The Prophetesses of the Bible
There were many instances where women were considered as prophetesses in the Bible. Here are some of them:
- Miriam: She was the sister of Moses and Aaron, “Miriam the prophetess” (Exodus 15:20). She was named as one of the three who helped lead the children of Israel out of Egypt: “I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” (Micah 6:4; Exodus 15:20).
- Deborah: She was the fourth judge in Israel. Deborah was led by the Lord to battle and free the kingdom from the subjugation of a foreign king. Deborah rightly was able to say, “I arose a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7; Judges 4:4).
- Huldah: She lived in the time of the righteous King Josiah (640 B.C.). She prophesied that the wicked people of Judah would feel the wrath of God, but that Josiah would be blessed (2 Kings 22:14-20).
- Isaiah’s wife: Not much is known about her other than the fact that Isaiah calls her “the prophetess.” She bore him children that were named by the Lord (Isaiah 8:3).
- Anna: She was an 84-year-old widow who was present when Jesus was taken to the temple as a baby. Luke wrote that she “departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” When she saw baby Jesus, she “gave thanks . . . unto the Lord, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).
- Philip the evangelist had four daughters who are mentioned in Acts 21:9. These women also had the gift of prophecy.
Joel foretold the pouring out of the gift of prophecy in the end times upon people and specifically women: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28, 29).
The events of Pentecost on both men and woman was but a partial fulfillment of Joel’s prediction (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). The prophecy is to “reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the gospel.
While the Bible teaches that believers need to heed these prophetesses who were obedient to the truth, it also warns believers to beware of false prophetesses that speak deceiving lies (Nehemiah 6:14; Revelation 2:20).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
