Malachi facts for kids
Malachi (also spelled Malachias, Malache, or Mal'achi) was an important writer in ancient times. He wrote the Book of Malachi, which is a part of the Bible. This book is the very last one in the Neviim section, which means "prophets," in the Jewish Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible).
We don't know a lot about Malachi himself. His name might even be a title, meaning "my messenger." He isn't mentioned by other famous figures like Ezra, and his book doesn't directly talk about the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Who Was Malachi?
Malachi was a prophet, which means he was believed to share messages from God with people. His book is quite short, but it contains important teachings and warnings for the Jewish people of his time. It talks about how people should treat God, their priests, and each other.
His Book in the Bible
The Book of Malachi is a collection of messages. It often uses a question-and-answer style, where God asks questions and then answers them, or the people ask questions and God replies. Some of the main topics in his book include:
- God's love for Israel.
- The importance of proper worship and offerings.
- Warnings against divorce and marrying people who don't follow the same faith.
- The coming of a special messenger before a "Day of the Lord."
When Did He Live?
Experts believe Malachi lived and shared his messages around 420 BC. This was after the Jewish people had returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. He likely lived after other prophets like Haggai and Zechariah. His messages seem to fit a time when the Second Temple had been rebuilt, but people were still struggling to follow God's laws. Some scholars think he prophesied after Nehemiah returned to Persia for a second time.
Images for kids
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Imaginative image of Malachi (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot)
See also
In Spanish: Malaquías (profeta) para niños
