Malachi
The last book of the Old Testament — God's dispute with a half-hearted people, and a promise of the messenger to come.
Overview
Malachi closes the Old Testament. Generations after the return from exile, the excitement has worn off, and the people have grown cynical — offering God their leftovers, breaking faith in marriage, and doubting that serving him is worth it. In a series of disputes, God answers their complaints and promises to send his messenger, and "the sun of righteousness," before the great day comes. The New Testament opens by picking up that promise.
Book facts
- Author
- Malachi"Malachi" means "my messenger"; it may be a name or a title.
- Date written
- c. 430 BCThe last of the writing prophets, after the temple was rebuilt.
- Original language
- HebrewHebrew in a distinctive question-and-answer style.
- Setting
- Jerusalem, c. 430 BCA community grown cynical and careless in worship.
How it came to be
The book is titled "Malachi," which means "my messenger." It may be the prophet's name, or simply a title for the anonymous "messenger."
It is the last of the writing prophets, and the Christian Old Testament's final book.
The whole book, chapter by chapter
| Chapter | What this chapter covers |
|---|---|
God's dispute with his people — a series of disputes and a final promise, chapters 1–4 | |
| Chapter 1The polluted offerings | God, who has loved Jacob over Esau, rebukes the priests for offering him blind and lame animals. |
| Chapter 2The faithless priests | God condemns the careless priests and the people's breaking of faith in marriage. |
| Chapter 3The tithes and the messenger | God promises to send his messenger, and calls the people to bring their whole tithe and "prove me now." |
| Chapter 4The sun of righteousness | The day comes burning like a furnace, but for the faithful "the sun of righteousness" will rise; Elijah will come first. |
All 4 chapters. Start reading →
Worth knowing
Malachi promises this prophet will come before the great day.
Some of the book's best-known lines — tap the verse to read it.
- "I have loved Jacob"Malachi 1:2
- "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse"Malachi 3:10
- "The sun of righteousness"Malachi 4:2
- The coming of ElijahMalachi 4:5