What does "Prophecy" mean in the Bible?
Or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture.” (See PROPHET.) The great prediction which runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work of the Messiah; and the great use of prophecy was to perpetuate faith in his coming, and to prepare the world for that event. Prophecy appears in 16 verses across 6 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Prophecy?
Or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture.” (See PROPHET.) The great prediction which runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work of the Messiah; and the great use of prophecy was to perpetuate faith in his coming, and to prepare the world for that event. But there are many subordinate and intermediate prophecies also which hold an important place in the great chain of events which illustrate the sovereignty and all-wise overruling providence of God. Then there are many prophecies regarding the Jewish nation, its founder Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:16; 15:5; 17:2, 4-6, etc.), and his posterity, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants (12:7; 13:14, 15, 17; 15:18-21; Ex. 3:8, 17), which have all been fulfilled. The twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy contains a series of predictions which are even now in the present day being fulfilled. In the writings of the prophets Isaiah (2:18-21), Jeremiah (27:3-7; 29:11-14), Ezekiel (5:12; 8), Daniel (8; 9:26, 27), Hosea (9:17), there are also many prophecies regarding the events which were to befall that people. There is in like manner a large number of prophecies relating to those nations with which the Jews came into contact, as Tyre (Ezek. 26:3-5, 14-21), Egypt (Ezek. 29:10, 15; 30:6, 12, 13), Ethiopia (Nahum 3:8-10), Nineveh (Nahum 1:10; 2:8-13; 3:17-19), Babylon (Isa. 13:4; Jer. 51:7; Isa. 44:27; Jer. 50:38; 51:36, 39, 57), the land of the Philistines (Jer. 47:4-7; Ezek. 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph. 2:4-7; Zech. 9:5-8), and of the four great monarchies (Dan. 2:39, 40; 7:17-24; 8:9). But the great body of Old Testament prophecy relates directly to the advent of the Messiah, beginning with Gen. 3:15, the first great promise, and extending in ever-increasing fulness and clearness all through to the very close of the canon. The Messianic prophecies are too numerous to be quoted. “To him gave all the prophets witness.” (Comp. Micah 5:2; Hag. 2:6-9; Isa. 7:14; 9:6, 7; 11:1, 2; 53; 60:10, 13; Ps. 16:11; 68:18.) Many predictions also were delivered by Jesus and his apostles. Those of Christ were very numerous. (Comp. Matt. 10:23:24; 11:23; 19:28; 21:43, 44; 24; 25:31-46; 26:17-35, 46, 64; Mark 9:1; 10:30; 13; 11:1-6, 14; 14:12-31, 42, 62; 16:17, etc.)
Definition text: Easton's Bible Dictionary · 1897. Public domain.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
What is the Greek word for Prophecy?
Greek · G4394
προφητεία
prophēteia
prophecy
TBESG, from Abbott-Smith (1922). Public domain.
Where does Prophecy appear in the Bible?
Prophecy is referenced in 16 verses across 6 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10
- 1 Corinthians 13:2
- 1 Corinthians 14:6
- 1 Corinthians 14:22
- 1 Timothy 4:14
- 2 Peter 1:20
- 2 Peter 1:21
- Matthew 13:14
- Revelation 1:3
- Revelation 11:6
- Revelation 19:10
- Revelation 22:7
- Revelation 22:10
- Revelation 22:18
- Revelation 22:19
- Romans 12:6
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Prophecy.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Prophecy?
Prophecy appears in 16 verses across 6 books, most often in Revelation, which accounts for 7 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Prophecy?
Revelation, 1 Corinthians, 2 Peter, 1 Timothy, Matthew, Romans.
Where can I read every verse about Prophecy?
This page lists 16 of them. Protos carries all 16, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.


