The Book of Malachi

The book of Malachi is the Old Testament book that was written last historically. Malachi (whose name in Hebrew means “my messenger”) probably wrote these prophecies about 430 B.C., nearly one hundred years after Jews began returning from Babylon to the land of Israel. The Jews of the Old Testament had no prophets after Malachi that we know of, but the descendants of Father Lehi in the Western Hemisphere (Nephites) had numerous prophets right up to the birth of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Book of Mormon.

The Last Known Old Testament Prophet’s Message

By the time Malachi prophesied, many Jews hoped that God would more dramatically display His power by freeing them from Persian rule and allowing them to regain a kingdom. After one hundred years from the time they returned to their homelands, the Jews were still under Persian control. Many Jews became discouraged and did not work as hard to live a religious life, believing that God had forgotten or forsaken them so being righteous didn’t really matter. Malachi’s message addressed these circumstances. The principles Malachi taught, however, can apply to nearly any time in history, since people in all ages are tempted to be “lukewarm” in their religion.

Malachi’s Message

Malachi spoke for the Lord in answering questions the people asked in his day. The following problems, sins, and challenges are ones he identified:

How did the people despise and pollute the name of God? (see Malachi 1:6).
Why didn’t the Lord accept the people’s offerings and prayers? (see Malachi 2:13–14).
How did the people weary the Lord? (see Malachi 2:17).
How should the people return to the Lord? (see Malachi 3:7).
How does man rob God? (see Malachi 3:8).
How had the people spoken against the Lord? (see Malachi 3:14–15).

Malachi is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament prophets. New Testament writers quoted Malachi’s writings, the resurrected Savior quoted some of Malachi’s teachings to the Nephites so they would have them in their records, and the angel Moroni quoted some of Malachi to the young Prophet Joseph Smith, telling him that Malachi’s prophecies would be fulfilled in the latter days.

For more information on Malachi, see the Bible Dictionary, “Malachi” (p. 728).