Malachi

Malachi is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament attributed to a prophet named Malachi, a Hebrew name meaning "my messenger." In Jewish tradition it is the final book of the Twelve Minor Prophets; in Christian canons it stands as the last book of the Old Testament. The text presents the author simply as Malachi, and the historical authorial identity remains uncertain. Most scholars place the work in the Persian period, likely in the late 5th century BCE, addressing the people of Judah and the Levitical priests in Jerusalem after the return from exile.

Content and themes include a series of oracles that urge covenant faithfulness and reform. Malachi criticizes lax religious practices, improper sacrifices, and corrupted priesthood, as well as social issues such as divorce and intermarriage with foreign nations. The book calls for genuine worship, proper tithes, justice, and faithfulness to the covenant. It also looks forward to a coming day of the Lord and the purification of the people, culminating in a prophecy about the return of Elijah the prophet before that day (Malachi 4:5–6 in many traditions), a figure later associated in Christian interpretation with John the Baptist.

Structure: Malachi consists of four chapters and is often described as a sequence of disputations between God and Israel, moving from critique to exhortation and ending with a note of eschatological expectation and divine restoration.

Canonical position and legacy: The book is read as part of the prophetic literature in Judaism and Christianity. Its emphasis on faithful worship, proper priestly conduct, and ethical conduct underpins later discussions of covenant fidelity and eschatological anticipation within both faith traditions.