What is a prophetess in the Bible?

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TL;DR:

A prophetess was a woman who spoke forth God's truth. Throughout history, God has spoken through prophets and prophetesses who proclaimed the truth.

from the old testament

  • Sometimes, the message of a prophetess was a comforting encouragement (Haggai 1:13). Sometimes, it was a convicting warning (Jonah 3:2).
  • From time to time, it was a prediction of far-off future events (Zechariah 2:10–12).
  • A prophet or prophetess was responsible to share exactly what the Lord had given them (Deuteronomy 18:18). Samuel was taught to share the message in full, even if it was an uncomfortable truth that might not be well received (1 Samuel 3:17–18). When Jeremiah tried to stop sharing God's messages, he said, "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot" (Jeremiah 20:9). Thus, prophets and prophetesses bore great responsibility in relaying God's Word to its intended audience.
  • God declared, "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, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit" (Joel 2:28–29). In this statement, God specifically mentioned daughters who prophesy and His Spirit being poured out on female servants.
  • The first woman to be identified as a prophetess in Scripture is Moses's sister, Miriam, in Exodus 15:20. Her words were recorded in Scripture as she led the women in worship after God's miraculous rescue at the Red Sea.
  • The female judge who ruled over the Israelites, Deborah, was introduced first as "a prophetess," then "wife of Lappidoth," and finally in her role as "judging Israel at that time," perhaps implying that her primary role and legacy was as a prophetess who spoke the Word of the Lord (Judges 4:4). Many of those words are recorded in Judges 4. Judges 5 is exclusively the Holy Spirit's inspired words spoken by Deborah and Barak.
  • When Judah's King Josiah read a recently found copy of the Torah and realized the extent of his people's sin, he asked his advisors to "Go, inquire of the LORD for me" (2 Kings 22:13; 2 Chronicles 34:21). The prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah were both contemporary and local, yet these men sought the insight of the female prophetess Huldah to discern God's will for the king and the nation (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22). Her response is recorded in Scripture and was confirmed as coming true within the lifetime of those who heard it.
  • The prophet Isaiah's wife is also identified as a prophetess in her own right, although no words of hers are recorded in Scripture (Isaiah 8:3).
  • Unfortunately, there have been false prophets and prophetesses as well. Nehemiah 6:14 mentions the prophetess Noadiah, who tried to use fear to prevent Nehemiah from following God's will. Ezekiel recorded about Jerusalem, "And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken" (Ezekiel 22:28).

from the new testament

  • Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, "was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord'" (Luke 1:41–45). Elizabeth spoke forth God's message to her cousin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilling the role of prophetess.
  • When Jesus was brought to the temple for His circumcision, His parents encountered Anna, a prophetess. "She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:37–38). This woman faithfully spoke God's Word about Jesus being the Messiah every day as she devoted the last years of her life to serving in the temple.
  • On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon male and female followers of Jesus, "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). Peter explained this phenomenon to the crowds in Jerusalem as one of the ways God's promise in Joel 2:28–29 was being fulfilled. He said, "And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17–18).
  • While Paul was visiting Caesarea, Philip the evangelist's four unmarried daughters prophesied (Acts 21:8–9).
  • In the church in Corinth, women were regularly prophesying before the congregation, which is why Paul addressed customs of how to do that properly within their cultural context (1 Corinthians 11:5–6).

implications for today

From looking at the prophetesses in the Bible, we can learn the importance of faithfully communicating God's truth. Just as prophetesses like Miriam, Deborah, and Anna spoke forth God's Word, we, too, are called to share the truth of who He is and how He calls us to live. This can be done through teaching, encouraging, or even warning others, much like the various roles prophetesses played. By embracing this responsibility, we honor the legacy of these women and ensure that God's message continues to reach those who need it. In our daily lives, this means being attentive to God's guidance, knowing His Word, and being courageous in our communication. We can be consistent in sharing His love and wisdom with those around us, knowing that the Spirit can speak through anyone, regardless of gender, age, or status.

understand

  • Prophetesses are female prophets who speak forth God's Word, conveying messages of encouragement, warning, or prophecy, as directed by God.
  • Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God has used prophetesses like Miriam, Deborah, and Anna to relay His messages.
  • The Bible records the words and actions of prophetesses and warns about false ones.

reflect

  • What aspects of the role of prophetesses in the Bible stand out to you the most and why?
  • How do the stories of prophetesses like Miriam, Deborah, or Anna challenge your understanding of faith and obedience to God?
  • How does the example of the prophetesses influence your boldness and reliance on God to share your faith with others?

engage

  • Many people take issue with women having leadership roles, such as being a prophetess. However, the only restrictions God gives women in the church is to not teach and exercise authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12). Women in the church are not restricted from public praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5). The Bible does not prevent women from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12), and they are called, as men are, to minister to others, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), and to proclaim the gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).
  • How can we ensure we are attentive to God's messages in our lives?
  • How canwe emulate the faithfulness of the prophetesses in sharing God's truth with others?