What does the Bible say about prophets?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that God raised up prophets to speak his trustworthy word, call his people to repentance and faith, and direct them to live under his covenant rule. Samuel is called a seer in 1 Samuel 9:19, and Gad brought the Lord's word to David in 2 Samuel 24:11. The histories of Israel and Judah were preserved through prophetic witness, as 1 Chronicles 29:29 and 2 Chronicles 9:29 show. Above all, the prophets warned that God had repeatedly called his people back from evil ways, yet many refused to listen, as 2 Kings 17:13 records. Isaiah 30:10 exposes the sinful desire for pleasant words rather than truth. God’s servants must therefore proclaim his Word faithfully, while God’s people humbly receive it.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Called SEERS 1 Samuel 9:19; 2 Samuel 15:27; 2 Samuel 24:11; 2 Kings 17:13; 1 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 12:15; 2 Chronicles 29:30; Isaiah 30:10; Micah 3:7
- Schools of 1 Kings 20:35; 2 Kings 2:3-15; 2 Kings 4:1; 2 Kings 4:38; 2 Kings 9:1
- Kept the chronicles 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 12:15
- Counselors to kings Isaiah 37:2; Isaiah 37:3
- Not honored in their own country Matthew 13:57; Luke 4:24-27; John 4:44
- Inspired by angels Zechariah 1:9; Zechariah 1:13; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 1:19; Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2
- Persecutions of 2 Chronicles 36:16; Amos 2:12
- Martyrs Jeremiah 2:30; Matthew 23:37; Mark 12:5; Luke 13:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Hebrews 11:37; Revelation 16:6
- BENEFITS OF
- Presents 1 Samuel 9:7; 1 Samuel 9:8; 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 4:42; 2 Kings 8:8; 2 Kings 8:9; Ezekiel 13:19
- Presents refused by Numbers 22:18; 1 Kings 13:7; 1 Kings 13:8; 2 Kings 5:5; 2 Kings 5:16
- FALSE 1 Kings 13:18; Nehemiah 6:12; Jeremiah 23:25-27; Jeremiah 23:30-32; Lamentations 2:14
- Warnings to Deuteronomy 13:1-3
- Denunciations against Deuteronomy 18:20; Jeremiah 14:15
- Punishment of Jeremiah 14:13-16; Jeremiah 20:6; Jeremiah 28:16; Jeremiah 28:17; Jeremiah 29:32; Zechariah 13:3
- Instances of
- Noadiah Nehemiah 6:14
- 400 In Samaria 1 Kings 22:6-12; 2 Chronicles 18:5
- See MINISTERS, FALSE
- INSPIRATION OF Genesis 40:8; Genesis 41:16; Genesis 41:38; Genesis 41:39; Exodus 3:14; Exodus 3:15; Exodus 4:12; Exodus 4:15; Exodus 4:27; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 6:29; Exodus 7:2
- See REVELATION
- See WORD OF GOD, INSPIRATION OF
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- God spoke of old by Hosea 12:10; Hebrews 1:1
- The messengers of God 2 Chronicles 36:15; Isaiah 44:26
- The servants of God Jeremiah 35:15
- The watchmen of Israel Ezekiel 3:17
- Were called
- Men of God 1 Samuel 9:6
- Prophets of God Ezra 5:2
- Holy prophets Luke 1:70; Revelation 18:20; Revelation 22:6
- Holy men of God 2 Peter 1:21
- Seers 1 Samuel 9:9
- Were esteemed as holy men 2 Kings 4:9
- Women sometimes endowed as Joel 2:28
- God communicated to
- His secret things Amos 3:7
- At various time and in different ways Hebrews 1:1
- By an audible voice Numbers 12:8; 1 Samuel 3:4-14
- By angels Daniel 8:15-26; Revelation 22:8; Revelation 22:9
- By dreams and visions Numbers 12:6; Joel 2:28
- Were under the influence of the Holy Spirit while prophesying Luke 1:67; 2 Peter 1:21
- Spoke in the name of the Lord 2 Chronicles 33:18; Ezekiel 3:11; James 5:10
- Frequently spoke in parables and riddles 2 Samuel 12:1-6; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 17:2-10
- Frequently in their actions, &c were made signs to the people Isaiah 20:2-4; Jeremiah 19:1; Jeremiah 19:10; Jeremiah 19:11; Jeremiah 27:2; Jeremiah 27:3; Jeremiah 43:9; Jeremiah 51:63; Ezekiel 4:1-13; Ezekiel 5:1-4; Ezekiel 7:23; Ezekiel 12:3-7
- Frequently left without divine communication on account of sins of the people 1 Samuel 28:6; Lamentations 2:9; Ezekiel 7:26
- Were required
- To be bold and undaunted Ezekiel 2:6; Ezekiel 3:8; Ezekiel 3:9
- To be vigilant and faithful Ezekiel 3:17-21
- To receive with attention all God’s communications Ezekiel 3:10
- Not to speak anything but what they received from God Deuteronomy 18:20
- To declare everything that the Lord commanded Jeremiah 26:2
- Sometimes received divine communications and uttered predictions under great bodily and mental excitement Jeremiah 23:9; Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 3:15; Daniel 7:28; Daniel 10:8; Habakkuk 3:2; Habakkuk 3:16
- Sometimes uttered their predictions in verse Deuteronomy 32:44; Isaiah 5:1
- Often accompanied by music while predicting 1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Kings 3:15
- Often committed their predictions to writing 2 Chronicles 21:12; Jeremiah 36:2
- Writings of, read in the synagogues every Sabbath Luke 4:17; Acts 13:15
- Ordinary
- Numerous in Israel 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Kings 18:4
- Trained up and instructed in schools 2 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 2:5; 1 Samuel 19:20
- The sacred bards of the Jews Exodus 15:20; Exodus 15:21; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Chronicles 25:1
- Extraordinary
- Specially raised up on occasions of emergency 1 Samuel 3:19-21; Isaiah 6:8; Isaiah 6:9; Jeremiah 1:5
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