Malachi 4:5 Meaning: Who Is the Elijah to Come?
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.
Lo, I am sending to you Elijah the prophet, Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful.
Behold, I send unto you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and terrible day of Jehovah.
Meaning in one sentence
Malachi 4:5 promises Elijah the prophet before God's great day. Christians see John the Baptist in this role, but some also expect a future Elijah.
Context
Malachi brings the Old Testament to a close. The people have returned from exile, rebuilt the temple, and yet their faith has grown cold. They question God's justice and neglect His worship. In chapter four, the prophet gives a final vision: a day is coming, burning like a furnace, that will consume the proud and wicked. But for those who fear God's name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Then, just before that day, God promises to send Elijah the prophet. His work will be to turn hearts back to each other, especially parents and children, so that the land is not struck with a curse. This is the last promise of the Old Testament, pointing forward to a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord Himself.
Key Words
The word send carries the force of a divine commission. God is not merely predicting; He is acting. The phrase Elijah the prophet draws attention to the office, not just the person. Elijah had been taken to heaven centuries before, and the Jews believed he would return before the Messiah. By calling him the prophet, the text emphasizes that God will raise up a prophetic voice with Elijah's authority and mission. The great and terrible day of Yahweh echoes Joel 2:31, great because it brings salvation to the faithful, terrible because it brings judgment on the rebellious. The word Behold (hinneh in Hebrew) signals a dramatic announcement: something yet unseen is about to happen, and it demands attention.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have understood this verse in two main ways. Many, citing Luke 1:17 and Matthew 11:14, see John the Baptist as the promised Elijah. He came in Elijah's spirit and power to prepare the way for Jesus, the Lord. Other Christians, pointing to Matthew 17:11 where Jesus says “Elijah truly shall first come and restore all things,” believe a literal return of Elijah will happen before the final judgment. Some traditions, such as Catholic and Orthodox, have held both: John as a first fulfilment and a future Elijah before the Second Coming. Both groups read the same text and seek to be faithful to Scripture's full witness.
A common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is that since John the Baptist denied being Elijah (John 1:21), the prophecy was left unfulfilled. In fact, John meant he was not the literal Elijah reincarnated. Jesus later made plain that John was indeed the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14, 17:12-13). The promise was not broken; it was fulfilled in John's prophetic ministry, and many Christians also await a further fulfilment before the final day.
Living This Out
The verse asks you to consider how God sends messengers ahead of His great moments. This week, you may not be Elijah, but you can prepare someone's heart. Perhaps a loved one has drifted from faith, and a kind word, a listening ear, or an honest conversation could turn their heart back. The final verse of the Old Testament is about reconciliation between generations. Is there a parent or child you need to reach out to? Take that step. It may be part of God's preparation for something larger.
Main takeaway: God sends His messengers ahead of His great day to turn our hearts toward Him and one another.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God promised to send a special messenger like Elijah to tell people to get ready for the Lord. This messenger would help families love each other again.
For ages 9, 12
At the very end of the Old Testament, God promised to send Elijah before His great and terrible day. John the Baptist came like Elijah, calling people to turn back to God. But many Christians also believe a future Elijah will come before Jesus returns. Either way, God is always sending people to prepare our hearts, and He wants us to prepare others too, starting with our own families.
Questions People Ask
Did John the Baptist actually fulfill Malachi 4:5?
Jesus said plainly that John was the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14; 17:12-13). John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, preparing the way for the Lord. However, John himself denied being the literal Elijah, and many Christians believe a future Elijah will appear before the final judgment as well.
What is the ‘great and terrible day of the Lord’?
In the Old Testament, this phrase refers to a day of divine judgment and salvation. It has multiple layers: the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 was a foretaste, and the final judgment at Christ's return will be the ultimate fulfilment. For believers it is a day of healing; for the wicked, a day of burning (Malachi 4:1-2).
Will the literal prophet Elijah return to earth?
Many Christians, especially in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, expect a literal return of Elijah before the Second Coming, based on Malachi 4:5 and Matthew 17:11. Others see John the Baptist as the complete fulfilment, reading Elijah as a symbol of the prophetic office. Both views have strong support in Christian history.
Why is Malachi 4:5 the last verse of the Old Testament?
The verse serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It ends the prophetic canon with a promise of a coming messenger, which the Gospels immediately pick up with John the Baptist. It leaves readers waiting for God's next move.
How should I prepare for the great and terrible day of the Lord?
The text itself gives the answer: turn your heart to God and to others. Remember the law (verse 4), and let the work of Elijah, reconciliation, begin in your own relationships. The day will come, but God provides a way of escape through His messenger.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study