Christianity and Jewish prophecy
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This article is about Christian interpretations of selected verses from the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible, Old Testament), which they hold to be prophetic claims that Jesus has been promised by God to be born as a human, and would be the Messiah.
In some cases, the New Testament quotes the Hebrew Bible (typically the Greek Septuagint translation of it) and asserts that the quotation applies to Jesus. In other instances Christian traditions, rather than the New Testament, make this assertion. Critics of this way of reading the Bible hold that these phrases are often shorn of their original context, in which there is no obvious indication that they were actually predicting anything. Occasionally statistical arguments are made, involving the improbability of someone fulfilling all these prophesies: such arguments are heavily criticised because the list of prophesies was chosen on the basis of having been fulfilled. Most books of the Hebrew Bible were written hundreds of years, and some parts possibly thousands of years, before the birth of Jesus. Many of the verses below were not widely held to be "prophecies" until after the New Testament had been written. Others were thought to be prophecies, but not necessarily connected with the idea of a "messiah".
Here is a list of verses often held by Christians to be messianic prophesies:
| Prophecy | Old Testament | New Testament |
|---|---|---|
| His pre-existence | Micah 5:2 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Micah+5:2) | John 1:1,14 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+1:1,14) |
| Born of the seed of a woman | Genesis 3:15 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Genesis+3:15) | Matthew 1:18 |
| Of the seed of Abraham | Genesis 12:3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Genesis+12:3) | Matthew 1:1-16 |
| All nations blessed by Abraham's seed | Genesis 12:3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Genesis+12:3) | Matthew 8:5,10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+8:5,10) |
| God would provide Himself a Lamb as an offering | Genesis 22:8 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Genesis+22:8) | John 1:29 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+1:29) |
| From the tribe of Judah | Genesis 49:10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Genesis+49:10) | Matthew 1:1-3 |
| Heir to the throne of David | Isaiah 9:6-7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+9:6-7) | Matthew 1:1 |
| Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" | Isaiah 9:6 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+9:6) | Matthew 1:23 |
| Born in Bethlehem (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Micah+5:2,Matthew+2:1) | Micah 5:2 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Micah+5:2) | Matthew 2:1 |
| Born of a virgin | Isaiah 7:14 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+7:14) | Matthew 1:18 |
| His name called Immanuel, "God with us" | Isaiah 7:14 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+7:14) | Matthew 1:23 |
| Declared to be the Son of God | Psalm 2:7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+2:7) | Matthew 3:17 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+3:17) |
| His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah | Malachi 4:5-6 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Malachi+4:5-6) | Luke 1:17 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Luke+1:17) |
| Preceded by a messenger to prepare His way | Malachi 3:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Malachi+3:1) | Matthew 11:7-11 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+11:7-11) |
| Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" | Isaiah 40:3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+40:3) | Matthew 3:3 |
| Would be a Prophet of the children of Israel | Deuteronomy 18:15 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Deuteronomy+18:15) | Matthew 2:15 |
| Called out of Egypt | Hosea 11:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Hosea+11:1) | Matthew 2:15 |
| Slaughter of the children | Jeremiah 31:15 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Jeremiah+31:15) | Matthew 2:18 |
| Would be a Nazarene | Judges 13:5; Amos 2:11; Lam. 4:7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Judges+13:5;+Amos+2:11;+Lam.+4:7) | Matthew 2:23 |
| Brought light to Zabulon & Nephthalm, Galilee of the Gentiles | Isaiah 9:1-2 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+9:1-2) | Matthew 4:15 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+4:15) |
| Presented with gifts | Psalm 72:10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+72:10) | Matthew 2:1,11 |
| Rejected by His own | Isaiah 53:3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:3) | Matthew 21:42; Mark 8:31, 12:10; Luke 9:22, 17:25 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+21:42;+Mark+8:31,+12:10;+Luke+9:22,+17:25) |
| He is the stone which the builders rejected which became the headstone | Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+118:22-23;+Isaiah+28:16) | Matthew 21:42; I Peter 2:7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+21:42;+I+Peter+2:7) |
| A stone of stumbling to Israel | Isaiah 8:14-15 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+8:14-15) | I Peter 2:8 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=I+Peter+2:8) |
| He entered Jerusalem as a king riding on an ass | Zechariah 9:9 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+9:9) | Matthew 21:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+21:5) |
| Betrayed by a friend | Psalms 41:9 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalms+41:9) | John 13:21 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+13:21) |
| Sold for 30 pieces of silver | Zechariah 11:12 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+11:12) | Matthew 26:15; Luke 22:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+26:15;+Luke+22:5) |
| The 30 pieces of silver given for the potter's field | Zechariah 11:12 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+11:12) | Matthew 27:9-10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:9-10) |
| The 30 pieces of silver thrown in the temple | Zechariah 11:13 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+11:13) | Matthew 27:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:5) |
| Forsaken by His disciples | Zechariah 13:7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+13:7) | Matthew 26:56 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+26:56) |
| Accused by false witnesses | Psalm 35:11 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+35:11) | Matthew 26:60 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+26:60) |
| Silent to accusations | Isaiah 53:7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:7) | Matthew 27:14 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:14) |
| Heal blind/deaf/lame/dumb | Isaiah 29:18, 35:5-6 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+29:18,+35:5-6) | Matthew 11:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+11:5) |
| Preached to the poor/brokenhearted/captives | Isaiah 61:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+61:1) | Matthew 11:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+11:5) |
| Came to bring a sword, not peace | Micah 7:6 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Micah+7:6) | Matthew 10:34-35 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+10:34-35) |
| He bore our sickness | Isaiah 53:4 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:4) | Matthew 8:16-17 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+8:16-17) |
| Spat upon, smitten and scourged | Isaiah 50:6, 53:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+50:6,+53:5) | Matthew 27:26,30 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:26,30) |
| Smitten on the cheek | Micah 5:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Micah+5:1) | Matthew 27:30 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:30) |
| Hated without a cause | Psalm 35:19 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+35:19) | Matthew 27:23 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:23) |
| The sacrificial lamb | Isaiah 53:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:5) | John 1:29 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+1:29) |
| Given for a covenant | Isaiah 42:6; Jeremiah 31:31-34 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+42:6;+Jeremiah+31:31-34) | Romans 11:27; Galatians 3:17, 4:24; Hebrews 8:6-10, 10:16, 10:29, 12:24, 13:20 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Romans+11:27;+Galatians+3:17,+4:24;+Hebrews+8:6-10,+10:16,+10:29,+12:24,+13:20) |
| Would not strive or cry | Isaiah 42:2-3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+42:2-3) | Mark 7:36 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Mark+7:36) |
| People would hear not and see not | Isaiah 6:9-10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+6:9-10) | Matthew 13:14-15 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+13:14-15) |
| People trust in traditions of men | Isaiah 29:13 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+29:13) | Matthew 15:9 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+15:9) |
| People give God lip service | Isaiah 29:13 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+29:13) | Matthew 15:8 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+15:8) |
| God delights in Him | Isaiah 42:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+42:1) | Matthew 3:17, 17:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+3:17,+17:5) |
| Wounded for our sins | Isaiah 53:5 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:5) | John 6:51 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+6:51) |
| He bore the sins of many | Isaiah 53:10-12 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:10-12) | Mark 10:45 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Mark+10:45) |
| Messiah not killed for Himself | Daniel 9:26 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Daniel+9:26) | Matthew 20:28 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+20:28) |
| Gentiles flock to Him | Isaiah 55:5, 60:3, 65:1; Psalm 2:7-8; Malachi 1:11; II Samuel 22:44-45; (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+55:5,+60:3,+65:1;+Psalm+2:7-8;+Malachi+1:11;+II+Samuel+22:44-45;) | Matthew 8:10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+8:10) |
| Crucified with criminals | Isaiah 53:12 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:12) | Matthew 27:35 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:35) |
| His body was pierced | Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22:16 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+12:10;+Psalm+22:16) | John 20:25-27 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+20:25-27) |
| Thirsty during execution | Psalm 22:16 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+22:16) | John 19:28 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+19:28) |
| Given vinegar and gall for thirst | Psalm 69:21 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+69:21) | Matthew 27:34 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:34) |
| Soldiers gambled for his garment | Psalm 22:18 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+22:18) | Matthew 27:35 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:35) |
| People mocked, "He trusted in God, let Him deliver him!" | Psalm 22:7-8 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+22:7-8) | Matthew 27:43 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:43) |
| People sat there looking at Him | Psalm 22:17 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+22:17) | Matthew 27:36 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:36) |
| Cried, "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?" | Psalm 22:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+22:1) | Matthew 27:46 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:46) |
| Darkness over the land | Amos 8:9 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Amos+8:9) | Matthew 27:45 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:45) |
| No bones broken Psalm 34:20; Numbers 9:12 | John 19:33-36 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+19:33-36) | John 19:33-36 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+19:33-36) |
| Side pierced | Zechariah 12:10 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Zechariah+12:10) | John 19:34 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=John+19:34) |
| Buried with the rich | Isaiah 53:9 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Isaiah+53:9) | Matthew 27:57,60 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+27:57,60) |
| Resurrected from the dead | Psalm 16:10-11,49:15 Mark 16:6 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+16:10-11,49:15+Mark+16:6) | Psalm 16:10-11, 49:15 Mark 16:6 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+16:10-11,+49:15+Mark+16:6) |
| Priest after the order of Melchizedek | Psalm 110:4 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+110:4) | Hebrews 5:5-6, 6:20, 7:15-17 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Hebrews+5:5-6,+6:20,+7:15-17) |
| Ascended to right hand of God | Psalm 68:18 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+68:18) | Luke 24:51 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Luke+24:51) |
| LORD said unto Him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" | Psalm 110:1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Psalm+110:1) | Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36, 16:19; Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Matthew+22:44;+Mark+12:36,+16:19;+Luke+20:42-43;+Acts+2:34-35;+Hebrews+1:13) |
| His coming glory | Malachi 3:2-3 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Malachi+3:2-3) | Luke 3:17 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Luke+3:17) |