Malachi

Messenger or angel, the last of the minor prophets, and the writer of the last book of the Old Testament canon (Mal. 4:4, 5, 6). Nothing is known of him beyond what is contained in his book of prophecies. Some have supposed that the name is simply a title descriptive of his character as a messenger of Jehovah, and not a proper name. There is reason, however, to conclude that Malachi was the ordinary name of the prophet. He was contemporary with Nehemiah (comp. Mal. 2:8 with Neh. 13:15; Mal. 2:10-16 with Neh. 13:23). No allusion is made to him by Ezra, and he does not mention the restoration of the temple, and hence it is inferred that he prophesied after Haggai and Zechariah, and when the temple services were still in existence (Mal. 1:10; 3:1, 10). It is probable that he delivered his prophecies about B.C. 420, after the second return of Nehemiah from Persia (Neh. 13:6), or possibly before his return.

my messenger; my angel

MAL'ACHI (messenger of Jehovah), the last of the prophets, and called "the seal" because his prophecies form the closing book of the canon of the O.T. Of his personal life nothing is known but what can be gleaned from his book. He flourished after the Captivity, later than Haggai and Zechariah, at a time when the temple was completed, and was probably a contemporary of Nehemiah, b.c. 433. His prophecies are at once denunciatory of prevailing vices, and consolatory by the Messianic promise. Showing how vain were the murmurings of the people against the Lord, he reproves them for their neglect of his service, censures intermarriage with foreign wives, etc., and warns them that judgment will be established over them. He closes with a prophecy of the coming of Messiah, and foretells that Elijah will return as a forerunner of Messiah - a prediction which found its striking fulfilment by the mission of John the Baptist. Mal 4:6; Luke 1:17; Matt 11:14; Matt 17:12.

MAL'ACHI (messenger of Jehovah), the last of the prophets, and called "the seal" because his prophecies form the closing book of the canon of the O.T. Of his personal life nothing is known but what can be gleaned from his book. He flourished after the Captivity, later than Haggai and Zechariah, at a time when the temple was completed, and was probably a contemporary of Nehemiah, b.c. 433. His prophecies are at once denunciatory of prevailing vices, and consolatory by the Messianic promise. Showing how vain were the murmurings of the people against the Lord, he reproves them for their neglect of his service, censures intermarriage with foreign wives, etc., and warns them that judgment will be established over them. He closes with a prophecy of the coming of Messiah, and foretells that Elijah will return as a forerunner of Messiah - a prediction which found its striking fulfilment by the mission of John the Baptist. Mal 4:6; Luke 1:17; Matt 11:14; Matt 17:12.