Malachi 2:2
New International Version
If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

New Living Translation
Listen to me and make up your minds to honor my name,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken my warning to heart.

English Standard Version
If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

Berean Standard Bible
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.

King James Bible
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

New King James Version
If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart.

New American Standard Bible
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the LORD of armies, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

NASB 1995
“If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the LORD of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

NASB 1977
“If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the LORD of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

Legacy Standard Bible
If you do not listen, and if you do not set it upon your heart to give honor to My name,” says Yahweh of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already because you are not setting it upon your heart.

Amplified Bible
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings [on the people]. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

Christian Standard Bible
If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart to honor my name,” says the LORD of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart to honor My name,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.”

American Standard Version
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

Contemporary English Version
You had better take seriously the need to honor my name. Otherwise, when you give a blessing, I will turn it into a curse. In fact, I have already done this, because you haven't taken to heart your duties as priests.

English Revised Version
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you won't listen and if you won't consider giving honor to my name," says the LORD of Armies, "then I'll send a curse on you, and I'll curse the blessings you give. Yes, I've already cursed them because you don't carefully consider this.

Good News Translation
You must honor me by what you do. If you will not listen to what I say, then I will bring a curse on you. I will put a curse on the things you receive for your support. In fact, I have already put a curse on them, because you do not take my command seriously.

International Standard Version
"If you don't listen, and if you don't choose to give honor to my name," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "then I'll curse both you and your blessings. I've even cursed them already, because none of you are taking it to heart.

Majority Standard Bible
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.

NET Bible
If you do not listen and take seriously the need to honor my name," says the LORD who rules over all, "I will send judgment on you and turn your blessings into curses--indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart.

New Heart English Bible
If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name," says the LORD of hosts, "then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.

Webster's Bible Translation
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

World English Bible
If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says Yahweh of Armies, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If you do not listen, and if you do not lay [it] to heart, "" To give glory to My Name,” said YHWH of Hosts, "" “I have sent the curse against you, "" And I have cursed your blessings, "" Indeed, I have also cursed it, "" Because you are not laying [it] to heart.

Young's Literal Translation
If ye hearken not, and if ye lay it not to heart, To give honour to My name, said Jehovah of Hosts, I have sent against you the curse, And I have cursed your blessings, Yea, I have also cursed it, Because ye are not laying it to heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
If ye will not hear and if ye will not set upon your heart to give honor to my name, said Jehovah of armies, and I sent a curse upon you, and I cursed your blessings, and also I cursed it for your not setting upon the heart.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will send poverty upon you, and will curse your blessings, yea I will curse them, because you have not laid it to heart.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If you will refuse to listen, and if you will refuse to take it to heart, so as to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send destitution upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I will curse them. For you have not taken it to heart.

New American Bible
And if you do not take to heart giving honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and your blessing I will curse. In fact, I have already cursed it, because you do not take it to heart.

New Revised Standard Version
If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If you will not obey, and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send curses upon you, and I will curse your blessings because you have not laid it to your heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If you will not hear and if you will not set in your heart to give honor to my name, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, I shall send against you a curse and I shall curse your blessings, because you are not laying it into your heart
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If ye will not hearken, and if ye will not lay it to heart, To give glory unto My name, Saith the LORD of hosts, Then will I send the curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings; Yea, I curse them, Because ye do not lay it to heart.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If ye will not hearken, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord Almighty, then I will send forth the curse upon you, and I will bring a curse upon your blessing: yea, I will curse it, and I will scatter your blessing, and it shall not exist among you, because ye lay not this to heart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Warning to Priests
1“And now this decree is for you, O priests: 2If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart. 3Behold, I will rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the waste from your feasts, and you will be carried off with it.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:15
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

Deuteronomy 28:45
All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, since you did not obey the LORD your God and keep the commandments and statutes He gave you.

Deuteronomy 28:20
The LORD will send curses upon you, confusion and reproof in all to which you put your hand, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness you have committed in forsaking Him.

Leviticus 26:14-16
If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, / and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, / then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.

Jeremiah 11:3-4
You must tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant, / which I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey Me, and do everything I command you, and you will be My people, and I will be your God.’

Jeremiah 11:8
Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.”

Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 43:28
So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary, and I will devote Jacob to destruction and Israel to reproach.”

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Amos 3:2
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Zechariah 7:11-14
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. / And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts. ...

Matthew 15:8-9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

John 12:48
There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.


Treasury of Scripture

If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, said the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings: yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.

ye will not hear.

Leviticus 26:14-46
But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; …

Deuteronomy 28:15-68
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: …

Deuteronomy 30:17,18
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; …

if ye will not lay.

Isaiah 42:25
Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Isaiah 47:7
And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

Isaiah 57:11
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

to give.

Joshua 7:19
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

Luke 17:18
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

and I.

Deuteronomy 28:16-18,53-57
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field…

Psalm 69:22
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

Psalm 109:7-15
When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin…

I have cursed.

Malachi 3:9
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

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Malachi 2
1. He sharply reproves the priests for neglecting their covenant;
10. and the people for marrying strange wives;
13. and for putting away their former ones,
17. and for infidelity.














If you do not listen
The Hebrew word for "listen" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but also obeying and understanding. In the context of Malachi, God is addressing the priests who have failed to heed His commands. Listening in the biblical sense involves an active response, a call to align one's actions with God's will. This phrase underscores the importance of attentiveness to God's word, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that true listening results in obedience.

and if you do not take it to heart
The phrase "take it to heart" translates from the Hebrew "שִׂים עַל־לֵב" (sim al-lev), which means to internalize or to consider deeply. The heart in Hebrew thought is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. God is calling for a sincere, heartfelt commitment, not mere outward compliance. This reflects a consistent biblical theme where God desires genuine devotion over ritualistic observance.

to honor My name
The Hebrew word for "honor" is "כָּבֵד" (kaved), which means to give weight or significance. God's name represents His character and reputation. To honor His name is to live in a way that reflects His holiness and righteousness. This call to honor God is a central tenet of the faith, reminding believers that their lives are a testimony to God's nature.

says the LORD of Hosts
The title "LORD of Hosts" (יהוה צְבָאוֹת, Yahweh Tseva'ot) emphasizes God's sovereignty and power. It portrays Him as the commander of heavenly armies, underscoring His authority and ability to execute judgment. This title reassures the faithful of God's ultimate control over all creation and His capacity to fulfill His promises.

I will send a curse upon you
The concept of a "curse" (קְלָלָה, qelalah) in the Hebrew Bible is a serious pronouncement of divine judgment. It is the opposite of a blessing and often involves a reversal of fortune or protection. In this context, the curse is a consequence of disobedience, highlighting the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where blessings and curses are contingent upon faithfulness.

and I will curse your blessings
This phrase indicates that even the blessings the priests currently enjoy will be turned into curses. The Hebrew understanding of blessings (בְּרָכוֹת, berakhot) encompasses prosperity, peace, and divine favor. The reversal of blessings into curses serves as a stark warning of the consequences of failing to honor God, illustrating the seriousness of their spiritual negligence.

Yes, I have already cursed them
The repetition here emphasizes the certainty and immediacy of God's judgment. The use of the perfect tense in Hebrew suggests that the action is as good as done, underscoring the inevitability of the consequences due to their persistent disobedience.

because you are not taking it to heart
This reiteration of the earlier phrase highlights the root cause of the problem: a failure to internalize God's commands. It serves as a reminder that true worship and obedience must stem from a heart fully devoted to God. The repetition underscores the importance of sincerity and the dangers of spiritual complacency.

(2) Hear . . . lay to heart--viz., the warning of Malachi 1:6-13.

Your blessings.--Some take this as meaning the priests' tithes, atonement money, and their portions of the sacrifices, in accordance with a common usage of the word in the sense of "gift"--e.g., Genesis 33:11. Others refer the words to the blessing which the priests pronounce on the people (Numbers 6:23-27).

Verse 2. - I will even send a curse; Revised Version, then will I send the curse. St. Jerome, regarding the temporal effect of the curse, translates, egestatem "scarcity" (comp. Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Deuteronomy 28:15, etc.). I will curse your blessings. The blessings which as priests they had to pronounce upon the people (Leviticus 9:22, 23; Numbers 6:23-27). These God would not ratify, but would turn them into curses, and thus punish the people who connived at and imitated the iniquities of the priests. Or the expression may refer to the material benefits promised by God to the Israelites on their obedience. But as the announcement is made specially to the priests, this explanation seems less probable. I have cursed them already. The curse has already begun to work. Dr. S. Cox ('Bible Educator,' 3:67, etc.) points out here an allusion to Nehemiah 13:1, 2, wherein it is recorded that they reed from the Book of Moses how that the Moabites "hired Balsam against them that he should curse them; howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing." Malachi, who, as he thinks, was present on this occasion, may have been deeply impressed by these words; and it is probable that we hear an echo of them in the threat of ver. 2. "That of old God had turned a curse into a blessing, may have suggested the menace that he would now turn a blessing into a curse."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen,
תִשְׁמְע֡וּ (ṯiš·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

and if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do not
לֹא֩ (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

take [it]
תָשִׂ֨ימוּ (ṯā·śî·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

heart
לֵ֜ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

to honor
לָתֵ֧ת (lā·ṯêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

My name,”
לִשְׁמִ֗י (liš·mî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8034: A name

says
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts,
צְבָא֔וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

“I will send
וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י (wə·šil·laḥ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

a curse among you,
הַמְּאֵרָ֔ה (ham·mə·’ê·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3994: An execration

and I will curse
וְאָרוֹתִ֖י (wə·’ā·rō·w·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

your blessings.
בִּרְכֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (bir·ḵō·w·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1293: Benediction, prosperity

Yes,
וְגַם֙ (wə·ḡam)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

I have already begun to curse them,
אָרוֹתִ֔יהָ (’ā·rō·w·ṯî·hā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

because
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you are not
אֵינְכֶ֖ם (’ê·nə·ḵem)
Adverb | second person masculine plural
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

taking
שָׂמִ֥ים (śā·mîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

it to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

heart.
לֵֽב׃ (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre


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OT Prophets: Malachi 2:2 If you will not listen and if (Malachi Mal Ml)
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