This translation is from the New American Standard Bible. Several other translations are available here.
Excerpts from definitions of what seem to be key the Hebrew words are set out following the scriptural text. The sources are hyperlinked.
That is followed by excerpts from the scriptural texts that tell us what about God or His ways, what we should do, and what we should not do.
That is followed by commentary, in blue. The commentary is my own, so it is not entitled to any particular weight.
Scriptural Text:
... the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15But not one has done so who has a remnant of the spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. 16For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Definitions:
dealt treacherously, deal treacherously = בָּגַד= bagad
Deceitfully; faithlessly, offend; to act covertly; unfaithfully; fraudulently, perfidiously; to oppress, to afflict, to spoil
companion = חֲבֶרֶת= chabereth
wife, consort
take heed = שָׁמַר= shamar
to keep, guard, observe, give heed; to watch for, wait for; to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory); to keep (within bounds), restrain;to keep, preserve, protect; to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.;watch(-man); to take heed to one’s self.
spirit = רוּחַ = ruwach
wind, breath, mind, spirit; spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour; courage; vital spirit; as seat or organ of mental acts; as seat especially of moral character; Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son; divine and miraculous power
divorce = שָׁלַח= shalach
to send, send away, let go, stretch out; dismiss, give over, cast out; forsake; give up; push away, expel
his garment =לְבוּשׁ= lebuwsh
clothing, garment, apparel, raiment; by implication (euphemistically) a wife
wrong = חָמָס= chamac
violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice; unjust gain; damage; unrighteous; false witness
What this passage tells us:
What this passage tells us about God/His ways:
she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
What this passage tells us to do:
Take heed then to your spirit
take heed to your spirit
What this passage tells us not to do:
divorce
deal[] treacherously
let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth
him who covers his garment with wrong
do not deal treacherously
Commentary:
God is telling husbands to deal with their wives honestly, in good faith
· To treat them as a peer, a lifelong companion.
· To be true fiduciaries of them.
· We are to be intentional about this, alert to what interferes with/deviates from that.
This lines up well with:
· Ephesian's 5:29’s and Colossians 3:19’s instructions to avoid negative feelings/emotions/attitudes towards our wives.
· 1 Peter 3:17’s direction to have respect for our wives
This strong teaching against divorce lines up with Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings. See Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:27 .
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