The Old Testament contains many prophecies and foreshadowings of Jesus Christ as the coming Messiah and Savior of the world. Here are some tips for identifying messianic prophecies in the Old Testament:
Look for prophecies about the Messiah’s lineage and birth
Several Old Testament prophecies point to the family line and birth circumstances of the Messiah. For example:
- He will be a descendant of Abraham – Genesis 12:3, 18:18
- He will be from the tribe of Judah – Genesis 49:10
- He will be a descendant of David – 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 11:1
- He will be born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2
- He will be born of a virgin – Isaiah 7:14
These help identify Jesus as the Messiah because he fulfilled each of these ancestral and birth prophecies (see Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38).
Look for prophecies about the Messiah’s ministry and work
Many Old Testament prophecies focus on what the Messiah will accomplish. For example:
- He will minister in Galilee – Isaiah 9:1-2
- He will perform miracles – Isaiah 35:5-6
- He will teach through parables – Psalm 78:2
- He will enter Jerusalem on a donkey – Zechariah 9:9
- He will be rejected – Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 118:22
- He will be beaten and spat upon – Isaiah 50:6
- His hands and feet will be pierced – Psalm 22:16
- He will be crucified with thieves – Isaiah 53:12
- He will pray for his persecutors – Isaiah 53:12
Jesus fulfilled all these prophecies about the Messiah’s ministry and actions during his earthly life and work (see the Gospels).
Look for prophecies about the atoning death of the Messiah
One of the most important messianic prophecy themes is about the sacrificial, substitutionary death of the Messiah for sinners. For example:
- He will bear the punishment for our sins – Isaiah 53:5-6
- He will be wounded and crushed for our iniquities – Isaiah 53:5
- His death will be an atoning sacrifice – Isaiah 53:10-12
- He will pour out his life unto death – Isaiah 53:12
- He will be killed and resurrected – Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15
Jesus fulfilled these essential prophecies by dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead (Matthew 12:40, 20:28, Romans 4:25).
Look for titles ascribed to the Messiah
The Old Testament uses prophetic titles for the promised Messiah that convey his divine nature and purpose. For example:
- Son of God – Psalm 2:7, Proverbs 30:4
- Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God – Isaiah 9:6
- The Lord our Righteousness – Jeremiah 23:6
- The Holy One – Psalm 16:10
- The Anointed One (Messiah in Hebrew) – Psalm 2:2
Jesus applied these Old Testament titles to himself and they fit his claims of deity (Matthew 16:16, 26:63-64).
Consider typology – people who foreshadow the Messiah
Certain figures in the Old Testament seem to foreshadow the Messiah. For example:
- Adam – Romans 5:14
- Melchizedek – Hebrews 7:1-3
- Isaac – Genesis 22:1-14
- Moses – Deuteronomy 18:15
- Passover lamb – Exodus 12:1-30, John 1:29
- Bronze serpent – Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-15
- Suffering servant – Isaiah 52:13-53:12
These people and symbols point ahead to Jesus and aspects of his purpose and work.
Pay attention to Immanuel prophecies
“Immanuel” which means “God with us” is a special name for the coming Messiah:
- Isaiah 7:14 – He will be born of a virgin and called Immanuel
- Isaiah 8:8 – The span of Immanuel’s land
- Isaiah 8:10 – Immanuel’s advice to not fear
These help identify Jesus, who was God in the flesh – Immanuel (Matthew 1:23).
Notice prophecy about a “new covenant”
The Messiah would establish a new covenant between God and man:
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 – God will make a new covenant
- Zechariah 9:11 – The Messiah institutes a new covenant
Jesus did indeed institute the new covenant of salvation by his shed blood (Luke 22:20).
Look for prophecies about a kingdom
The Messiah will establish an everlasting kingdom:
- 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – The Messiah will establish David’s kingdom forever
- Isaiah 9:7 – Of the increase of his government…there will be no end
- Daniel 7:13-14 – Given everlasting dominion over all
Though not yet fully established, this points to Jesus’ reign in heaven and the eternal kingdom he promised (Luke 1:33).
Connect messianic prophecies to Jesus
As this overview shows, the Old Testament contains many prophecies about the Messiah. The New Testament writers applied them to Jesus:
- Matthew 1:22 – Prophecy fulfilled in Christ
- Luke 24:27 – Jesus explained prophecies about himself
- John 5:46 – Moses wrote about Jesus
- Acts 3:18 – God foretold the Christ through the prophets
- Romans 1:2 – The gospel was promised beforehand through the prophets
Jesus and the apostles directly connected Jesus to Old Testament messianic prophecies.
Study resources to identify messianic prophecies
Here are some helpful resources for finding and understanding messianic prophecies:
- Bible dictionaries/commentaries – provide background and exegesis
- Bible handbooks – list messianic prophecies by theme
- Study Bibles – notes identify messianic prophecies
- Bible atlases – maps showing locations of prophecies
- Online lists – compiled prophecies about the Messiah
- Books about messianic prophecy – in-depth exegetical analysis
Using resources like these can aid in seeing connections between prophecies and Jesus.
Remember context and accurate interpretation
When identifying messianic prophecies, it’s important to:
- Consider the historical/cultural context – avoid reading in foreign meanings
- Note metaphors and poetic language – don’t take literally
- Check for partial/staged fulfillments – some near and far applications
- Watch for conditional prophecies – not all were meant to be fulfilled
- Let clearer passages interpret obscure ones – anchor in unambiguous prophecies
With good interpretive practices, we can properly understand messianic prophecies.
Start by looking for well-established messianic prophecies
When first learning to identify messianic prophecies, it helps to start with those that are widely acknowledged and agreed upon. These include prophecies about:
- The Messiah’s lineage from David
- Being born in Bethlehem
- Ministry in Galilee
- Miracles
- Triumphal entry
- Death for sin
- Resurrection
Focusing first on undisputed messianic prophecies builds needed skills and understanding.
Learn characteristics that help identify messianic prophecies
There are certain features that can help signal a text contains a messianic prophecy. These include:
- Clear prophetic language – “will happen,” “will come,” etc.
- Prophecies of a coming “anointed one”
- Mention of a coming king or kingdom
- Unfulfilled promises about Judah/Israel’s future
- References to a “new” covenant or period
- Statements only true of Jesus
- Ideas exceeding the time of the original writer
Recognizing these characteristics can help identify potential messianic prophecies.
Look for repeated messianic prophecy themes
There are certain themes about the Messiah that are developed across multiple prophecies:
- A sacrificial death for sin
- A resurrection and exaltation
- A Davidic ancestry
- A priestly role
- A reigning king
- Divine Sonship
- Defeat of God’s enemies
Seeing repeated messianic ideas become clearer as more prophecies reinforce the themes.
Trace the development of messianic prophecy over time
Messianic prophecies unfold progressively across the different eras of Old Testament history:
- Early hints – Protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15), Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12)
- United Monarchy – Nathan’s prophecy to David (2 Samuel 7)
- Divided kingdom – Isaiah’s Servant Songs, prophecies of a remnant
- Exile – Ezekiel’s vision of a new shepherd-king, Daniel’s Son of Man
- Post-exilic – Zechariah’s prophecy of Zion’s coming king
Seeing how prophecies build on each other over time helps identify an organic messianic storyline.
Look for connections between prophecy and historical events
Messianic prophecies often relate to Israel’s key historical moments. For example:
- Exodus – points back to future deliverance
- Davidic kingship – anchors hopes in dynasty
- Fall of Jerusalem – why messianic fervor grew in exile
- Return and rebuilding – renewed messianic expectations
Contextualizing prophecies against Israel’s history provides insight into their significance.
Don’t force or overinterpret Old Testament texts
When examining potential messianic prophecies, don’t:
- Treat every passage like a hidden prophecy
- Allegorize historical narratives
- Disregard original context and meaning
- Depend on imaginative word studies
- Insist OT authors grasped the full revelation
Sound exegesis requires discipline to not impose unrealistic messianic interpretations.
Look for prophecy-fulfillment patterns
Biblical prophecies often follow a common pattern of revelation:
- A prophet predicts the coming of a Messianic figure
- The people wait expectantly for the fulfillment
- The prophecy remains unfulfilled for a long period
- The Messiah suddenly appears and claims the prophecy
- The early church recognizes the prophecy’s fulfillment
This characteristic sequence can help identify legitimate messianic prophecies.
Study how New Testament uses the Old Testament
To better understand messianic prophecies, research how New Testament authors employ the Old Testament:
- Matthew – repeatedly quotes OT messianic prophecies about Jesus
- John – draws heavily on the symbolic feasts and imagery
- Peter – cites psalms and prophets to prove Jesus is the Christ
- Paul – finds prophecies about the suffering and resurrected savior
- Hebrews – shows prophecies fulfilled through Christ’s work
Seeing how the NT interprets the OT illuminates the prophecies.
Appreciate the cumulative case for Christ
No single messianic prophecy may be conclusive. But combined they present a cumulative case for Jesus as the Christ:
- Hundreds of prophecies fit Jesus’ life
- Details converge too precisely to be chance
- Prophecies come from diverse time periods
- Writers couldn’t orchestrate fulfillment
- Aligns with Jesus’ explicit claims
Together, the many interlocking prophecies powerfully point to Christ.
Focus on how prophecies reveal God’s unfolding plan
Most importantly, messianic prophecies give insight into God’s advancement of his redemptive plan in history through Jesus the Messiah. Key truths they reveal include:
- God’s sovereignty over history and prophecy
- The continuity and consistency of God’s purposes
- The centrality of the Messiah in God’s eternal plan
- God’s faithfulness in fulfilling promises
- The comprehensive extent of Christ’s mission
Messianic prophecies manifest the wisdom and wonder of God’s remarkable orchestration of redemption.