Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 1

I want to compare and contrast Paul’s teaching in his letter to the Corinthians to Jesus’ letter To the angel of the church in Thyatira[1] under the rubrics: “Paul’s Regime” and “Jesus’ Regime.”

Paul’s Regime

Jesus’ Regime

It is actually reported that sexual immorality (πορνεία) exists among you (ὑμῖν; plural), the kind of immorality (πορνεία) that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with (ἔχειν, a form of ἔχω) his father’s wife.

1 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

But I have (ἔχω) this against you (σοῦ, a form of σύ; singular): You tolerate (ἀφεῖς, a form of ἀφίημι) that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality (πορνεῦσαι, a form of πορνεύω) and to eat food sacrificed to idols (εἰδωλόθυτα, a form of εἰδωλόθυτον).

Revelation 2:20 (NET)

I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality (πορνείας, a form of πορνεία).

Revelation 2:21 (NET)

Experiencing these as two distinct regimes is new for me.  As long as I assumed that Jesus’ spoke to the second person plural the two passages seemed virtually identical.  And without doubt I love and respect Paul.  He led me to Jesus, helped me to see Him in a different light.  Apart from Paul’s writing in the New Testament I may never have learned to trust Jesus.  I’ve tried to imagine that the man Paul wrote about had kidnapped his father’s wife, kept her against her will, raped her repeatedly and refused to release her.  But that’s as much, or more, to ask of ἔχειν than the idea that he was pimping her for cultic purposes.

The man who had his father’s wife compares to Jezebel, who by her teaching deceives [Jesus’] servants to commit sexual immorality, as a man who walks into a congregation with a loaded gun compares to an active shooter.  Jesus gave Jezebel time to repent.  Paul didn’t say anything about time to repent, though I’m hard-pressed to determine what form the man’s repentance might have taken.

When I believed that πορνεία meant pre-marital sex[2] repentance seemed fairly straightforward: The man should dump the woman, go to college, get a high-paying job, return home, settle down and marry a nice girl—one who wouldn’t cohabit with her husband’s son.  That changed as I began to take the law (Exodus 22:16, 17, Deuteronomy 22:28-30) more seriously,[3] as a way to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent.[4]  Of course, the woman in this case was or had been married to the man’s father.  By law both should have been condemned to death (Leviticus 20:10, 11).

Paul’s Regime

Jesus’ Regime

And you (ὑμεῖς, a form of ὑμείς) are proud (πεφυσιωμένοι, a form of φυσιόω)!  Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed (ἀρθῇ, a form of αἴρω) the one who did this from among you (ὑμῶν)?

1 Corinthians 5:2 (NET) Table

Look!  I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery (μοιχεύοντας, a form of μοιχεύω) with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds.

Revelation 2:22 (NET)

Paul addressed everyone (ὑμεῖς is second person plural) in the church at Corinth except the man who had his father’s wife, accusing them of being proud.  Of the seven occurrences of forms of φυσιόω in the New Testament, six are found in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  (It is at least his second letter.)  Pride or arrogance was a consistent theme in his mind as he wrote.

Paul claimed I became your father (ἐγέννησα, a form of γεννάω) in Christ Jesus through the gospel.[5]  Actually he wrote, For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers (πατέρας, a form of πατήρ) ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα (literally, “for in Christ Jesus through the Gospel I gave birth to [KJV: have begotten] you”).  The NET translators shaded the arrogance of that statement a bit.  But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers, Jesus taught his disciples.  And call no one your ‘father’ (πατέρα, another form of πατήρ) on earth, for you have one Father (πατὴρ, another form of πατήρ), who is in heaven.  Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ.[6]

The grandiose claim that the Corinthian believers were born of Paul (John 1:13 NIV ἐγεννήθησαν is another form of γεννάω) was out of character with Paul’s own teaching earlier in the same letter (1 Corinthians 3:6, 7 NET):

I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.  So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.

I have applied these things to myself and Apollos, Paul wrote, because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up (φυσιοῦσθε, another form of φυσιόω) in favor of the one against the other.  For who concedes you any superiority?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you received it, why do you boast (καυχᾶσαι, a form of καυχάομαι) as though you did not?[7]  Of course, then he wrote (1 Corinthians 4:18-20 NET):

Some have become arrogant (ἐφυσιώθησαν, another form of φυσιόω), as if I were not coming to you.  But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant (πεφυσιωμένων, another form of φυσιόω) people, but also their power.  For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.

Though God’s power (δυνάμει, a form of δύναμις) would clearly be the truth of his final declaration, in context it doesn’t seem to be the power Paul had in mind.  What do you want? he continued as if the following choice would be made by the Corinthians rather than by Paul himself.  Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline (ράβδῳ, a form of ῥάβδος) or with love (ἀγάπῃ) and a spirit of gentleness (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης)?[8]  (While I assume that Paul’s threat to return to Corinth to beat the arrogant with a stick was bluster, it is heartwarming to find such punishment distinguished from love in the New Testament.)  In the very same letter Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 NET):

Knowledge puffs up (φυσιοῖ, another form of φυσιόω), but love (ἀγάπη) builds up.  If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.  But if someone loves (ἀγαπᾷ, a form of ἀγαπάω) God, he is known (ἔγνωσται, a form of γινώσκω) by God.

And (1 Corinthians 13:4-13 NET):

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious.  Love does not brag, it is not puffed up (φυσιοῦται, another form of φυσιόω).  It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.  It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.  But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.  And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

Paul formed his conclusion that the Corinthians were proud (πεφυσιωμένοι, a form of φυσιόω), not by direct observation and interaction with them but, by hearsay[9] and by the fact that they had not removed the one who did this from among [them].  Paul had asked rhetorically, Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you?  The Greek word translated deeply sorrowful is ἐπενθήσατε (a form of πενθέω).

I am afraid, Paul wrote, that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve (πενθήσω, another form of πενθέω) for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality (πορνείᾳ), and licentiousness that they have practiced.[10]  Truly, love is not glad about injustice;[11] it does not rejoice in iniquity.[12]  Grieve, mourn (πενθήσατε, another form of πενθέω), and weep, James wrote.  Turn your laughter into mourning (πένθος) and your joy into despair.  Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.[13]  But I can’t help wondering if this mourning wasn’t more cultural than divinely inspired.

Granted, Jesus said: Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn (πενθήσετε, another form of πενθέω) and weep;[14] and, The wedding guests cannot mourn (πενθεῖν, another form of πενθέω) while the bridegroom is with them, can they?[15]  He also said, Blessed are those who mourn (πενθοῦντες, another form of πενθέω), for they will be comforted.[16]  But I still remember the contrast between Ezra and Malachi:

Ezra

Malachi

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites – men, women, and children alike – gathered around him.  The people wept loudly [Table].  Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples.  Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard [Table].  Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God.  And let it be done according to the law [Table].”

Ezra 10:1-3 (NET)

You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you [Table].  Yet you ask, “Why?”  The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law [Table].  No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this.  What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God?  Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth [Table].  “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and the one who is guilty of violence,” says the Lord who rules over all.  “Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful” [Table].

Malachi 2:13-16 (NET)

As Jesus’ disciples mourned his death (or perhaps their own loss) they didn’t believe his comfort when it came to them in the form of a woman: Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons.  She went out and told those who were with him, while they were mourning (πενθοῦσι, another form of πενθέω) and weeping.  And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.[17]  So to the first part of Paul’s rhetorical question I can only give a qualified yes.

The Greek word translated removed in the second part of Paul’s rhetorical question was ἀρθῇ (a form of αἴρω).  “Take this man away (αἶρε, another form of αἴρω)!  Release Barabbas for us![18] an angry mob before Pilate rejected Jesus.  “Away (αἶρε, another form of αἴρω) with him!”[19] a mob in Jerusalem rejected Paul.  A crowd listening patiently to Paul’s defense turned ugly when he said that the Lord said to him, Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.[20]  Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Away (αἶρε, another form of αἴρω) with this man from the earth!  For he should not be allowed to live!”[21]

Here again I can’t help wondering if Paul’s reaction wasn’t more cultural than divinely inspired.  But calling it cultural isn’t entirely accurate.  Paul’s reaction was precisely correct for a time under law when yehôvâh was present among his people in a way unknown since the garden of Eden, before He gave his life as an atonement for sin.  Consider Achan (Joshua 7) as a case in point.

Exile for the man who had his father’s wife (and the woman along with him, presumably) would be considered more merciful than death, but Jesus’ parable persuades me to reject the second part of Paul’s rhetorical question—Shouldn’t you have…removed the one who did this from among you?  When Jesus’ slaves asked if they should uproot the weeds planted by the enemy He said, No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest.[22]  This is not to say that I know whether the man who had his father’s wife was a weed planted by the enemy or a sinning saint.  It is to say, if this is Jesus’ attitude toward uprooting weeds planted by the enemy I dare not risk uprooting a sinning saint.

Let’s say for the sake of argument that I’m reading too much into Jesus’ parable.  Let’s say that I’m wrong about the angel of the church in Thyatira, that he was a human being rather than a higher order being.  Let’s grant, for the sake of argument, that Paul as an apostle had the authority and God-given wisdom to recognize a weed and uproot it.  Did he have the authority to turn the church of Jesus Christ in Corinth (and any who hear him today) from the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control of the Holy Spirit, and transform them into a paranoid police force?  Rather than knowing no law against loving our neighbor as well as our enemies, does every infraction of any law call us to dam up the fruit of the Holy Spirit?  Must we judge one another constantly lest we be proud for loving one another excessively?  I admit I sat silently through a sermon declaring that, Do not judge so that you will not be judged,[23] meant that we should judge and be judged.[24]

Hear Jesus’ regime by contrast: Look!  I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness.  That is Jezebel, the one who by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.[25]  Secondly, He is throwing those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds.  But there is not one word to the rest of the church in Thyatira about being proud because they had not removed Jezebel and her followers from their midst.  The criticismBut I have this against you—was laid directly on the angel of the church in Thyatira, whether human or a higher order being. Yes, the letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira was to be read by all the churches, but its content was directed with surgical precision.

To be fair the only reason I have the audacity to make this kind of critique of Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 5 is Paul’s extended treatise on love in his later writing to believers in Rome.  Therefore we must not pass judgment (κρίνωμεν, a form of κρίνω) on one another, but rather determine (κρίνατε, another form of κρίνω) never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.[26]  Actually, Paul described love this way: Μηκέτι οὖν ἀλλήλους κρίνωμεν[27] (literally, “no longer then one another judge”).

[1] Revelation 2:18a (NET)

[2] An article by Bromleigh McCleneghan, “Sex and the single Christian: Why celibacy isn’t the only option,” was interesting bait for an unsuspecting moralist.  Obviously single people can have sex.  That’s how they become married people in God’s sight.  The rest is ceremony, celebration and government paperwork.  If anyone actually believed that religious leaders knew magical rites that could transmogrify illicit sex into holy matrimony those religious leaders would be compelled by law to perform those rites equally for all in a pluralistic society.  The only thing single people cannot do is fool God into thinking they are not guilty of adultery if they have sex with somebody different tomorrow night, simply because they have not signed government paperwork or had a ceremony or celebrated.

[3] Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 12, Ezra and Divorce

[4] John 17:3b (NET)

[5] 1 Corinthians 4:15b (NET)

[6] Matthew 23:8-10 (NET)

[7] 1 Corinthians 4:6, 7 (NET)

[8] 1 Corinthians 4:21 (NET)

[9] My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. (1 Corinthians 1:11 NIV)

[10] 2 Corinthians 12:21 (NET)

[11] 1 Corinthians 13:6a (NET)

[12] 1 Corinthians 13:6a (NKJV)

[13] James 4:9, 10 (NET)

[14] Luke 6:25b (NET)

[15] Mathew 9:15a (NET)

[16] Matthew 5:4 (NET)

[17] Mark 16:9-11 (NET)

[18] Luke 23:18b (NET)

[19] Acts 21:36b (NET)

[20] Acts 22:21b (NET)

[21] Acts 22:22b (NET)

[22] Matthew 13:29, 30a (NET)

[23] Matthew 7:1 (NET)

[24] This point of view is surprisingly common.   I found the following paraphrase online: “If you don’t want your life to be scrutinized, then don’t judge others.  If you can stand the scrutiny then go ahead.”  I will freely admit to needing as much grace as possible.  There are other voices online.

[25] Revelation 2:20b (NET)

[26] Romans 14:13 (NET)

[27] Romans 14:13a

Ezra and Divorce

I have gone through similar changes in my response to Paul as those I mentioned in response to Jesus.  There was a time when I thought Paul had written extraordinary claims, statements so exaggerated that they should never be taken literally or at face value.  Not the least of these was Romans 3:20 (NET), For no one is declared righteous before [God] by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

The story at the end of Ezra was one of my proof texts, how wrong Paul had gotten it, for the men who had married foreign wives among the exiles who returned to Israel were certainly declared righteous before [God] by the works of the law (Ezra 10:2-4, 7, 8, 12-17 NET):

Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples.  Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.  Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God.  And let it be done according to the law (Table).  Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”… A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem.  Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles…. All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said!  However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season.  We are unable to stand here outside.  Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter.  Let our leaders take steps on behalf of all the assembly. Let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each town and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter.”

Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.  So the exiles proceeded accordingly.  Ezra the priest separated out by name men who were leaders in their family groups.  They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month, and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives.

In time, though, I had to change my mind about the meaning of this story in Ezra, about Paul and about the reliability of Romans 3:20.  I had my facts more or less correct.  What I had forgotten to consider was God’s response to those facts.  I found that response eventually in the book of the prophet Malachi.  Here are the two passages side by side:

The Facts

God’s Response to Those Facts

…the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites [Table].  Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this [Table]!” When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and   beard.  Then I sat down, quite devastated.  Everyone who held the words of the God of   Israel in awe gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile.  Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.  At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement, with my tunic and robe torn, and then dropped to my   knees and spread my hands to the Lord my God.

Ezra 9:1-5 (NET)

Judah has become disloyal, and unspeakable sins have been committed in Israel and Jerusalem.  For Judah has profaned the holy things that the Lord loves and has turned to a foreign god (literally, has married the daughter of a foreign god) [See Addendum below]!  May the Lord cut off from the community of Jacob every last person who does this, as well as the person who presents improper offerings to the Lord who rules over all!

Malachi 2:11, 12 (NET)

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites – men, women, and children alike – gathered around him.  The people wept loudly.  Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have been unfaithful   to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples.  Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.  Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God.  And let it be   done according to the law [Table].  Get up, for this matter concerns you.  We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”

Ezra 10:1-4 (NET)

You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you.  Yet you ask, “Why?”  The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law.  No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this.  What did our   ancestor do when seeking a child from God?  Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth.  “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and the one who is guilty of violence,” says the Lord who rules over all.  “Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful.”

Malachi 2:13-16 (NET)

It is difficult, to say the least, for me to accept that Jesus proposed divorce as a remedy for even unlawful marriage in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9.  It was, in fact, this new understanding of Ezra (and Jephthah in Judges 10:6-12:7) that first led me to consider what I now call the religious mind.  (I am too pharisaical myself to have ever seen it initially in the Pharisees in the New Testament.)  They were good (relatively speaking) well-intentioned men led astray by their misunderstanding of God.  Whether that misunderstanding was stubborn willfulness or honest mistake I’m in no position to judge.  Given my own propensity for making the same kind of mistakes, I’m more than willing to be generous and give them the benefit of the doubt.

The enigma of Ezra and Malachi which ends the Old Testament thematically—that God was angered by intermarriage between Israelites and the idolatrous women around them, and equally angered by the self-righteous strategy to send those women and their children away, calling it violence—is unraveled in the New Testament for those with ears to hear (John 3:3, 5-7 NET):

I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God [Table]….unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God [Table].  What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must all be born from above.”

 

Addendum: December 6, 2021
The rabbis who translated the Septuagint did not translate וּבָעַ֖ל and בַּת (Tanakh/KJV: and hath married the daughter) literally in Malachi 2:11.  If these words occurred in the Hebrew from which they translated, they were treated idiomatically or extremely euphemistically as ἐπετήδευσεν (a form of ἐπιτηδεύω), busied (NETS), has gone after (English Elpenor).  The translators of the NET adopted a similar approach to the current Hebrew text, has turned to.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Malachi 2:11 (Tanakh/KJV) Malachi 2:11 (NET) Malachi 2:11 (NETS) Malachi 2:11 (English Elpenor)
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married (וּבָעַ֖ל) the daughter (בַּת) of a strange god. Judah has become disloyal, and unspeakable sins have been committed in Israel and Jerusalem.  For Judah has profaned the holy things that the Lord loves and has turned to a foreign god! [Note 15: Heb “has married (bāʿal, ובעל) the daughter (baṯ, בת) of a foreign god.”] Ioudas was forsaken, and an abomination occurred in Israel and in Ierousalem, for Ioudas profaned the sacred things of the Lord with which he loved and busied (ἐπετήδευσεν) himself with foreign gods. Juda has been forsaken, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Juda has profaned the holy things of the Lord, which he delighted in, and has gone after (ἐπετήδευσεν) other gods.

Ezra 9:2 follows for comparison:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Ezra 9:2 (Tanakh) Table Ezra 9:2 (NET) Ezra 9:2 (NETS) Table Ezra 9:2 (English Elpenor)
For they have taken (נָשְׂא֣וּ) of their daughters (מִבְּנֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם) for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.’ Indeed, they have taken (nāśā’, נשׁאו) some of their daughters (baṯ, מבנתיהם) as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents.  Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all this unfaithfulness!” because they have taken (ἐλάβοσαν) from their daughters (ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν) for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed was influenced by the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the rulers was in this faithlessness in the beginning.” For they have taken (ἐλάβοσαν) of their daughters (ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν) for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers [has been] first in this transgression.

Tables comparing Ezra 10:2; 10:4; 10:7; 10:8; 10:12; 10:13; 10:14; 10:15; 10:16; 10:17; 9:3; 9:4; 9:5; Malachi 2:11; 2:12; Ezra 10:1; Malachi 2:13; 2:14; 2:15 and 2:16 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Ezra (2 Esdras) 10:2; 10:4; 10:7; 10:8; 10:12; 10:13; 10:14; 10:15; 10:16; 10:17; 9:3; 9:4; 9:5; Malachi 2:11; 2:12; Ezra (2 Esdras) 10:1; Malachi 2:13; 2:14; 2:15 and 2:16 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Ezra 10:2 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:2 (KJV)

Ezra 10:2 (NET)

And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra: ‘We have broken faith with our G-d, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples.  Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.

Ezra 10:2 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Σεχενιας υἱὸς Ιιηλ ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ηλαμ καὶ εἶπεν τῷ Εσδρα ἡμεῗς ἠσυνθετήσαμεν τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν καὶ ἐκαθίσαμεν γυναῗκας ἀλλοτρίας ἀπὸ λαῶν τῆς γῆς καὶ νῦν ἔστιν ὑπομονὴ τῷ Ισραηλ ἐπὶ τούτῳ καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Σεχενίας υἱὸς ᾿Ιεὴλ ἀπὸ υἱῶν ᾿Ηλάμ, καὶ εἶπε τῷ ῎Εσδρᾳ· ἡμεῖς ἠσυνθετήσαμεν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν καὶ ἐκαθίσαμεν γυναῖκας ἀλλοτρίας ἀπὸ τῶν λαῶν τῆς γῆς· καὶ νῦν ἐστιν ὑπομονὴ τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ τούτῳ

2 Esdras 10:2 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:2 (English Elpenor)

And Sechenias son of Ieiel, of Elam’s sons, answered and said to Esdras, “We were faithless with our God and set up foreign women from the peoples of the land, and now there is endurance for Israel in this. And Sechenias the son of Jeel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Esdras, We have broken covenant with our God, and have taken strange wives of the nations of the land: yet now there is patience [of hope] to Israel concerning this thing.

Ezra 10:4 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:4 (KJV)

Ezra 10:4 (NET)

Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee; be of good courage, and do it.’ Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it. Get up, for this matter concerns you.  We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”

Ezra 10:4 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀνάστα ὅτι ἐπὶ σὲ τὸ ῥῆμα καὶ ἡμεῗς μετὰ σοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ποίησον ἀνάστα, ὅτι ἐπὶ σὲ τὸ ῥῆμα, καὶ ἡμεῖς μετὰ σοῦ· κραταιοῦ καὶ ποίησον

2 Esdras 10:4 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:4 (English Elpenor)

Arise!  The word is upon you, and we are with you; be strong, and act.” Rise up, for the matter [is] upon thee; and we [are] with thee: be strong and do.

Ezra 10:7 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:7 (KJV)

Ezra 10:7 (NET)

And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem.

Ezra 10:7 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ παρήνεγκαν φωνὴν ἐν Ιουδα καὶ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ πᾶσιν τοῗς υἱοῗς τῆς ἀποικίας τοῦ συναθροισθῆναι εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ παρήνεγκαν φωνὴν ἐν ᾿Ιούδᾳ καὶ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ πᾶσι τοῖς υἱοῖς τῆς ἀποικίας τοῦ συναθροισθῆναι εἰς ῾Ιερουαλήμ

2 Esdras 10:7 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:7 (English Elpenor)

And they presented an utterance in Iouda and in Ierousalem to all the sons of the exile that they should assemble in Ierousalem: And they made proclamation throughout Juda and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, [saying],

Ezra 10:8 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:8 (KJV)

Ezra 10:8 (NET)

and that whosoever came not within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of the captivity. And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away. Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.

Ezra 10:8 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἂν μὴ ἔλθῃ εἰς τρεῗς ἡμέρας ὡς ἡ βουλὴ τῶν ἀρχόντων καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἀναθεματισθήσεται πᾶσα ἡ ὕπαρξις αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς διασταλήσεται ἀπὸ ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἀποικίας πᾶς, ὃς ἂν μὴ ἔλθῃ εἰς τρεῖς ἡμέρας, ὡς ἡ βουλὴ τῶν ἀρχόντων καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἀναθεματισθήσεται πᾶσα ἡ ὕπαρξις αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς διασταλήσεται ἀπὸ ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἀποικίας

2 Esdras 10:8 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:8 (English Elpenor)

“Anyone who does not come within three days, as the council of the rulers and the eldeers demands–all his property will be anathematized, and he himself banned from the assembly of the exile.” Every one who shall not arrive within three days, as [is] the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his substance shall be forfeited, and he shall be separated from the congregation of the captivity.

Ezra 10:12 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:12 (KJV)

Ezra 10:12 (NET)

Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice: ‘As thou hast said, so it is for us to do. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said!

Ezra 10:12 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία καὶ εἶπαν μέγα τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς ποιῆσαι καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία καὶ εἶπαν· μέγα τοῦτο τὸ ρῆμά σου ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς ποιῆσαι

2 Esdras 10:12 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:12 (English Elpenor)

And all the assembly answered and said, “This word of yours is a big thing for us to do. Then all the congregation answered and said, This thy word [is] powerful upon us to do it.

Ezra 10:13 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:13 (KJV)

Ezra 10:13 (NET)

But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season. We are unable to stand here outside.  Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter.

Ezra 10:13 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀλλὰ ὁ λαὸς πολύς καὶ ὁ καιρὸς χειμερινός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν δύναμις στῆναι ἔξω καὶ τὸ ἔργον οὐκ εἰς ἡμέραν μίαν καὶ οὐκ εἰς δύο ὅτι ἐπληθύναμεν τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι ἐν τῷ ῥήματι τούτῳ ἀλλὰ ὁ λαὸς πολύς, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς χειμερινός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δύναμις στῆναι ἔξω· καὶ τὸ ἔργον οὐκ εἰς ἡμέραν μίαν καὶ οὐκ εἰς δύο, ὅτι ἐπληθύναμεν τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι ἐν τῷ ρήματι τούτῳ

2 Esdras 10:13 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:13 (English Elpenor)

But the people are many, and it is the winter season, and their is no ability to stand outside, and the task is not for one day and not for two, because we have multiplied in doing wrong in this matter. But the people [is] numerous, and the season [is] stormy, and there is no power to stand without, and the work is more than enough for one day or for two; for we have greatly sinned in this matter.

Ezra 10:14 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:14 (KJV)

Ezra 10:14 (NET)

Let now our princes of all the congregation stand, and let all them that are in our cities that have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our G-d be turned from us, as touching this matter.’ Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us. Let our leaders take steps on behalf of all the assembly.  Let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each town and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter.”

Ezra 10:14 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

στήτωσαν δὴ οἱ ἄρχοντες ἡμῶν τῇ πάσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐν πόλεσιν ἡμῶν ὃς ἐκάθισεν γυναῗκας ἀλλοτρίας ἐλθέτωσαν εἰς καιροὺς ἀπὸ συνταγῶν καὶ μετ᾽ αὐτῶν πρεσβύτεροι πόλεως καὶ πόλεως καὶ κριταὶ τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι ὀργὴν θυμοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐξ ἡμῶν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου στήτωσαν δὴ ἄρχοντες ἡμῶν πάσῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐν πόλεσιν ἡμῶν, ὃς ἐκάθισε γυναῖκας ἀλλοτρίας, ἐλθέτωσαν εἰς καιροὺς ἀπὸ συνταγῶν καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν πρεσβύτεροι πόλεως καὶ πόλεως καὶ κριταὶ τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι ὀργὴν θυμοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐξ ἡμῶν περὶ τοῦ ρήματος τούτου

2 Esdras 10:14 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:14 (English Elpenor)

Let now our rulers stand fast for the whole assembly and for all those in our cities.  As for him who has set up foreign women—let them come at appropriate times as instructed, and with them elders of city by city and judges, in order to turn away from us the anger of the wrath of our God concerning this matter.” Let now our rulers stand, and for all those in our cities who have taken strange wives, let them come at appointed times, and with them elders from every several city, and judges, to turn away the fierce wrath of our God from us concerning this matter.

Ezra 10:15 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:15 (KJV)

Ezra 10:15 (NET)

Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this matter; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.

Ezra 10:15 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πλὴν Ιωναθαν υἱὸς Ασαηλ καὶ Ιαζια υἱὸς Θεκουε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ περὶ τούτου καὶ Μεσουλαμ καὶ Σαβαθαι ὁ Λευίτης βοηθῶν αὐτοῗς πλὴν ᾿Ιωνάθαν υἱὸς ᾿Ασαὴλ καὶ ᾿Ιαζίας υἱὸς Θεκωὲ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ περὶ τούτου, καὶ Μεσολλὰμ καὶ Σαββαθαΐ ὁ Λευίτης βοηθῶν αὐτοῖς

2 Esdras 10:15 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:15 (English Elpenor)

Only Ionathan son of Asael and Iazias son of Thekoue are with me in this, and Mesoulam and Sabbathai the Leuite supporting them. Only Jonathan the son of Asael, and Jazias the son of Thecoe [were] with me concerning this; and Mesollam, and Sabbathai the Levite helped them.

Ezra 10:16 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:16 (KJV)

Ezra 10:16 (NET)

And the children of the captivity did so.  And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ houses, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were separated; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. And the children of the captivity did so.  And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. So the exiles proceeded accordingly.  Ezra the priest separated out by name men who were leaders in their family groups.  They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month,

Ezra 10:16 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως υἱοὶ τῆς ἀποικίας καὶ διεστάλησαν Εσδρας ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες πατριῶν τῷ οἴκῳ καὶ πάντες ἐν ὀνόμασιν ὅτι ἐπέστρεψαν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ δεκάτου ἐκζητῆσαι τὸ ῥῆμα καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως υἱοὶ τῆς ἀποικίας. καὶ διεστάλησαν ῎Εσδρας ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες πατριῶν τῷ οἴκῳ καὶ πάντες ἐν ὀνόμασιν, ὅτι ἐπέστρεψαν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ δεκάτου ἐκζητῆσαι τὸ ρῆμα

2 Esdras 10:16 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:16 (English Elpenor)

And the sons of the exile did so.  And Esdras the priest and men ruling the paternal houses were set apart, and all by name, because of the first day of the tenth month they turned to investigate the matter. And the children of the captivity did thus: and Esdras the priest, and heads of families according to [their] house were separated, and all by their names, for they returned in the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter.

Ezra 10:17 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:17 (KJV)

Ezra 10:17 (NET)

And they were finished with all the men that had married foreign women by the first day of the first month. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives.

Ezra 10:17 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐτέλεσαν ἐν πᾶσιν ἀνδράσιν οἳ ἐκάθισαν γυναῗκας ἀλλοτρίας ἕως ἡμέρας μιᾶς τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου καὶ ἐτέλεσαν ἐν πᾶσιν ἀνδράσιν, οἳ ἐκάθισαν γυναῖκας ἀλλοτρίας, ἕως ἡμέρας μιᾶς τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου

2 Esdras 10:17 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:17 (English Elpenor)

And they finished with all the men who had set up foreign women by the first day of the first month. And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

Ezra 9:3 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:3 (KJV)

Ezra 9:3 (NET)

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down appalled. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated.

Ezra 9:3 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὡς ἤκουσα τὸν λόγον τοῦτον διέρρηξα τὰ ἱμάτιά μου καὶ ἐπαλλόμην καὶ ἔτιλλον ἀπὸ τῶν τριχῶν τῆς κεφαλῆς μου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πώγωνός μου καὶ ἐκαθήμην ἠρεμάζων καὶ ὡς ἤκουσα τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, διέρρηξα τὰ ἱμάτιά μου καὶ ἐπαλλόμην καὶ ἔτιλλον ἀπὸ τῶν τριχῶν τῆς κεφαλῆς μου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πώγωνός μου καὶ ἐκαθήμην ἠρεμάζων

2 Esdras 9:3 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:3 (English Elpenor)

And when I heard this word, I tore my garments and was quivering and was pulling out some of the hair of my head and some of my beard and was sitting in silence. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garments, and trembled, and plucked [some] of the hairs of my head and of my beard, and sat down mourning.

Ezra 9:4 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:4 (KJV)

Ezra 9:4 (NET)

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the G-d of Israel, because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity; and I sat appalled until the evening offering. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile. Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.

Ezra 9:4 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ συνήχθησαν πρός με πᾶς ὁ διώκων λόγον θεοῦ Ισραηλ ἐπὶ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ τῆς ἀποικίας καὶ ἐγὼ καθήμενος ἠρεμάζων ἕως τῆς θυσίας τῆς ἑσπερινῆς καὶ συνήχθησαν πρός με πᾶς ὁ διώκων λόγον Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ τῆς ἀποικίας, κἀγὼ καθήμενος ἠρεμάζων ἕως τῆς θυσίας τῆς ἑσπερινῆς

2 Esdras 9:4 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:4 (English Elpenor)

And everyone who pursued the word of Israel’s God, because of the faithlessness of the exiles—they gathered to me, and I kept sitting in silence until the evening sacrifice. Then there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.

Ezra 9:5 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:5 (KJV)

Ezra 9:5 (NET)

And at the evening offering I arose up from my fasting, even with my garment and my mantle rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto HaShem my G-d; And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement, with my tunic and robe torn, and then dropped to my knees and spread my hands to the Lord my God.

Ezra 9:5 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐν θυσίᾳ τῇ ἑσπερινῇ ἀνέστην ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεώς μου καὶ ἐν τῷ διαρρῆξαί με τὰ ἱμάτιά μου καὶ ἐπαλλόμην καὶ κλίνω ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατά μου καὶ ἐκπετάζω τὰς χεῗράς μου πρὸς κύριον τὸν θεὸν καὶ ἐν θυσίᾳ τῇ ἑσπερινῇ ἀνέστην ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεώς μου· καὶ ἐν τῷ διαρρῆξαί με τὰ ἱμάτιά μου καὶ ἐπαλλόμην καὶ κλίνω ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατά μου καὶ ἐκπετάζω τὰς χεῖράς μου πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν

2 Esdras 9:5 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:5 (English Elpenor)

And at the evening sacrifice I got up from my humiliation.  And when I had torn my garments, and I was quivering and was getting down on my knees and spreading out my hands to the Lord God And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had rent my garments, then I trembled, and I bow myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,

Malachi 2:11 (Tanakh)

Malachi 2:11 (KJV)

Malachi 2:11 (NET)

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Judah has become disloyal, and unspeakable sins have been committed in Israel and Jerusalem.  For Judah has profaned the holy things that the Lord loves and has turned to a foreign god!

Malachi 2:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 2:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγκατελείφθη Ιουδας καὶ βδέλυγμα ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ διότι ἐβεβήλωσεν Ιουδας τὰ ἅγια κυρίου ἐν οἷς ἠγάπησεν καὶ ἐπετήδευσεν εἰς θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους ἐγκατελείφθη ᾿Ιούδας, καὶ βδέλυγμα ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, διότι ἐβεβήλωσεν ᾿Ιούδας τὰ ἅγια Κυρίου, ἐν οἷς ἠγάπησε, καὶ ἐπετήδευσεν εἰς θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους

Malachi 2:11 (NETS)

Malachi 2:11 (English Elpenor)

Ioudas was forsaken, and an abomination occurred in Israel and in Ierousalem, for Ioudas profaned the sacred things of the Lord with which he loved and busied himself with foreign gods. Juda has been forsaken, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Juda has profaned the holy things of the Lord, which he delighted in, and has gone after other gods.

Malachi 2:12 (Tanakh)

Malachi 2:12 (KJV)

Malachi 2:12 (NET)

The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. May the Lord cut off from the community of Jacob every last person who does this, as well as the person who presents improper offerings to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!

Malachi 2:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 2:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐξολεθρεύσει κύριος τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν ποιοῦντα ταῦτα ἕως καὶ ταπεινωθῇ ἐκ σκηνωμάτων Ιακωβ καὶ ἐκ προσαγόντων θυσίαν τῷ κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι ἐξολοθρεύσει Κύριος τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν ποιοῦντα ταῦτα, ἕως καὶ ταπεινωθῇ ἐκ σκηνωμάτων ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ἐκ προσαγόντων θυσίαν τῷ Κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι

Malachi 2:12 (NETS)

Malachi 2:12 (English Elpenor)

The Lord will utterly destroy the person who does this until he has even been humiliated from the tents of Iakob and from those who bring sacrifice to the Lord Almighty. The Lord will utterly destroy the man that does these things, until he be even cast down from out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and from among them that offer sacrifice to the Lord Almighty.

Ezra 10:1 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:1 (KJV)

Ezra 10:1 (NET)

Now while Ezra prayed, and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of G-d, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore. Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites—men, women, and children alike—gathered around him.  The people wept loudly.

Ezra 10:1 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὡς προσηύξατο Εσδρας καὶ ὡς ἐξηγόρευσεν κλαίων καὶ προσευχόμενος ἐνώπιον οἴκου τοῦ θεοῦ συνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ Ισραηλ ἐκκλησία πολλὴ σφόδρα ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῗκες καὶ νεανίσκοι ὅτι ἔκλαυσεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ὕψωσεν κλαίων ΚΑΙ ὡς προσηύξατο ῎Εσδρας καὶ ὡς ἐξηγόρευσε κλαίων καὶ προσευχόμενος ἐνώπιον οἴκου τοῦ Θεοῦ, συνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκκλησία πολλὴ σφόδρα, ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες καὶ νεανίσκοι, ὅτι ἔκλαυσαν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ὕψωσε κλαίων

2 Esdras 10:1 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:1 (English Elpenor)

And as Esdras prayed and as he declared, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly—men and women and young men—gathered to him from Israel, because the people wept and lifted up while weeping. So when Esdras [had] prayed, and when he [had] confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly of Israel came together to him, men and women and youths; for the people wept, and wept aloud.

Malachi 2:13 (Tanakh)

Malachi 2:13 (KJV)

Malachi 2:13 (NET)

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you.

Malachi 2:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 2:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ταῦτα ἃ ἐμίσουν ἐποιεῗτε ἐκαλύπτετε δάκρυσιν τὸ θυσιαστήριον κυρίου καὶ κλαυθμῷ καὶ στεναγμῷ ἐκ κόπων ἔτι ἄξιον ἐπιβλέψαι εἰς θυσίαν ἢ λαβεῗν δεκτὸν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν καὶ ταῦτα, ἃ ἐμίσουν, ἐποιεῖτε· ἐκαλύπτετε δάκρυσι τὸ θυσιαστήριον Κυρίου καὶ κλαυθμῷ καὶ στεναγμῷ ἐκ κόπων. ἔτι ἄξιον ἐπιβλέψαι εἰς θυσίαν ἢ λαβεῖν δεκτὸν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν

Malachi 2:13 (NETS)

Malachi 2:13 (English Elpenor)

And these things, which I hated, you kept doing: you would cover the altar of the Lord with tears and weeping and laborious groaning.  Is it still appropriate to look at sacrifice or to receive as something acceptable from your hands? And these things which I hated, ye did: ye covered with tears the altar of the Lord, and with weeping and groaning because of troubles: [is it] meet [for me] to have respect to your sacrifice, or to receive [anything] from your hands [as] welcome?

Malachi 2:14 (Tanakh)

Malachi 2:14 (KJV)

Malachi 2:14 (NET)

Yet ye say, Wherefore?  Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Yet ye say, Wherefore?  Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Yet you ask, “Why?”  The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law.

Malachi 2:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 2:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἴπατε ἕνεκεν τίνος ὅτι κύριος διεμαρτύρατο ἀνὰ μέσον σοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον γυναικὸς νεότητός σου ἣν ἐγκατέλιπες καὶ αὐτὴ κοινωνός σου καὶ γυνὴ διαθήκης σου καὶ εἴπατε· ἕνεκεν τίνος; ὅτι Κύριος διεμαρτύρατο ἀναμέσον σοῦ καὶ ἀναμέσον γυναικὸς νεότητός σου, ἣν ἐγκατέλιπες, καὶ αὕτη κοινωνός σου καὶ γυνὴ διαθήκης σου

Malachi 2:14 (NETS)

Malachi 2:14 (English Elpenor)

And you said, “Why?”  Because the Lord was a witness between you and between the wife of your youth, whom you abandoned, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant. Yet ye said, Wherefore?  Because the Lord has borne witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, whom thou has forsaken, and [yet] she was thy partner, and the wife of thy covenant.

Malachi 2:15 (Tanakh)

Malachi 2:15 (KJV)

Malachi 2:15 (NET)

And did not he make one?  Yet had he the residue of the spirit.  And wherefore one?  That he might seek a godly seed.  Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. And did not he make one?  Yet had he the residue of the spirit.  And wherefore one?  That he might seek a godly seed.  Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this.  What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God?  Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth.

Malachi 2:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 2:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ οὐκ ἄλλος ἐποίησεν καὶ ὑπόλειμμα πνεύματος αὐτοῦ καὶ εἴπατε τί ἄλλο ἀλλ᾽ ἢ σπέρμα ζητεῗ ὁ θεός καὶ φυλάξασθε ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν καὶ γυναῗκα νεότητός σου μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς καὶ οὐκ ἄλλος ἐποίησε, καὶ ὑπόλειμμα πνεύματος αὐτοῦ. καὶ εἴπατε· τί ἄλλο ἀλλ᾿ ἢ σπέρμα ζητεῖ ὁ Θεός; καὶ φυλάξασθε ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν, καὶ γυναῖκα νεότητός σου μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς

Malachi 2:15 (NETS)

Malachi 2:15 (English Elpenor)

And no one else did it and the remnant of his spirit.  And you said, “What else does God seek but offspring?”  And be vigilant in your spirit, and do not forsake the wife of your youth. And did he not do well? and [there was] the residue of his spirit.  But ye said, What does God seek but a seed?  But take ye heed to your spirit, and forsake not the wife of thy youth.

Malachi 2:16 (Tanakh)

Malachi 2:16 (KJV)

Malachi 2:16 (NET)

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and the one who is guilty of violence,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  “Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful.”

Malachi 2:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 2:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀλλὰ ἐὰν μισήσας ἐξαποστείλῃς λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς τοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ καλύψει ἀσέβεια ἐπὶ τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ καὶ φυλάξασθε ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλίπητε ἀλλὰ ἐὰν μισήσας ἐξαποστείλῃς, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ καλύψει ἀσέβεια ἐπὶ τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ. καὶ φυλάξασθε ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλίπητε

Malachi 2:16 (NETS)

Malachi 2:16 (English Elpenor)

But if, since you hate her, you should send her away, says the Lord, the God of Israel, then impiety will cover over his garments, says the Lord Almighty.  And be vigilant in your spirit, and do not abandon her. But if thou shouldest hate [thy wife] and put her away, saith the Lord God of Israel, then ungodliness shall cover thy thoughts, saith the Lord Almighty: therefore take ye heed to your spirit, and forsake [them] not,