1. Malachi 2:12 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How should the first part of the verse be understood?

Malachi 2:12 (ESV)

12 May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!

The original Hebrew for the first part of this verse literally reads, “As for the man who does this, may the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers.” The latter words “who awakes and answers” are an idiom not used elsewhere. Some (as the ESV) translate this to mean one’s descendants. The idiom, although difficult to understand, likely expresses totality. A good translation of this part of the verse would be, “May the Lord cut off from the people of Jacob every last man who has done this and yet brings an offering to the Lord.”