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1.2 KiB
Why does he not?
The full thought, as in Malachi 2:13, is "Why does he not turn toward the offering or accept it with favor from our hand?" Some translators may decide to provide this entire thought in their versions. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis)
the wife of your youth
"the woman you married when you were young"
Yahweh was a witness between you and the wife of your youth
This statement assumes that this woman is still living. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background)
a witness between you and the wife of your youth
Here a witness to an agreement between two people is thought of as standing between them in order to testify about what they agreed to, in case a dispute arises between the two people. This sentence also was meant to remind the people that Yahweh would punish any Israelite who broke the covenant of marriage. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background)
she was your companion and your wife by covenant
This statement implies that many of the Israelites had divorced their wives. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background)
by covenant
"by the covenant of marriage that you agreed to"