ESV
"For the man who hates and divorces, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."


NKJV
Malachi 2:16
"For the LORD God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one's garment with violence,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
"Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously."

What does the Hebrew say? God hates? Or the man hates? Textual variant?

__________________
Patrick
OPC
MDiv, RTS Jackson.

"He does well, that discourses of Christ; but he does infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge, feeds and lives on Christ." Thomas Brooks.

Hebrew does not help. The verb for hates and divorces is a 3rd masculaine singular. The issue is whether it is part of an independent clause and has an indefinite subject ("the man who") or whether it belongs as a part of the indirect speech (the Lord says that...).

I don't think there is much difference, but I prefer (again) the NKJ and NASB (and even the NIV!) to the ESV rendering.

__________________
Fredrick T. Greco
Senior Pastor, Christ Church PCA (Katy, TX)
Christ Church Blog

"The heart is the main thing in true religion...It is the hinge and turning-point in the condition of man's soul. If the heart is alive to God and quickened by the Spirit, the man is a living Christian. If the heart is dead and has not the Spirit, the man is dead before God." (J.C. Ryle)