The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel: The Hebrew text begins with the same words as Zech 9.1 and 12.1, massaʾ devar YHWH (see the notes in those places). If possible these words should be translated in such a way that their link with those other verses is not lost. Translation models are “A pronouncement: the word of the LORD to Israel” and “This is a message that brings the LORD’s word.” Alternatives to the word “pronouncement” are “proclamation” and “declaration.” Whatever term is chosen, it should ideally be used both here and in Zech 9.1; 12.1. Israel stands for the nation rather than the individual ancestor (Jacob), and will often be translated “the people of Israel” as in Good News Translation.

By Malachi: The preposition by translates the Hebrew idiom “in the hand of,” which is found also in Hag 1.1, 3; 2.1. In some languages there may be a similar idiom, but in many it will be necessary to translate “by” or “through” (New American Bible, New English Bible/Revised English Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Living Translation). In languages where such an expression is difficult, it may be helpful to restructure as in Good News Translation “This is the message that the LORD gave Malachi to tell the people of Israel.”

As noted in the introduction, it is best to keep Malachi as a personal name in translation. The absence of any information about the prophet’s ancestry, date, or place of origin is paralleled in Oba 1 and Hab 1.1.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Malachi. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .