Malachi 2:14

The wife of thy youth] i.e. the wife married in youth. The evil here denounced is the divorce of an old wife in favour of a younger woman. The wife of thy covenant] The thought that there is a solemn compact between husband and wife is stated definitely here only in the OT; but it is the natural inference from the representation of Israel as Jehovah's wife, for though Israel was false to Jehovah, He remained faithful. 15. The text, as it stands, is unintelligible. A simple correction has been suggested, which gives the following sense: 'Did not one (God) make and continue life to us? And what does the one (God) seek? A sacred seed. Therefore take heed to your life, and deal not treacherously against the wife of thy youth': i.e. One God (cp. Malachi 2:10) has created a life to which He has given continuance through marriage. The object of marriage—God's object in its institution—is to obtain, children, 'seed of God.' When children are born, the object of marriage is attained. Therefore let not a man put away his wife, because she has grown old and lost her attraction.