The climactic oracle describes the coming day burning like an oven, consuming the arrogant and evildoers as stubble, leaving them neither root nor branch; yet for those who fear the LORD's name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. The Old Testament closes with the command to remember Moses' law from Horeb and the promise to send Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful Day of the LORD, who will turn the hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers lest the LORD come and strike the land with a curse.
Read Malachi Chapter 4 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
God's Love QuestionedChapters 1:1-5
God affirms His love for Israel despite their doubts.
Corrupt WorshipChapters 1:6-2:9
Marriage FaithlessnessChapters 2:10-16
God hates divorce; marrying foreign women breaks covenant.
Coming JudgmentChapters 2:17-4:6
The messenger, refining fire, tithing, and Elijah's return.
Bible Bites
The prophet whose name means his job
Malachi means 'my messenger' in Hebrew, perfectly fitting his role as God's final Old Testament prophet. As the last book before 400 years of prophetic silence, Malachi closes with a promise that Elijah will return before the great day of the LORD.
Malachi 1:1