The Book of Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament, both chronologically and in traditional order. It’s attributed to the prophet Malachi—a name that means “my messenger.” Malachi prophesied in Judah during the fifth century BC, likely around 430 BC, after the Jewish people had returned from exile and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.

Malachi’s message addresses a community struggling with disappointment, spiritual apathy, and questions about God’s justice. The people had expected a new era of blessing, but faced hardships instead. Through a series of dialogues and challenges, Malachi calls both priests and people to renewed faithfulness in worship, justice, and personal integrity.

One of Malachi’s key themes is the coming “day of the Lord,” a time of both refining judgment and promised hope. The book ends with a look forward, anticipating the arrival of a future messenger who will prepare the way for God’s ultimate salvation—a promise later connected to the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus in the New Testament.