What are the Major Prophets in the Bible? What are the Minor Prophets?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Major and Minor Prophets are categories in the Old Testament distinguished mainly by the length of their books, with five Major Prophets and twelve Minor Prophets. The Major prophets are the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The twelve Minor prophets are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Despite differences in size, both groups deliver God’s inspired messages that reveal His character and plan for humanity. Jesus frequently quoted these prophets, affirming their authority and showing how His life fulfilled their prophecies. Although often overlooked due to their complexity or length, these books are essential for understanding God’s promises and the coming Messiah. They continue to inspire faith and provide hope for Jesus’ future return.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• To give an idea of the size difference between these sections of Scripture, the five books of the Major Prophets include 183 chapters. The twelve books of the Minor Prophets include sixty-seven chapters. The longest book of the Major Prophets, Isaiah, includes sixty-six chapters, while the shortest book in the Minor Prophets, Obadiah, includes just one.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the Gospels, Jesus quoted the book of Isaiah most often. In Matthew 5:17 He taught, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." The “Law and the Prophets” included the entire collection of Old Testament books, including the Major and Minor Prophets. Clearly Jesus valued the collection of Old Testament writings, and He fulfilled their teachings regarding the Jewish Messiah.
• In His instruction on the Golden Rule, Jesus referenced the prophetic books of Scripture: "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). He also taught that all the Prophets prophesied until the coming of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:13).
• The Gospels often refer to the Prophets, largely in quoting Jesus (i.e., Matthew 15:7-9; 26:31; Mark 14:27; Luke 4:17-21; 22:37; John 6:45; 12:37-41). Matthew, specifically, points out the Prophets in his commentary (i.e., Matthew 1:23; 2:6, 15, 18; 8:17; 21:4-5; 27:9). So, too, do other New Testament books. See, for example: Acts 2:16-21; 7:42-50; 13:40-41; 15:15-17; Romans 2:24; 9:20, 25-28, 33; 11:26-27; 1 Corinthians 1:19, 31; 2:9; 15:54-55; 2 Corinthians 6:2, 16-18; Galatians 4:27; Ephesians 5:14; Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:16-17; 12:26; 1 Peter 1:24-25; 2:7-8.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Historically, the Hebrew Bible (Jewish version of the Old Testament) arranged its books differently from the Protestant Bible. For example, Lamentations was included as part of Jeremiah (as it was written by the same author). The twelve

Minor Prophets were included as one large book called "The Twelve" or Trei Asar in Hebrew. In the Hebrew order, both the Major and Minor Prophets were considered part of the collection known as the Latter Prophets (Later Prophets) or the Nevi'im .The Major Prophets and Minor Prophets are often neglected by modern readers as being long or difficult to understand, yet they are part of God's inspired Word and should not be neglected (2 Timothy 3:16-17). They help us better know God. Indeed, they include many of the prophecies fulfilled in the earthly life of Jesus Christ, offering ample evidence for the claims of Jesus and reason to hope in His future return.

UNDERSTAND

• Major and minor prophets differ mainly by book length—five long, twelve short.
• Both the major and minor prophets reveal God’s message and point to Jesus, whose life fulfilled their prophecies.
• Though often overlooked, the major and minor prophets are essential for understanding God’s promises and hope in Christ.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies in both the Major and Minor Prophets affect your trust in Scripture?
• How can you make time to explore the often-overlooked prophetic books to deepen your understanding of God’s promises?
• How might recognizing the unity between the Major and Minor Prophets inspire you to see God’s plan more clearly in your own life?

ENGAGE

• Why are the Major and Minor Prophets often neglected, and how can we encourage others to read and understand these important Scriptures?
• How do the prophecies in both the Major and Minor Prophets shape our understanding of Jesus’ mission and future return?
• What challenges do we face today when interpreting the prophetic books, and how can we apply their messages faithfully in our context?