When you know better you do better. Pastor Damon with Urban Logia ministries was the first person I heard say the scripture read he hates divorce, vs God hates divorce. I was confused as this is what my Bible said and this is what I’d heard. This is why at this point in my life, I am focused on learning Church history and truly going deeper in learning the Word of God. There have been so many false teachings that hold belivers captive, afraid, and ignorant of the True Word of God. I will have to say we have a job to pray and seek God for His truth also. We can’t expect to go deeper with God looking at the House Wives fighting, no shade! Let’s go behind the scences and talk about the history of this verse.

Let’s look at the verse 14-15 to gain greater context.

American Standard Bible

14 And you ask, “Why?” Because even though the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, you have acted treacherously against her. She was your marriage partner and your wife by covenant. 15 Didn’t God make them one and give them a portion of spirit? What is the one seeking? Godly offspring. So watch yourselves carefully,, so that no one acts treacherously against the wife of his youth.

16 “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.

King James Version

14  Yet ye say, Wherefore?

Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth,

Against whom thou hast dealt treacherously:

Yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit.

And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed.

Therefore take heed to your spirit,

And let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

16  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

New English Standard Bible

“Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

15 “But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.

16 “For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

The 1611 AD King James Bible changed the translation of Malachi 2:16 to say God hates divorce vs he hates divorce. The original KJV Bible included 80 books which included the Apocrypha, which was later removed in 1885, leaving the original 66 Books of the Bible

1611 AD: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with All 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving Only 66 Books.

Facts: The 500 BC Hebrew Manuscript only included 39 Books of the Old Testament, and the Apocrypha was not included.

300 years later in 200 BC: The Septuagint Greek Manuscripts contained The 39 Old Testament Books and the additional 14 Apocrypha Books were added.

1st Century AD: Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts which make up The 27 Books of the New Testament.

315 AD: Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture

http://www.tcseagles.org/faculty/nchilds/editoruploads/files/Timeline_of_Bible_Translation_History.pdf

The previous Bibles including the Coverdale 1535, The Matthew Bible 1537, The Great Bible 1539, The Geneva Bible 1960, The Bishops Bible 1568-72

In 1611, the King James Bible produced a radically new translation which construed God as the agent / subject of the verb ‘hate’:  Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away…

The Dead Sea Scroll Remants of the biblical manuscript from Cave 4 at Qumran helps clariy text-critical problems. Russell Fuller of Wellesley College is the Authoer. You will see this manuscript of Malachi 2:16 agree with the previous Bible translations prior to The 1611 KJV.

𝔊𝔅𝔙 ἀλλὰ ἐάν μισήσας ἐξαποστείλῃς, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς τοῦ Ισραηλ, καὶ καλύψει ἀσέβεια ἐπὶ τὰ ἐνδύματα αὐτοῦ, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ …

“If, having hated, you divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel, then iniquity will cover his garment, says the Lord Almighty.”

𝔊WL ἀλλʼ ἐὰν μισήσας ἐξαποστείλον, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός τοῦ Ισραηλ, καὶ καλύψει ἀσέβεια ἐπὶ τὰ ἐνδύματα αὐτοῦ, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ …

“If, having hated, divorce! says the Lord the God of Israel, then iniquity will cover his garments, says the Lord Almighty.”

No new major English Bible translations until 1885 AD: The "English Revised Version" Bible; The First Major English Revision of the KJV.

Then 140 years - 8 new translations

From 1611-1996- followed KJV translation of Malachi 2:16

The CSB, NIV (changed 2011), ESV (used by reformed an Baptis churches)