Looking for a prophet? Who doesn’t want to know the future? In the Bible, there are two kinds of prophecy: foretelling and forth-telling. Foretelling is predicting the future. Those who spoke in God’s name would be put to death if a prophecy didn’t happen, so the standard is 100% accuracy. Forth-telling is obeying God by telling the truth to people who need to hear it.
Below is a list of people in the Bible who were called prophets, who wrote prophetic books, whose lives were considered prophetic in nature, or who prophesied (truly or falsely). Where their names are unknown, they’re listed as we see it in the text. God, of course, is the source of all true prophecy and has His own prophecies throughout all of Scripture…so He’s not listed. The list is incomplete, so let me know if you think of anyone who’s missing.
Click column headers to sort
| Name | References |
|---|---|
| 2 Apocalyptic prophets | Revelation 11:3-10 |
| “A prophet” | Judges 6:8 |
| “A Prophet” | 1 Kings 20:12 |
| “A prophet” | 2 Chronicles 25:15 |
| Aaron | Exodus 7:1 |
| Abraham | Genesis 20:7 |
| Agabus and other prophets from Jerusalem | Acts 11:27, 13:1, 21:9 |
| Ahijah | 1 Kings 11:29, 1 Kings 14 |
| Amos | Amos |
| Anna | Luke 2:36 |
| At least 100 “Sons of the Prophets” | 1 Samuel 10, 19:20, 1 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 1-5, 9 |
| Azariah | 2 Chronicles 15, 28:9 |
| Balaam | Numbers 22, 2 Peter 2:15-16 |
| Bar-Jesus (Elymas the sorceror, a false prophet) | Acts 13:6 |
| Cretan prophet | Titus 1:12 |
| Daniel | Daniel |
| David | Psalm 2, 22, 40, 45, etc. |
| Deborah | Judges 4:4 |
| Elijah | 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 21:12 |
| Elisha | 1 Kings 19:15, 2 Kings 3-7 |
| Ezekiel | Ezekiel |
| Gad | 1 Samuel 22:5, 2 Samuel 12:25, 2 Chronicles 29:25 |
| Habakkuk | Habakkuk |
| Haggai | Ezra 5:1, 6:14, Haggai |
| Hananiah and other false prophets | Jeremiah 26, Jeremiah 28 |
| Hosea | Hosea |
| Hulda | 2 Chronicles 34, 2 Kings 22:14 |
| Iddo | 2 Chronicles 12:15 |
| Isaiah | 2 Kings 19-20, Isaiah |
| Jehaziel | 2 Chronicles 20:14 |
| Jehu | 1 Kings 16 |
| Jeremiah | 2 Chronicles 36:12, Jeremiah |
| Jesus | Matthew 13:57, Luke 1:76, Luke 24:19 |
| Jezebel (false prophet) | Revelation 2:20 |
| Joel | Joel |
| John | Revelation |
| John the Baptist | Matthew 11:9 |
| Jonah | Jonah, 2 Kings 14:23 |
| Judas | Acts 15:32 |
| Malachi | Malachi |
| Man of God from Judah | 1 Kings 13 |
| Micah | Micah |
| Micaiah | 1 Kings 22 |
| Miriam | Exodus 15:20 |
| Moses | Deuteronomy 34:10, Hosea 12:13 |
| Nahum | Nahum |
| Nathan | 2 Samuel 7:2, Psalm 51 |
| Nehemiah | Nehemiah |
| Noadiah (false prophet) | Nehemiah 6:14 |
| Obadiah | Obadiah |
| Old Prophet in Bethel | 1 Kings 13 |
| Prophets of Baal | 1 Kings 18 |
| Samuel | 1 Samuel 3:20, 9:9 |
| Shemaiah | 2 Chronicles 12:15 |
| Shemaiah (false prophet) | Jeremiah 29:27 |
| Silas | Acts 15:32 |
| “The company of the prophets at Bethel” | 2 Kings 2:3 |
| “The company of the prophets at Jericho” | 2 Kings 2:5 |
| The False Prophet | Revelation 16:13, 19:20 |
| “The Holy Prophets” | Ephesians 3:5 |
| “The Prophetess” (Isaiah’s Wife?) | Isaiah 8:3 |
| Uriah, son of Shemaiah | Jeremiah 26:20 |
| Zechariah ben-Iddo | Ezra 5:1 |
| Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) | Luke 1:67 |
| Zechariah ben-Jehoida | 2 Chronicles 24:20 |
| Zechariah, son of Berekiah | Ezra 5:1, 6:14, Zechariah |
| Zedekiah and 400 false prophets in the courts of King Jehosaphat | 1 Kings 22 |
| Zephaniah | Zephaniah |
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The mandate of Prophets is to proclaim the Word of God.
Sir Bright Agabus:
This is certainly true. Of course, it’s equally true of all Christians, regardless of which spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit provides. Wouldn’t you agree?
Is there a reason that not all of the minor prophets are here? I’m asking because I’ve not had the chance to scour this website yet and am wondering if you have a definition of prophet that I may not know. Meanwhile, I would add the following: Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zechariah, Malachi, Amos, and Ezekiel are called prophets or see visions of the future in the first verse of their books; 2 Kings 2:15 (a company of prophets); Joel (2:25); Hosea ( 1:4); Daniel (2:19); David (Psalm 22)
Nancy:
Thanks for writing! I appreciate your input. The reason the minor prophets weren’t listed is that the list is incomplete. It’s that simple. The initial list came from a search for the word “prophet,” which would leave out anyone not listed by the word. The Bible is SO full of stuff that it’s nearly impossible to create a “final” list of things. I work on them ‘as I go.’
I’ve updated the list with 1) the minor prophets, 2) a new introduction to the list, and 3) links to the texts in the list. If you see any holes in the new list, I will again be in your debt if you point them out.
How did you find GodWords? I’m always curious.
Have a great day!