“THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD TO ISRAEL BY MALACHI” (MALACHI 1:1) · EXILE & RETURN

Malachi. A dispute with priests and people, ending with Moses and Elijah.

SCRIPTURE CALLS

Prophet

ERA

Exile & return 586–430 BC

IN THE DAYS OF

No ruler named beside him

BOOK

Malachi

HOW THE WORD CAME

The book is headed “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi”, and says nothing else of him.

THE CALL

How the word came

  • The book is headed “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi”, and says nothing else of him. Malachi 1:1
  • From the textThe book is set out as a dispute: the LORD speaks, the people's objection is quoted (“Yet ye say, Wherein…?”), and the LORD answers. Malachi 1:2 Malachi 1:6 Malachi 2:14 Malachi 2:17 Malachi 3:7 Malachi 3:8 +1 more
  • Scholars' viewG. A. Smith (1898) notes that “Malachi” could mean “My Angel or Messenger”, the same word as in 3:1, “Behold, I send My messenger”. Malachi 1:1 Malachi 3:1 [14]
  • The book speaks to a people under a governor (“offer it now unto thy governor”) and with a temple and altar in use. Malachi 1:7–10 Malachi 3:1

THE MESSAGE

The word in its main themes

I have loved you

“I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?”

Malachi 1:2 (KJV) →

Where is mine honour?

“if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear?”

Malachi 1:6 (KJV) →

Deal not treacherously

“For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away”

Malachi 2:16 (KJV) →

The messenger and the Lord's coming

“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) →

Return, and bring the tithes

“Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Malachi 3:7 (KJV) →

A book of remembrance and the day that cometh

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings”

Malachi 4:2 (KJV) →

Moses and Elijah

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD”

Malachi 4:5 (KJV) →

THE WORD TO …

To whom the word was spoken

TO THE PRIESTS

“saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name”

Malachi 1:6 (KJV) →

TO JUDAH

“Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem”

Malachi 2:11 (KJV) →

TO THE SONS OF JACOB

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Malachi 3:6 (KJV) →

WHAT CAME OF THE WORD

As Scripture reports it

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE REPORTS

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE REPORTS

THE BOOK

The book of Malachi

  • 1 I have loved you Malachi 1:1–5
  • 2 The priests and the offerings Malachi 1:6–2:9
  • 3 Treachery and divorce Malachi 2:10–16
  • 4 The messenger and the refiner Malachi 2:17–3:6
  • 5 Tithes and the windows of heaven Malachi 3:7–12
  • 6 The book of remembrance and the day Malachi 3:13–4:3
  • 7 Moses and Elijah Malachi 4:4–6

WHERE THE NEW TESTAMENT QUOTES IT · 9

Each band joins a chapter of Malachi to the New Testament books quoting it (4 books).

HOW THE STORY ENDS

Scripture says, tradition says

SCRIPTURE SAYS

  • From the textScripture says nothing of Malachi beyond the heading of his book. Malachi 1:1

TRADITION SAYS

  • A tradition preserved in the Lives of the Prophets ascribed to Epiphanius, as the Jewish Encyclopedia reports it, makes Malachi “of the tribe of Zebulun”, born after the Captivity, and says “he died young, and was buried in his own country with his fathers”.[33] Who says so: pseudo-Epiphanius, Lives of the Prophets, as reported in the Jewish Encyclopedia, reported 1904
  • A rabbinic saying runs: “After the death of the last three prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, the Holy Spirit departed from Israel”.[34] Who says so: Tosefta, Sotah 13.2, as quoted in the Jewish Encyclopedia, reported 1902

OPEN QUESTIONS

Where readers have differed

A title, “his messenger”, not a name

The Septuagint, as reported by S. R. Driver (1891) and G. A. Smith (1898)

Driver and Smith note that the Greek translators read 1:1 as “by the hand of his messenger”. Malachi 1:1 [5][14]

Ezra the scribe

The Targum of Jonathan; Joshua ben Karha in the Talmud (Megillah 15a); Jerome, who reports it

The Targum adds to “by the hand of Malachi” the words “whose name is called Ezra the scribe”. The Jewish Encyclopedia reports that Jerome knew the belief that Malachi was Ezra, and that the Talmud also records an identification with Mordecai. Driver answers that had Ezra been the author, “it is difficult to think that his authorship would have been thus concealed”.[33][5]

An official name or a title drawn from 3:1, for an anonymous book

Hengstenberg and Vitringa, as reported by C. F. Keil (1868); Ewald, Kuenen, Reuss and Stade, as listed by S. R. Driver (1891); G. A. Smith (1898)

Smith holds that “Malachi” is “an anonymous work”, and that the name “was a purely artificial one borrowed from chap. iii. 1, Behold, I send My messenger”, the title being added by the editor of the Twelve, like the headings of Zechariah 9:1 and 12:1. Malachi 3:1 Zechariah 9:1 Zechariah 12:1 [13][14][25][5]

The prophet's own name

C. F. Keil (1868)

Keil answers that the arguments for an official name “are not conclusive”: other prophets' headings also give only a name, and names of this form are common. Malachi 1:1 [25]

IN SCRIPTURE

Every passage

CHAPTERS · 4

Malachi 1 Malachi 2 Malachi 3 Malachi 4

PASSAGES · 1

Malachi 1:1–4:6

WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY

  • Scripture gives Malachi no father, home, tribe or date.
  • Malachi names no king; he speaks only of “thy governor” (Mal 1:8).
  • Scripture does not say how or when Malachi died.

SOURCES

Where this page comes from

  • S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (2nd ed., New York 1892; first published 1891) (1891), ch. XI (Daniel), pp. 458–483.
  • S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (2nd ed., New York 1892; first published 1891) (1891), ch. V (Ezekiel), pp. 260–279.
  • S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (2nd ed., New York 1892; first published 1891) (1891), ch. VI §10 (Haggai), pp. 320–321.
  • S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (2nd ed., New York 1892; first published 1891) (1891), ch. VI §11 (Zechariah), pp. 322–333.
  • S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (2nd ed., New York 1892; first published 1891) (1891), ch. VI §12 (Malachi), pp. 333–336.
  • E. B. Pusey, Daniel the Prophet: Nine Lectures Delivered in the Divinity School of the University of Oxford (1864), Lecture I, p. 1, and the table of contents, pp. xxxi–xxxvii.
  • E. B. Pusey, Daniel the Prophet: Nine Lectures Delivered in the Divinity School of the University of Oxford (1864), Lecture III, pp. 103–105.
  • E. B. Pusey, Daniel the Prophet: Nine Lectures Delivered in the Divinity School of the University of Oxford (1864), Lecture IV, pp. 169–170.
  • J. A. Montgomery, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (International Critical Commentary) (1927), Introduction §2, pp. 2–3.
  • J. A. Montgomery, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (International Critical Commentary) (1927), Introduction §19, pp. 60–61.
  • J. A. Montgomery, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (International Critical Commentary) (1927), Introduction, 'The dating of the two sections', pp. 96–97.
  • J. A. Montgomery, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (International Critical Commentary) (1927), on Dan 9:24–27, pp. 393–394.
  • G. A. Smith, The Book of the Twelve Prophets, vol. 2 (The Expositor's Bible) (1898), Preface, p. viii.
  • G. A. Smith, The Book of the Twelve Prophets, vol. 2 (The Expositor's Bible) (1898), ch. XXIII, pp. 331–333.
  • C. F. Keil, tr. M. G. Easton, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), Introduction (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. M. G. Easton, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on Dan 2:39–40 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. M. G. Easton, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), notes on Dan 9:24–27 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. M. G. Easton, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on Dan 11:36–45 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1876), note on Ezek 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1876), the survey of chs. 40–48 (read on Bible Hub, printed with Ezekiel 1).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1876), note on Ezek 14:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel (Keil and Delitzsch) (1876), note on Ezek 29:17–21 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 2 (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), note on Hag 2:7 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 2 (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), introduction to Zechariah, on 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. James Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 2 (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), introduction to Malachi, on 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. Sophia Taylor, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther (Keil and Delitzsch) (1873), note on Neh 6:10–14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. Dick Wilson, "Daniel, Book of", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (1915), sections VII (Genuineness) and VIII (Interpretation).
  • George L. Robinson, "Zechariah, Book of", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (1915), sections 1, 4 and 6.
  • Benjamin of Tudela, tr. M. N. Adler, The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela (1907), pp. 43–44 (Ezekiel's sepulchre) and 52–53 (Daniel's sepulchre at Shushan).
  • E. G. Hirsch, K. H. Cornill, S. Schechter and L. Ginzberg, "Ezekiel", Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 5 (1903), pp. 313–316.
  • S. Schechter and L. Ginzberg, "Ezekiel's Tomb", Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 5 (1903).
  • E. G. Hirsch, "Haggai", Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 6 (1904).
  • I. Singer and A. Guttmacher, "Malachi, Book of", Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 8 (1904), In Rabbinical Literature; Critical View.
  • K. Kohler and L. Blau, "Bat Ḳol", Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 2 (1902).
  • Tertullian, tr. Peter Holmes (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3), On the Resurrection of the Flesh (1885), chapters 29–30.
  • Augustine, tr. S. D. F. Salmond (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6), The Harmony of the Gospels (1888), book 3, chapter 7, §§28–31.
  • R. A. Parker and W. H. Dubberstein, Babylonian Chronology 626 B.C.–A.D. 45 (Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization 24; dates cited as facts only) (1942), p. 28 (table of years: Darius I, years 1–4).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Ezek 4:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), Pulpit Commentary: Ezekiel (1880–1897), note on Ezek 4:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Hag 2:7 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (1871), note on Hag 2:7 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), Pulpit Commentary: Haggai (1880–1897), note on Hag 2:7 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the New Testament (1746–1748), note on Matt 27:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A New Testament Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Matt 27:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (1871), note on Matt 27:9, quoting John Lightfoot (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A New Testament Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Matt 23:35 (read on Bible Hub).
  • A. B. Bruce, The Synoptic Gospels (The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. 1) (1897), note on Matt 23:35 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. E. Ryle, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1893), note on Neh 6:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Neh 6:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), Pulpit Commentary: Nehemiah (1880–1897), note on Neh 6:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Neh 6:14 (read on Bible Hub).

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.