Malachi 2:1

Malachi 2:1-9. Threatened Punishment of the Priests

1. O ye priests The discourse turns again in direct appeal to the priests. The exact order of the words is emphatic: And now, for you is this commandment, O priests.

this commandment Some commentators would make "commandment" here mean purpose, or decree, and refer it to the punishment threatened in Malachi 2:2. There seems no reason, however, to depart here and in Malachi 2:4 from the usual meaning of the word. The passage (Malachi 2:2) is a commandment to reform, with threatened consequences if they disobey it.