Bible & Christianity › Kings & prophets
The Hebrew prophets
c. 870–430 BC (Elijah to Malachi)· Church or tradition· Church, doctrine & the world
Mostly agreed by scholarsMost historians agree; some details uncertain.
The Hebrew prophets were men and women who spoke, they said, for God, calling kings and people back to justice and loyalty.
See it on the Bible & Christianity map →What it is
A prophet (Hebrew navi) was mainly a messenger, not a fortune-teller: 'Thus says the Lord.' Early prophets like Elijah and Elisha acted and confronted kings; from about 760 BC 'writing prophets' such as Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah and Jeremiah left books. Women such as Huldah also prophesied (2 Kings 22). They attacked idolatry and abuse of the poor, warned of Assyria and Babylon, and promised restoration.
Why it matters
They put ethics at the center of religion, justice and mercy over ritual, and their promises of a coming king and a new covenant are what Christians believe Jesus fulfilled.
Sources and history
Prophets were common in the ancient Near East: letters from Mari (c. 1700 BC) report prophetic messages to kings, and the Deir Alla inscription (c. 800 BC) names the seer Balaam. Prophetic books were edited over centuries.
Questions and debates
How much of each book goes back to the prophet himself and how much to later disciples and editors is debated book by book.
Inside this (6)
Connections (2)
▸The Hebrew prophets fill the second part of The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)Historical record
The connection
The Prophets (Nevi'im) form the second part of the Hebrew Bible. The 'Former Prophets' (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) tell Israel's history; the 'Latter Prophets' preserve the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve minor prophets, mostly warnings of judgment and promises of restoration.
When and where
The prophets were active c. 870–430 BC; most scholars think their books were collected and edited by about 200 BC.
Historical evidence
Sirach (c. 190 BC) already names 'the Twelve Prophets' as a group (Sirach 49:10), and the Dead Sea Scrolls hold copies of every prophetic book.
Questions and debates
How much of each book comes from the prophet himself versus disciples and later editors is debated, especially for Isaiah and Zechariah.
▸John the Baptist is seen by Christians as the last of The Hebrew prophetsFaith & scripture
The connection
Jesus calls John 'more than a prophet' and says 'all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John' (Matthew 11:9–13). Like the old prophets, John lived in the wilderness, called Israel to repent and warned of judgment. Christians see him as the final voice of the old covenant, announcing the new.
When and where
By the Jordan River, c. AD 28; Jesus' verdict in Matthew 11 and Luke 7 and 16.
How do we know?
A faith interpretation found in the Gospels. Josephus calls John a good man who urged righteousness, but never calls him a prophet.
Questions and debates
Judaism traditionally holds that biblical prophecy ended with Malachi, so it does not count John among the prophets. Islam honors him as the prophet Yahya.