Who Is the Prophet Malachi in the Bible?
Who Is the Prophet Malachi in the Bible? Malachi was the last Old Testament prophet who rebuked Israel for spiritual apathy and foretold the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord.
Key verse: Malachi 3:1 (KJV)
Malachi was the last Old Testament prophet who rebuked Israel for spiritual apathy and foretold the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord.
Malachi was the last Old Testament prophet who rebuked Israel for spiritual apathy and foretold the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord.
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple." — Malachi 3:1 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Malachi prophesied after the Babylonian exile when the temple had been rebuilt but the people had grown spiritually complacent. He confronted the priests for offering defective sacrifices, rebuked the people for withholding tithes, and condemned divorce and unfaithfulness. His message challenged Israel's indifferent attitude toward God with the recurring phrase 'Wherein have we...?' Malachi also delivered key messianic prophecies, including the promise that God would send a messenger before the coming of the Lord (Malachi 3:1), fulfilled in John the Baptist, and the prophet Elijah before the 'great and dreadful day of the LORD' (Malachi 4:5).
Key Scripture References
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple."
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Are the Minor Prophets in the Bible?
The twelve Minor Prophets—Hosea through Malachi—are called 'minor' not because of lesser importance but because of the shorter length of their books.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Who Was King David?
David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Malachi. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Malachi on day 278 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Is the Prophet Malachi in the Bible?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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