DOES THE BIBLE SAY “GOD HATES DIVORCE”? 

The so-called “God hates divorce” verse is from Malachi 2:16. The book of Malachi was written more than 2,400 years ago, nearly 500 years before Christ.

For the first 2,100 years, it was interpreted as an anti-treachery verse, not an anti-divorce verse. That’s how the great Bible translators Jerome and John Wycliffe, and Reformers Martin Luther and John Calvin viewed it. But then King James’s translators changed it into an anti-divorce verse for 385 years starting in 1611.

That ended in 1996 after the Dead Sea scroll fragment of Malachi 2:16 (the oldest known copy of Malachi 2:16) was published, and many scholars interpreted it again as an anti-treachery verse.

The New International Version (NIV 2011), English Standard Version (ESV) and Christian Standard Bible (CSB) have this anti-treachery interpretation, not the “God hates divorce” wording.

(Note: The old 1984 version of the NIV interpreted it as “I [God] hate divorce,” but the translators changed it in their 2011 update.)

 

This infographic shows that NO Bible in the first 2100 years of Bible translation interprets Malachi 2:16 as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce” —not even close.  To see how it was translated in 18 major versions from the time of Christ to today, click HERE.

 

Over 2,100 Years of Translation History Before 1611

About 500 BC – Malachi was written

About 300–100 BC – Translated into Greek (the Septuagint), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 100–200 – Translated into Aramaic, but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 382 – Translated into Latin (the Vulgate), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 1395 – Translated into English (Wycliffe Bible), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 1535 – Translated into English (Coverdale Bible), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 1545 – Translated into German (Luther Bible), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 1568 – Translated into English (Bishop’s Bible), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

AD 1587 – Translated into English (Geneva Bible), but not translated as “God hates divorce” or “I hate divorce”

So, basically the 1611 King James Version (AV) was a radical departure from the previous 2000 years of biblical scholarship. And guess what? The Dead Sea fragment of Malachi 2:16 does NOT support the KJV’s interpretation.

This may explain why the New International Version completely changed its wording in their 2011 update. And why the ESV (English Standard Version) and the CSB (the Christian Standard Bible) do NOT translate it as “I hate divorce” or “God hates divorce” either.

Divorce should never be taken lightly or flippantly or due to general unhappiness or boredom. It is a commitment, but the misuse of this verse is spiritually abusive to those Christians who wish to honor God and are living in a physically, verbally, emotionally and/or spiritually abusive marriages.

 

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Is the Book of Malachi about Divorce… or about Hypocritical Abusers?

When you read Malachi carefully, it’s not condemning wounded spouses or divorce. It’s calling out leaders who abuse, exploit, and betray the people they were meant to love and protect.

These men:
• Show contempt for God and for their wives
• Feel entitled to loyalty while giving none in return
• Refuse to do the basic duties God and the marriage covenant require
• Feel sorry for themselves when God rejects their fake righteousness
• Show no honor or gratitude
• Take advantage of wives, laborers, widows, orphans, and foreigners
• Cover up the sins of their cronies

Malachi isn’t blasting faithful spouses seeking safety through divorce. It’s exposing religious hypocrisy and marital treachery—the kind that destroys families.