Malachi [key], book of the Bible, the last book in the order of the Authorized Version and 12th of the books of the Minor Prophets. Its title Malachi is taken from the opening verse of chapter 3 and means “my messenger.” On internal evidence the book, a collection of prophetic oracles, is usually dated c.460 b.c., shortly before the reforms of Nehemiah and Ezra. After a protestation of God's love for Israel, the prophet rebukes the priests for their negligence and the people for their foreign marriages. Finally, there is a prophecy of the coming Day of Judgment, anticipated by the appearance of a messenger and the reappearance of Elijah.
See E. Achtemeier, Nahum–Malachi (1986); see also bibliography under Old Testament.
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