AUTHOR: Other than what is set forth in his little Book, not much is known about Malachi's family background or life. Jewish tradition says that Malachi (with Haggai and Zechariah) was a member of the Great Synagogue.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME: Originating from the Hebrew “Malaqhiáh”, a combination of the terms “malaqn”, which means “messenger”, and “lah”, which means “Yahweh” (God ).

THEME: The theme of Malachi is the greatness of God. In this book, the prophet confronts the religious people who do not practice the true worship of God. The prophet Malachi presents a picture of an outwardly religious people, but inwardly indifferent and false; the service having become wearisome and wearisome to them [Mal 1:13]. The priests cared little about what they offered to God, so they offered the blind, the lame and the sick [Mal 1:6-8]. The grave nature of the sin of priests and people in general inevitably brings about the judgment of God. They questioned His love, His honor and greatness, His justice and His character. Three times the Lord declares His "greatness," and ten times throughout the Book He calls attention to the honor due to His name. The Book ends with a prophecy of the coming of Elijah, the forerunner of the Messiah, before "the great and dreadful Day of the Lord."

COMPILATION: Estimated around the year 425 B.C., based on conditions existing at the time of Nehemiah's second arrival in Jerusalem. It consists of 4 chapters and 55 verses.