Malachi

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:9d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְנֹשְׂאִים פָּנִים בַּתּוֹרָה

Transliteration:

wᵉnōśᵉʾîm pānîm battôrâ

Translation (TNIV):

but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְנֹשְׂאִים (wᵉnōśᵉʾîm) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal participle m.p. of ‏נָשָׂא (nāśāʾ) : and lifting.
‏פָּנִים (pānîm) : plural of ‏פָּנֶה (pāneh) : faces.
‏בַּתּוֹרָה (battôrâ) : preposition ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + definite article + ‏‏תּוֹרָה (tōrâ) : in [regard to] the law.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:10a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הֲלוֹא אָב אֶחָד לְכֻלָּנוּ

Transliteration:

hᵃlôʾ ʾāb ʾeḥād lᵉkullānû

Translation (TNIV):

Do we not all have one Father?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

הֲלוֹא (hᵃlôʾ) : interrogative הֲ (hᵃ) + factual, stated negation ‏לוֹא (lôʾ) : [is there] not?
אֶחָד (ʾeḥād) : one.
אָב (ʾāb) : father.
לְכֻלָּנוּ (lᵉkullānû) : preposition לְ (lᵉ) + noun ‏כֹּל (kōl) + pronominal 1 c.p. suffix : to all of us.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:10b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הֲלוֹא אֵל אֶחָד בְּרָאָנוּ

Transliteration:

hᵃlôʾ ʾēl ʾeḥād bᵉrāʾānû

Translation (TNIV):

Did not one God create us?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

הֲלוֹא (hᵃlôʾ) : interrogative הֲ (hᵃ) + factual, stated negation ‏לוֹא (lôʾ) : [did] not?
אֶחָד (ʾeḥād) : one.
אֵל (ʾēl) : God.
בְּרָאָנוּ (bᵉrāʾānû) : Qal perfect 3 m.s of ‏בָּרָא (bārāʾ) + pronominal 1 c.p suffix : create us.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:10c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מַדּוּעַ נִבְגַּד אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו לְחַלֵּל בְּרִית אֲבֹתֵינוּ

Transliteration:

maddûaʿ nibgad ʾîš bᵉʾāḥîw lᵉḥallēl bᵉrît ʾᵃbōtênû

Translation (ESV):

Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

מַדּוּעַ (maddûaʿ) : why?
נִבְגַּד (nibgad) : Qal imperfect 1 c.p. of ‏בָּגַד (bāgad) : are we unfaithful.
אִישׁ (ʾîš) : each (one).
בְּאָחִיו (bᵉʾāḥîw) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + noun ‏אָח (ʾāḥ) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : to his brother.
לְחַלֵּל (lᵉḥallēl) : preposition לְ (lᵉ) + Piel infinitive construct of ‏חָלַל (ḥālal) : profaning.
בְּרִית (bᵉrît) : construct : the covenant of.
אֲבֹתֵינוּ (ʾᵃbōtênû) : plural of ‏אָב (ʾāb) + pronominal 1 c.p. suffix : our fathers.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:11a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בָּגְדָה יְהוּדָה

Transliteration:

bāgᵉdâ yᵉhûdâ

Translation (ESV):

Judah has been faithless

Glossary (meanings in this context):

יְהוּדָה (yᵉhûdâ) : Judah.
בָּגְדָה (bāgᵉdâ) : Qal perfect 3 f.s. of ‏בָּגַד (bāgad) : has been unfaithful.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:11b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏ וְתוֹעֵבָה נֶעֶשְׂתָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִירוּשָׁלִָם

Transliteration:

wᵉtôʿēbâ neʿeśtâ bᵉyiśrāʾēl ûbîrûšālāim

Translation (ESV):

and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְתוֹעֵבָה (wᵉtôʿēbâ) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + noun תוֹעֵבָה (tôʿēbâ) : and abomination.
נֶעֶשְׂתָה (neʿeśtâ) : Niphal perfect of ‏עָשָׂה (ʿāśâ) : has been committed.
בְיִשְׂרָאֵל (bᵉyiśrāʾēl) : preposition בְ (bᵉ) + proper name יִשְׂרָאֵל (yiśrāʾēl) : in Israel.
וּבִירוּשָׁלִָם (ûbîrûšālāim) : conj. וּ (û) + prep. בְ (bᵉ) + proper name ‏יְרוּשָׁלִָם (yᵉrûšālāim) : and in Jerusalem.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:11c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי חִלֵּל יְהוּדָה קֹדֶשׁ יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב

Transliteration:

kî ḥillēl yᵉhûdâ qōdeš YHWH ʾᵃšer ʾāhēb

Translation (ESV):

For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : conjunction : for.
יְהוּדָה (yᵉhûdâ) : Judah.
חִלֵּל (ḥillēl) : Piel perfect 3 m.s. of ‏חָלַל (ḥālal) : has profaned.
קֹדֶשׁ (qōdeš) : construct : the sanctuary of.
יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
אֲשֶׁר (ʾᵃšer) : relative : which.
אָהֵב (ʾāhēb) : Qal perfect 3 m.s. : he loves.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:11c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּבָעַל בַּת־אֵל נֵכָר

Transliteration:

ûbāʿal bat-ʾēl nēkār

Translation (ESV):

and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּבָעַל (ûbāʿal) : conjunction וּ (û) + Qal perfect 3 m.s. בָעַל (bāʿal) : and has married.
בַּת (bat) : construct : the daughter of.
נֵכָר (nēkār) : [a] foreign.
אֵל (ʾēl) : god.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:12a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏יַכְרֵת יְהוָה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂנָּה עֵר וְעֹנֶה

Transliteration:

yakrēt YHWH lāʾîš ʾᵃšer yaʿᵃśennâ ʿēr wᵉʿōneh

Translation (Stuart*):

May Yahweh cut off the person who does this, every single one

*Translation above and exegesis in footnotes below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998)

Glossary (meanings in this context):

יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
יַכְרֵת (yakrēt) : Hiphil imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏כָּרַת (kārat) : [may he] cut off.
לָאִישׁ (lāʾîš)¹ : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) definite article + אִישׁ (ʾîš) : the person.
אֲשֶׁר (ʾᵃšer) : relative : who.
יַעֲשֶׂנָּה (yaʿᵃśennâ) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏עָשָׂה (ʿāśâ) + pronominal 3 f.s. suffix : does this.
עֵר (ʿēr) : read ‏עֵד (ʿēd)² : a witness.
וְעֹנֶה (wᵉʿōneh) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal participle of ‏עָנָה (ʿānâ) : and one testifying.

¹לָאִישׁ (the person): This is the direct object of the verb יַכְרֵת (cut off) and not an indirect object or prepositional phrase. The lamed is here used as commonly in Aramaic but only rarely in Hebrew to introduce the direct object (GKC §177n; see e.g., Num. 10:25; 2 Sam. 3:30; 1 Chron. 29:22; Ezra 8:16; Ps. 69:6; Isa. 11:9; Jer. 40:2).
²‏עֵד וְעֹנֶה (every single one, literally, witness and testifier, perhaps idiomatically the equivalent of "one who says this and one who says that"): As the Septuagint (ἕως = Hebrew ‏עַד) and at least one medieval Hebrew manuscript as well as 4Q12a attest, the reš is a copy error for dalet, reš-dalet confusion being the most common copying error involving letters. Thus עֵר must be corrected to עֵד (witness). ‏ענה is another standard term for witness (see its use in the ninth commandment, Exod. 20:16). But what exactly does this pair of words, found only here in the Old Testament, mean? It is almost surely an idiomatic expression for totality ("every single one") via the citation of two instances in a category. Hebrew has many such expressions, virtually identical in format, including ‏שֹׁרֶשׁ וְעָנָף (root and branch, Mal. 3:19 [4:1], etc.), ‏עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (slave and free, 1 Kings 14:10, etc.), ‏רֹאשׁ וְזָנָב (head and tail), Isa. 9:13 [14]), ‏מוֹצָאֲךָ וְמְבוֹאֶךָ (your coming and your going, 2 Sam. 3:25, etc.), and the famous ‏טוֹב וָרָע (good and evil, Gen. 3:5, etc.).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:12b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מֵאָהֳלֵי יַעֲקֹב וּמַגִּישׁ מִנְחָה לַיהוָה צְבָאוֹת

Transliteration:

mēʾohᵒlê yaʿᵃqōb ûmaggîš minḥâ laYHWH ṣᵉbāʾôt

Translation (Stuart*):

from the tents of Jacob even if he brings an offering to Yahweh of the Armies.

*Translation above and exegesis in footnote below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

מֵאָהֳלֵי (mēʾohᵒlê) : preposition ‏מִן (min) + plural construct of ‏אֹהֶל (ʾōhel) : from the tents of.
יַעֲקֹב (yaʿᵃqōb) : Jacob.
וּמַגִּישׁ (ûmaggîš) : conjunction וּ (û) + Hiphil participle of ‏נָגַשׁ (nāgaš) : even if he brings.**
מִנְחָה (minḥâ) : a gift.
לַיהוָה (laYHWH) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + proper name ‏יהוה (YHWH) : to Yahweh.
צְבָאוֹת (ṣᵉbāʾôt) : plural of ‏צָבָא (ṣābāʾ) : [of the] armies.

**וּמַגִּישׁ (even if he brings): This translation, taking the final clause as dependent and adverbial, is the most contextually sensible of the various possibilities.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:13a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְזֹאת שֵׁנִית תַּעֲשׂוּ

Transliteration:

wᵉzōʾt šēnît taʿᵃśû

Translation (Stuart*):

And this second thing you do

*Translation above and exegesis in footnote below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְזֹאת (wᵉzōʾt) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + demonstrative 3 f.s. : and this.
שֵׁנִית (šēnît) : a second thing.**
תַּעֲשׂוּ (taʿᵃśû) : Qal imperfect 2 m.p. of ‏עָשָׂה (ʿāśâ) : you do.

**שֵׁנִית (another thing, literally, a second [thing]): The Septuagint missed this perfectly normal adjective/adverb/noun (it is used all three ways) found often in the prophets to introduce further revelation (Isa. 11:1; Jer. 1:13; Ezek. 4:6; Jon. 3:1; Hag. 2:20; Zech. 4:12, etc.) and guessed that the word was a first-person common singular perfect from ‏שׂנא (hate), supplied a relative pronoun for sense, and translated ἃ ἐμίσουν (which I hate).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:13b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כַּסּוֹת דִּמְעָה אֶת־מִזְבַּח יְהוָה בְּכִי וַאֲנָקָה

Transliteration:

kassôt dimʿâ ʾet-mizbaḥ YHWH bᵉkî waʾᵃnāqâ

Translation (Stuart*):

You cover Yahweh's alter with tears, with weeping and wailing

*Translation above and exegesis in footnote below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כַּסּוֹת (kassôt) : Piel infinitive construct of ‏כָּסָה (kāsâ) : to cover.^**
דִּמְעָה (dimʿâ) : collective noun feminine of ‏דֶּמַע (demaʿ) : [with] tears.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object indicator.
מִזְבַּח (mizbaḥ) : construct : the alter of.
יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name Yahweh/the LORD.
בְּכִי (bᵉkî) : noun : [with] weeping.
וַאֲנָקָה (waʾᵃnāqâ) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏אֲנָקָה (ʾᵃnāqâ) : and groaning (Holladay).

^**כַּסּוֹת (covering/you cover): This piel infinitive, probably used in place of a finite verb (see exegesis of 2:16) takes one object (Yahweh's alter) and three adverbial accusatives (with tears, with weeping, and with groaning) in a complex but regular grammatical construction.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:13c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מֵאֵין עוֹד פְּנוֹת אֶל־הַמִּנְחָה

Transliteration:

mēʾên ʿôd pᵉnôt ʾel-hamminḥâ

Translation (Stuart*):

because he no long regards the offering

*Translation above and exegesis below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

מֵאֵין (mēʾên) : preposition ‏מִן (min) + negation אֵין (min) + negation אֵין (ʾên) : without.
עוֹד (ʿôd) : adverb : still.
פְּנוֹת (pᵉnôt) : Qal infinitive construct of ‏פָּנָה (pānâ) : turning.
אֶל (ʾel) : towards.
הַמִּנְחָה (hamminḥâ) : definite article + noun ‏מִנְחָה (minḥâ) : the offering.

Exegesis (Stuart*):

‏מֵאֵין עוֹד (without there being any longer; most translations: "because he no longer ..." or the like): Contrary to the normal meaning of מֵאֵין (without, from ‏מִן plus ‏‏אֵין) Glazier-McDonald translates as if the second half of the verse were an independent sentence of prediction ("There will be no longer a turning to the offering, nor a taking" [see next post -JR]). She rightly recognizes, however, that ‏מֵאֵין is not a verbal reference to Yahweh's action but more neutrally to the lack of effect of the pagan worship style, and that it governs both infinitives that follow it (‏‏פְּנוֹת, "to turn," and ‏‏‏לָקַחַת, "to take." [see next post -JR]).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:13d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְלָקַחַת רָצוֹן מִיֶּדְכֶם

Transliteration:

wᵉlāqaḥat rāṣôn mîyedkem

Translation (Stuart*):

or takes it with favor from your hand

*Translation above and exegesis below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְלָקַחַת (wᵉlāqaḥat) : conj. ‏וְ (wᵉ) + prep. ‏לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of ‏לָקַח (lāqaḥ) : or accepts [it].
רָצוֹן (rāṣôn) : with favor.*
מִיֶּדְכֶם (mîyedkem) : preposition ‏מִן (mîn) + noun ‏יָד (yād) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : from your hand.

Exegesis (Stuart*):

‏רָצוֹן is employed adverbially: "with favor."

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 2:14a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַאֲמַרְתֶּם עַל־מָה עַל כִּי־יְהוָה הֵעִיד בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין אֵשֶׁת נְעוּרֶיךָ

Transliteration:

waʾᵃmartem ʿal-mâ ʿal kî-YHWH hēʿîd bênkā ûbên ʾēšet nᵉʿûrêkā

Translation (Stuart*):

You say, "Why?" Because the LORD is witness to the covenant between you and your childhood wife

*Translation above and exegesis below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וַאֲמַרְתֶּם (waʾᵃmartem) : conjunction ‏ו (waw) + Qal perfect 2 m.p. of ‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : you say.
עַל־מָה (ʿal-mâ) : Why?
עַל כִּי (ʿal kî) : because.
יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
הֵעִיד (hēʿîd) : Hiphil perfect 3 m.s. of ‏עוּד (ʿûd) : is a witness.
בֵּינְךָ (bênkā) : preposition ‏בַּיִן (bayin) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : between you.
וּבֵין (ûbên) : conjunction וּ (û) + construct of ‏בַּיִן (bayin) : and between.
אֵשֶׁת (ʾēšet) : construct of ‏אִשָּׁה (ʾiššâ) : the wife of.
נְעוּרֶיךָ (nᵉʿûrêkā) : abstract plural ‏נְעוּרִים (nᵉʿûrîm) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your youth.

Exegesis (Stuart*):

עַל־מָה (Why?) is a standard expression in Old Testament Hebrew, and the alliteratively corresponding conjunction ‏עַל כִּי (because) occurs five times in the Old Testament, with no doubt as to the meaning. הֵעִיד (is a witness) is a term with major covenantal overtones (...). ‏אֵשֶׁת נְעוּרֶיךָ (your childhood wife, often rendered "the wife of your youth"): The construct pattern is standard in this expression, as in Isaiah 54:6, Proverbs 2:15, and Malachi 2:15. Since "childhood" is abstract, the masculine plural form of the noun, which is the common form for abstracts in Hebrew, is used.