Read this if you…
- like the prophets who frame oracles as God arguing with a skeptical people
- want the OT's last word before 400 years of silence and the promised Messenger
- care about priestly corruption + faithless-husband rebukes that close the Hebrew canon
Skip this if you…
- don't want to read explicitly religious/Christian texts
Depicted in Art
Gold-ground mosaic figure of Malachi with scroll, set within the band of prophets ringing the dome of the Florence Baptistery.
Gaddo Gaddi, 1300
Byzantine mosaic bust of Malachi in robes and chiton, set against a gold ground in the monastery's medallion band.
1100
Half-length panel painting of Malachi holding a scroll inscribed with his prophecy of the Lord coming to his temple, on a gold ground.
1450
Fresco of Malachi seated in the cross-vault, scroll in hand, in the International Gothic manner — one of four prophets ringing the chapel ceiling.
Lorenzo Monaco, 1422
Russian Orthodox icon of Malachi standing in blue chiton and ochre himation, holding a scroll citing Malachi 3:1, from the prophets' tier.
1720
Medieval fresco of Malachi as a gray-bearded prophet in monastic robes, scroll in hand, in the Serbian Orthodox church's apse program.
1335
Marble relief of the prophet Malachi, standing in classical drapery with a scroll, set into the architecture of the Holy House shrine.
Girolamo Lombardo, 1570
Recommended Editions
King James Version
Oxford University Press · 1611
The most influential and commonly quoted translation in English. The prose rhythm everyone else is responding to, even modern translations.
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Notable Quotes
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
- Jesus of Nazareth, founder of Christianity (as recorded in the Gospels): "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."
- John Calvin, Protestant Reformer and biblical commentator, 1509–1564: "The last of the Old Testament Prophets, as admitted by all, was Malachi."
- Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon), medieval Jewish philosopher and Torah scholar, 1138–1204: Listed Malachi among the Men of the Great Assembly, in the unbroken chain of Tradition from Moses to Ezra.
- Mark the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Mark: "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."
- Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke: "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."