The Background of Malachi’s Final Prophecy (Mal 3:13–21)

Itamar Kislev

doi:10.1163/15685330-bja10249

The Background of Malachi’s Final Prophecy (Mal 3:13–21)

Itamar Kislev

Department of Biblical Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The eschatological prophecy in Mal 3:13–21 has many singularities. It is exceptional in relation to the other prophecies in the book of Malachi as well as to the other eschatological prophecies and concepts in the entire Hebrew Bible. One of these unique elements is the absence of any national component from Malachi’s last prophecy. Another important element is the unparalleled description of the “day” and the character of the experience of the righteous and the wicked. It is proposed that the Persian background of this prophecy has the ability to explain this prophetical passage and its singularities. This article argues that the author of this passage was influenced by the ancient Zoroastrian concept of an eschatological fiery ordeal.

Original language	English
Journal	Vetus Testamentum
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-bja10249
State	Accepted/In press - 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Itamar Kislev, 2026. Published with license by Koninklijke Brill BV. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

Keywords

Mal 3:13–21
Persian period
Zoroastrianism
book of Malachi
eschatology
ordeal by fire

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Language and Linguistics
History
Religious studies
Linguistics and Language
Literature and Literary Theory

Access to Document

10.1163/15685330-bja10249

Cite this

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title = "The Background of Malachi{\textquoteright}s Final Prophecy (Mal 3:13–21)",

abstract = "The eschatological prophecy in Mal 3:13–21 has many singularities. It is exceptional in relation to the other prophecies in the book of Malachi as well as to the other eschatological prophecies and concepts in the entire Hebrew Bible. One of these unique elements is the absence of any national component from Malachi{\textquoteright}s last prophecy. Another important element is the unparalleled description of the “day” and the character of the experience of the righteous and the wicked. It is proposed that the Persian background of this prophecy has the ability to explain this prophetical passage and its singularities. This article argues that the author of this passage was influenced by the ancient Zoroastrian concept of an eschatological fiery ordeal.",

keywords = "Mal 3:13–21, Persian period, Zoroastrianism, book of Malachi, eschatology, ordeal by fire",

author = "Itamar Kislev",

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N2 - The eschatological prophecy in Mal 3:13–21 has many singularities. It is exceptional in relation to the other prophecies in the book of Malachi as well as to the other eschatological prophecies and concepts in the entire Hebrew Bible. One of these unique elements is the absence of any national component from Malachi’s last prophecy. Another important element is the unparalleled description of the “day” and the character of the experience of the righteous and the wicked. It is proposed that the Persian background of this prophecy has the ability to explain this prophetical passage and its singularities. This article argues that the author of this passage was influenced by the ancient Zoroastrian concept of an eschatological fiery ordeal.

AB - The eschatological prophecy in Mal 3:13–21 has many singularities. It is exceptional in relation to the other prophecies in the book of Malachi as well as to the other eschatological prophecies and concepts in the entire Hebrew Bible. One of these unique elements is the absence of any national component from Malachi’s last prophecy. Another important element is the unparalleled description of the “day” and the character of the experience of the righteous and the wicked. It is proposed that the Persian background of this prophecy has the ability to explain this prophetical passage and its singularities. This article argues that the author of this passage was influenced by the ancient Zoroastrian concept of an eschatological fiery ordeal.

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JO - Vetus Testamentum

JF - Vetus Testamentum

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The Background of Malachi’s Final Prophecy (Mal 3:13–21)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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