What is a Prophet?
- A Man of God
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- Chosen by God (1 Kings 12:22)
- A Servant of the Lord
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- Indicating that he was faithful to God (1 Kings 14:18)
- A Messenger of the Lord
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- Showing that he was sent by God (Isaiah 42:19)
- A Seer (Ro’eh) or Beholder (Hozeh)
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- Revealing that his insight was from God (Isaiah 30:9-10)
- A Man of the Spirit
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- Telling that he spoke by the Spirit of the Lord (Hosea 9:7 RSV; cf. Micah 3:8)
- A Watchman
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- Reflecting his alertness for God (Ezekiel 3:17)
- A Prophet
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- Marking him as a spokesperson for God
How a Prophet Received Their Message From God
- Dreams (Genesis 37)
- Visions (Daniel 7)
- Audible Voice (1 Samuel 3)
- Inner Voice (Hosea 1; Joel 1)
- From Angels (Genesis 19)
- Miracles (Exodus 3; Judges 6)
- The Lot (Proverbs 16:33)
- High Priest Used Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30)
| Name | Tribe | Kings During Life | Important Information | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noah | Before Tribes | Before Kings | •God used him to speak judgement and prophecy about future events | •Genesis 7:1–4; 8:16–17, 21–22; 9:1–16 •Hebrews 11:7 | ||
| Abraham | Before Tribes | Before Kings | •God spoke to Abraham many times •Abraham was told about future events | •Genesis 12 | ||
| Jacob | Father of the Tribes | Before Kings | •God spoke to him in a dream •Prophesied about the future of his sons | •Genesis 28:10-22; 49 | ||
| Joseph | Father of the Tribes Ephraim and Manasseh | Before Kings | •God spoke to him in dreams •Could interpret dreams and prophesied about events | •Genesis 40 and 41 | ||
| Moses | Levi | Before Kings | •Wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy •God gave messages to and through him •God spoke to Moses more than anyone else in the bible | •Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy | ||
| Aaron | Levi | Before Kings | •Used as a mouthpiece for Moses •Later rebuked and gave warnings to others | •Exodus 7:1-7 | ||
| Miriam | Levi | Before Kings | •Identified as a prophet •Not all of her judgements were informed by God | •Exodus 15:20; Numbers 12 | ||
| The 70 Elders of Israel | N/A | Before Kings | •Endowed with the holy Spirit and prophesied for a short time | •Numbers 11:26 | ||
| Eldad and Medad | N/A | Before Kings | •Part of the 70 elders •Stayed in the camp and the Holy Spirit used them for a short time | •Numbers 11:26 | ||
| Balaam | Not an Israelite | Before Kings | •Called a prophet but also an evil man •God wouldn’t let him curse Israel | •Numbers 22-24; Jude 1:11 | ||
| Elihu | A Buzite from the family of Ram | Before Kings | •Job’s younger friend •Condemned Job’s other 3 friends | •Job 32-35 | ||
| Joshua | Ephraim | Before Kings | •Took command after Moses died •God warned him to obey | •Joshua 1:1-9 | ||
| Deborah | Ephraim | Before Kings | •First female Judge and Prophetess •She either passed God’s message to Barak or enforced it | •Judges 4:4-9 | ||
| Gideon | Manasseh | Before Kings | •The least willing prophet •God led him to destroy the Midianites and Amalekites | •Judges 6-8 | ||
| Samuel | Levi | Saul and David | •First message from God came when he was a small boy •Anointed Saul and David •Announced punishment to Saul | •1 Samuel1:13; 3:4; 9; 28:15-19 | ||
| Procession of Prophets | N/A | Saul | •Prophesied shortly after Saul was anointed King | •1 Samuel 10:10 | ||
| King Saul | Benjamin | King Saul | •He Prophesied with a procession of Prophets | •1 Samuel 10:10 | ||
| Gad | N/A | Saul and David | •Told David what he was supposed to do while David was running from Saul | •1 Samuel 22:5 | ||
| Nathan | Judah | David | •Told David that Solomon would build the temple •Rebuked David for committing adultery | •2 Samuel 7:4-17; 12:1-15 | ||
| David | Judah | Saul | •Many of the Psalms prophesy of the coming of Jesus and David wrote them | •Psalms 8; 22; 110 | ||
| Asaph | Levite | David | •A worship leader appointed by David | •2 Chronicles 29:30 | ||
| Zaccur | Levite | David | •Son of Asaph •Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Joseph | Levite | David | •Son of Asaph Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Nethaniah | Levite | David | •Son of Asaph Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Asarelah | Levite | David | •Son of Asaph Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Jeduthun | Levite | David | •Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Gedaliah | Levite | David | •Son of Jeduthun Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Zeri | Levite | David | •Son of Jeduthun Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Jeshaiah | Levite | David | •Son of Jeduthun Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Shimei | Levite | David | •Son of Jeduthun Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Hashabiah | Levite | David | • Son of Jeduthun Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Mattithiah | Levite | David | •Son of Jeduthun Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy with a harp | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Heman | Levite | David | •Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Bukkiah | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Mattaniah | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Uzziel | Levite | David | •1 Chronicles 25 | |||
| Shebuel | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Jerimoth | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Hananiah | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Hanani | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Eliathah | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Giddalti | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Romamti-ezer | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Joshbekashah | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Mallothi | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Hothir | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Mahazioth | Levite | David | •Son of Heman Commissioned by David and commanders to prophesy | •1 Chronicles 25 | ||
| Ethan | Levite | David | •A wise man •Wrote some of the Psalms | •Psalm 89; 1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6 | ||
| Misc Writers of Psalms | N/A | David | • | |||
| King Solomon | Judah | Solomon | •God spoke to Solomon in a dream •Solomon asked for Wisdom | •1 Kings 3 | ||
| Agur | N/A | Solomon | •Son of Jekah •Author of Proverbs 30 | •Proverbs 30 | ||
| Ahijah | Levite | Solomon | •Told Jeroboam that he would take command of the 10 tribes of Israel after Solomon died •Prophesied that Jeroboam’s entire line would be cut off | •1 Kings 11:29-39; 14:1-18 | ||
| Iddo | Leader over half tribe of Manasseh | Solomon Jeroboam Rehoboam Abijah | •Mentioned several times and suggested that he has his own book | •2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 13:17 | ||
| Shemaiah | N/A | Solomon Rehoboam | •God used him to tell Rehoboam to return home | •1 Kings 12:22 | ||
| Unnamed Prophet (Man of God) | Judah | Jeroboam | •Confronted the sin of King Jeroboam •God told him not to eat or drink an his journey to Jeroboam and to return a different way •King tried to arrest him but his hand withered, and he prayed to restore his hand •Mauled by a lion for disobeying God’s order | •1 Kings 13:1-10 | ||
| Unnamed Prophet in Bethel | N/A | Jeroboam | •Intercepted the man of God on his way home and caused him to disobey God’s Orders •Instructed his sons to bury him next to the man of God | •1 Kings 13:11-32 | ||
| Azariah | N/A | Asa of Judah | •Warned the King and encouraged him to rid the nation of Judah of idols | •2 Chronicles 15:1-7 | ||
| Hanani | Judah | Asa of Judah Baasha of Israel | •Chastised King Asa for not trusting God •Asa put Hanani in prison | •2 Chronicles 16:7-10 | ||
| Jehu | Judah | Asa of Judah Baasha of Israel | •Announced God’s judgement against Baasha | •1 Kings 16:1-7 | ||
| Elijah the Tishbite | N/A | Ahab of Israel Ahaziah of Judah Joram of Judah | •The most significant Prophet who never saw death b/c God took him •Mount Carmel Victory •Made Elisha his successor | •1 Kings 17-19 •2 Kings 2:1-12 | ||
| Unnamed Prophet | N/A | King Ahab | •Assured King Ahab that Israel would triumph against Syria | •1 Kings 20 | ||
| Micaiah | Judah | Jehoshaphat of Judah Ahab of Israel | •Revealed to Ahad that his 400 “prophets” had lying spirits •Said Ahad would die in the battle against Ramoth-Gilead | •1 Kings 22:13-28 | ||
| Jahaziel | Levite | Jehoshaphat of Judah | •Prophesied that Judah would destroy its enemies •Gave counsel on how to destroy them | •2 Chronicles 10:1-23 | ||
| Eliezer | Judah | Jehoshaphat of Judah Ahaziah of Israel | •Confronted Jehoshaphat about joining forces with Ahaziah when they built ships together •God destroyed the ships | •2 Chronicles 20:35-37 | ||
| Unnamed Prophets | N/A | Ahab of Israel Ahaziah of Judah Joram of Judah | •Belonged to the school of prophets •Some lived in Bethel and Jericho •Reminded Elisha that Elijah was about to depart | •2 Kings 2:3,5 | ||
| Elisha | Issachar | Jehoram of Judah Jehu of Israel Jehoahaz of Israel Joash of Judah | •Successor to Elijah •Wiped out organized Baal worship •Brought widows son back to life •Dead man thrown into Elisha’s grave and sprang back to life | •2 Kings 4:18-37; 5; 10:28; 13:2-21 | ||
| Zechariah | Levite | Coash | •Confronted king Joash then was stoned | •2 Chronicles 24:20-22 | ||
| Jonah | Zebulon | Jeroboam II | •Chose to disobey God’s order to preach to Ninevites •Got swallowed by a great fish for 3 days | •2 Kings 14:23-27 | ||
| Joel | Reuben | Joash of Judah Jehoahaz of Israel | •Told the people to return to God or they will be wiped out like the locust and the crops •Prophesied about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentacost | •Joel 2:28 •Acts 2:16-21 | ||
| Amos | Unknown | Uzziah of Judah | •A Judean shepherd •Prophesied against Israel | •Amos | ||
| Hosea | Maybe Issachar | Jeroboam II of Israel Uzziah of Judah Jotham of Judah Ahaz of Judah Hezekiah of Judah | •God had Hosea marry a prostitute to show Israel’s unfaithfulness •God longed to forgive Israel so had Hosea take Gomer back •One day the Gentiles would follow God | •Hosea | ||
| Isaiah | Judah | Uzziah of Judah Jotham of Judah Ahaz of Judah Hezekiah of Judah | •Most quoted prophet in the New testament •Walked 3 years barefoot and naked as a portent against Egypt and Cush •Sawed in two | •Isaiah •2 Kings 21:1-17 •Hebrews 11:37 | ||
| Micah | Judah | Jotham of Judah Ahaz of Judah Hezekiah of Judah | •Condemnation of sin •The only mention of Bethlehem being the birth place of the Messiah | •Micah | ||
| Oded | Unkown | Asa of Judah | •Also known as Azariah | •2 Chronicles 28:1-15 | ||
| Zephaniah | Judah | Josiah of Judah | •Warned Judah •Promised that a remnant would return | •Zephaniah | ||
| Nahum | Simeon | Josiah of Judah Manasseh of Judah Amnon | •Promised Assyria’s days were numbered | •Nahum | ||
| Huldah | Unkown | Josiah of Judah | •A prophetess •Prophesied that nation of Judah be destroyed | •2 Kings 22:8-20 | ||
| Jeremiah | Levi | Josiah of Judah Jehoiakim Zedekiah | •Called the weeping prophet •Wrote Jeremiah and Lamentations •Watched the kingdom of Judah picked apart by the Babylonians | •Jeremiah •Lamentations •2 Kings 22:8-20 | ||
| Uriah | Unkown | Jehoiakim of Judah Ahaz of Judah | •Hunted down and killed by King Jehoiakim | •Jeremiah 26:20-23 | ||
| Habakkuk | Simeon (?) | Jehoiakim of Judah | •Prophesied Assyria’s fall •Prophesied Babylonian exile •Prophesied victory of Persians •He asked God questions and He answered | •Habakkuk | ||
| Obadiah | Levi | Ahab of Israel | •Prophesied against Edom | •Obadiah | ||
| Daniel | Judah | Nebuchadnezzar Evil-Merodach Nergal-sharezer Labashi-marduk Nabonidus Belshazzar Darius the Mede Cyrus of Persia | •Took into exile in Babylon •Interpreted dreams •Served several generations of leaders •Daniel in the lions den •Prophesied about the End Times | •Daniel | ||
| Ezekiel | Levite | Jehoiakim of Judah Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) Zedekiah | •A priest who was exiled to Babylon •God said that if he didn’t prophecy, he would be held accountable for the lost souls | •Ezekiel | ||
| Haggai | Levite | Zerubbabel Darius I | •Worked with Zechariah •Pushed for the rebuilding of the temple | •Haggai | ||
| Zechariah | Levi | Darius I Cyrus the Great Governor Zerubabbel | •Encouraged the Jews to finish rebuilding the temple •Said people all over the world would turn to the Messiah | •Zechariah | ||
| Malachi | Levi | Artexerxes I Longimanus Artexerxes II Mnemon | •The last prophet •400 years of silence after Malachi | •Malachi | ||
| Zechariah | Levi | Herod the Great Caesar Augustus Quirinius | •Father of John the Baptist •Was mute until John was born | •Luke 1:8-23; 67-79 | ||
| Mary | Judah | Herod the Great Caesar Augustus Quirinius | •Mother of Jesus •Immaculate Conception | •Luke 1 | ||
| Joseph | Judah | Herod the Great Caesar Augustus Quirinius | •Received a message from Gabriel •No one knows what happened to him | •Matthew 1:20 | ||
| Elizabeth | Levi | Herod the Great Caesar Augustus Quirinius | •Cousin to Mary •Mother of John the Baptist •Prophesied Mary’s child was the Messiah | •Luke 1:41-45 | ||
| John the Baptist | Levi | Herod Antipas Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate Herod Philip II Herodias | •Spent his life preparing the way of the Lord •Was beheaded by Herod | •John 1:19-28 | ||
| Simeon | Herod Antipas Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate Herod Philip II Herodias | •Righteous old man •Promised by God that he would see the Messiah before he died •Warned Mary that He would suffer | •Luke 2:22-35 | |||
| Anna | Herod Antipas Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate Herod Philip II Herodias | •Elderly prophetess •Knew that baby Jesus was the Messiah | •Luke 2:36-38 | |||
| Philip | Herod Antipas Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate Herod Philip II Herodias Herod Agrippa I Domitian Claudius Caligula | •Angel told him to go to a deserted place •Witness to an Ethiopian court official who became a believer and was baptized | •Acts 8:26-40 | |||
| Paul | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Wrote prophetic words in his letters convicting believers •Prophesied about the end times •Originally called Saul | •1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 •2 Thess. 1:5-12; 2:1-11 | |||
| Peter | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •One of the main apostles •Angel came to Peter when he was imprisoned •Foretells about the Day of the Lord | •Acts 12:6-12 •2 Peter 3 | |||
| Barnabas | Levi | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Identified as a Prophet | •Acts 13:1 | ||
| Lucius of Cyrene | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Identified as a Prophet | •Acts 13:1 | |||
| Manahen | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Identified as a Prophet | •Acts 13:1 | |||
| Simeon Niger | "Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Identified as a Prophet | •Acts 13:1 | |||
| Judas Barsabbas | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Identified as a Prophet | •Acts 15:30-33 | |||
| Silas | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Identified as a Prophet | •Acts 15:30-33 | |||
| 4 Daughters of Philip | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Labeled as Prophets | •Acts 21:7-8 | |||
| Agabus | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Predicted Paul’s future imprisonment | •Acts 21:10-11 | |||
| John the Apostle | Claudius Nero Herod Agrippa II Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Gallio Sergius Paulus Publius | •Brother of James •Prophesied about the End Times | •Revelations 11:3-12 |