Malachi 4:5 promises that God will send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. The verse is a closing announcement from God Himself, spoken through the prophet Malachi to the people of Judah after the Old Testament’s final prophetic book. It looks ahead to a messenger who will prepare the way for God’s decisive action.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
Malachi 4:5 (WEB)
What Malachi 4:5 Means
The verse opens with “Behold,” a word that calls the listener’s attention to something important. God then says, “I will send you Elijah the prophet.” The speaker is the LORD, and the sender is God, so the coming of this prophet is an act of divine initiative rather than human planning.
The phrase “before the great and terrible day of the LORD” points to a future time of judgment and reckoning. The “day of the LORD” is a common prophetic expression for the moment when God acts decisively in history, bringing justice to the wicked and vindication to the faithful. Calling it “great and terrible” acknowledges that such a day will be serious and weighty for everyone.
The verse does not spell out every detail of how or when Elijah will come, and it does not promise an easy outcome for anyone who ignores God’s call. What it does promise is that God will provide warning and preparation before that day arrives.
The Context of Malachi 4:5
Malachi is the last book in the Hebrew prophetic collection, and it is traditionally attributed to a prophet whose name means “my messenger.” It was written to a post-exilic community in Judah that had returned from Babylon and rebuilt the temple, yet felt disillusioned that God’s promised blessings seemed slow in coming. The book answers their questions through a series of disputes between God and the people.
In the verses just before, Malachi 4:2-4 speaks of the “sun of righteousness” rising with healing for those who fear God’s name, while the wicked are reduced to ashes. Verse 4 then calls the people to remember the law of Moses. Read in this setting, Elijah’s coming in verse 5 is the bridge between the call to faithful obedience and the warning of coming judgment, reminding the listeners that God’s word has a future fulfillment.
Key Phrases in Malachi 4:5
Matthew 17:10-13
10 His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things, 12 but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
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In this passage Jesus identifies John the Baptist as the Elijah who was to come, showing how Malachi’s promise was understood in the New Testament. Reading the two together helps you see how the prophecy was fulfilled in preparing the way for Christ.
Isaiah 40:3-5
3 The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. 5 The LORD’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
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Isaiah describes a voice calling for the way of the LORD to be prepared, using similar language about making a path ready for God’s arrival. The parallel shows that the theme of preparation before God’s visitation runs throughout the prophetic books.
A Short Prayer From Malachi 4:5
Father, thank You for keeping Your promises across the generations. When You said You would send a messenger before the great day of the LORD, You showed that You care about preparing Your people. Help me to listen for the voices You send into my life, whether they come through Scripture, through a friend, or through a quiet conviction in my heart. Give me a readiness that is marked by faith rather than fear, and a love that turns my heart toward You and toward those around me. Amen.
