Malachi Chapter 2 verse 5 Holy Bible
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name.
read chapter 2 in ASV
My agreement with him was on my side life and peace, and I gave them to him; on his side fear, and he had fear of me and gave honour to my name.
read chapter 2 in BBE
My covenant with him was of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and trembled before my name.
read chapter 2 in DARBY
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
read chapter 2 in KJV
read chapter 2 in WBT
"My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him who he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.
read chapter 2 in WEB
My covenant hath been with him of life and of peace, And I make them to him a fear, and he doth fear Me, And because of My name he hath been affrighted.
read chapter 2 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 5-9. - § 5. In contrast with these evil ministers, the character of the true priest is sketched, and thus the faults of the former are shown in darker colours. Verse 5. - My covenant was with him of life and peace; rather, with him was life and peace. This is one side of the covenant, that which God gave - the blessing of life, abundance, prosperity, and secure and undisturbed enjoyment of these, in the everlasting priesthood, in agreement with the promise to Phinehas (Numbers 25:12; comp. Deuteronomy 33:8-11). I gave them to him for the fear, etc. I gave him life and peace. The pronominal suffix "them" is not expressed in the Greek and Latin Versions, and is absent from many Hebrew manuscripts, which read, "I gave him fear." So the Vulgate, Dedi eis timorem et timuit me; Septuagint, Αδωκα αὐτῷ ἐν φόβῳ φοβεῖσθαί με, "I gave him the fear of me." This expresses man's part in the covenant: God gave him certain blessings on condition that he feared, reverenced, worshipped, and obeyed the Lord. The last part of the verse as now read is more simply explained, "and (my covenant with him was, or, I gave him) fear, and he did fear me." God's gifts were life and peace. Levi's part was fear of God: this he performed. The ideal priest observed all the duties of piety and reverence, and therefore in his case the covenant stood firm and was duly carried out.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Of life and peace.--Better, life and peace--i.e., by it life and peace were guaranteed to him.Life in its highest sense.Peace as the sum total of blessing: the "fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace." (Galatians 5:22; comp. Note on Zechariah 6:13.)Them--viz., life and peace.For the fear . . . me.--Better, As fear--(i.e., as a motive for the fear of God), and he did fear me. Or, perhaps, a still better interpretation is that which represents God and Levi as each having performed his part of the covenant--God in bestowing "life and peace," Levi in rendering "fear." According to this view, the words should be translated, My covenant was with him--viz., life and peace--and I gave them to him; fear, and he feared me, and trembled before My Name.
