Malachi

Last of the twelve minor prophets, prophesying to the Jewish community that had returned from Babylonian exile. His name (Mal’akhi) means “my messenger” in Hebrew and may be a title rather than a personal name. Writing around 450-400 BCE, Malachi addressed spiritual apathy, corrupt priesthood (offering blemished sacrifices), faithless marriages, social injustice, and withheld tithes among the restored community. His prophecy “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me” (Malachi 3:1) is applied to John the Baptist in the New Testament. His closing words prophesy Elijah’s return “before that great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5)—influencing the Jewish tradition of setting a place for Elijah at Passover. As the final prophetic voice before 400 years of silence, Malachi’s words closed the Old Testament era.