Which Prophecies in the Bible are About Jesus?

Jesus Christ is central to humanity’s whole story. He’s not only our Creator. He’s also the Messiah, our perfect example, our high priest, and our Savior. 

So it’s not surprising that there are approximately 330 passages of prophecy about Jesus in the Old Testament. And He fulfilled them all, exactly as predicted. 

So what are all these passages of prophecy, and where can they all be found? Why are there so many? And what was the context for each one?

Most of these important pieces of Scripture are referred to as messianic prophecies, and they cover a good deal of Jesus’ life on earth, ranging from the time and place of His birth to the exact way He would die.

But to help us identify all the pieces of the larger story, we’ll break things down into smaller categories. We’ll look at:

1. The first prophecy about Jesus
2. Prophecies of Jesus’ birth
3. Prophecies of Jesus’ ministry
4. Prophecies of Jesus’ crucifixion
5. Prophecies of Jesus’ resurrection

Some messianic passages are specific and distinct, naming the locations and events. Others use poetic language and metaphor to give a broader idea of the magnitude of what was to happen. 

Through studying these prophecies, we’ll get a clearer view of Christ’s mission when He became human and lived among us.

We’ll also learn to recognize how God’s plan progressed through Jesus. We’ll see how every piece fell into place for the Savior to arrive in the most lowly of circumstances—as a baby, in a feeding trough in a stable.

But first, we’ll go back to the very first prophecy in the Bible. Because it also happens to be about Jesus.

The first prophecy about Jesus

Only a few chapters into Genesis, right after humanity’s fall into sin, God Himself proclaimed a prophetic message:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV).

After Adam and Eve chose their own path instead than what God instructed them, they became subject to sin.

In short, they now needed a Savior. 

Learn about what really happened in the Garden of Eden, and why Adam and Eve (and all of humanity) need a savior. 

God’s ultimate intention was for humanity to enjoy an idyllic life alongside Him for eternity. But for humanity to have the capacity to love, to create, to preside over the earth, to bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26)…they also had to have free will. 

So humanity, through Adam and Eve, chose to see what life would be like on their own terms. 

But God wasn’t going to let go so easily of those He loved dearly. So He had a plan to save them, if they wanted to be saved.

While the language is metaphorical, the verse in Genesis 3 helps us see the dynamics involved in Jesus being placed in a position where He could bear the consequences of our sin, defeat Satan, and ultimately reconcile us to God. 

And after humanity spread out over the earth, God began to reveal His divine plans of salvation to His followers.

Prophecies about Jesus’ birth

Just the fact that the Son of God was going to be born on earth from human parents, as a human baby—that’s already a lot to take in. Not to mention that He was to be born into near poverty, to a virgin woman, with unmarried parents at the time of His birth. 

The point was that Jesus was going to live through all manner of human difficulty, with no special privileges or honorary regard. 

Telling people about such an unprecedented event would not be easy. So, various prophets described different aspects of the coming Messiah’s birth. 

The following passages of prophecy tell us about the line of ancestry that will eventually lead to the birth of Jesus:

• Genesis 12:1-3 and 22:18 lay the groundwork for the genealogy of Jesus. Abraham is promised by God that his descendants will become a great nation. The prophet and king David will be one of these descendants. (These details are confirmed in the New Testament, in Matthew 1)
• 2 Samuel 7:12-16 continues the tracing of the family line. The prophet Samuel is telling King David about what’s in store for his descendants, and of a kingdom that will be established forever.
  • This is also confirmed in Isaiah 11:1, that “a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse,” the father of King David. Jeremiah 23:5-6 also refers to a “righteous Branch” from the line of David, who will “reign as king” and “do justice and righteousness in the land” (NASB).

This heritage shows that the promised savior would be one with the lawful authority to rule, as a descendant of King David. This also shows that He was meant to be the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless Abraham all those generations ago.

There were also several passages of prophecy that gave more information about the circumstances of Jesus’ birth:

• Micah 5:2 stated that the small town of Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (ESV).
• Isaiah 7:14 reveals that Jesus will be born of a virgin, and “she will name Him Immanuel” (NASB).
• Jeremiah 31:15 predicts the slaughter of children instituted by a frantic King Herod in search of the baby Jesus, describing “lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children” (ESV).
• Hosea 11:1 reveals that the Messiah will spend part of his youth in Egypt to escape Herod and that “out of Egypt I called my son” (ESV).
• Isaiah 9:6 is a beautiful, poetic description of what the birth of Jesus would signify and set in motion:
  • “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (ESV).
• Psalm 72:9-10 describes how people of nobility will “kneel before Him,” “offer gifts,” and “bring tributes” (CSB).

The Bible provided people with important clues to make sure Jesus would be recognized when He arrived. God wanted His people to be watching for their Savior, to be studying the prophecies in faith for what was to come. 

Unfortunately, the Jews had gotten distracted by their political situation with Rome. They’d missed the signs that prophecy had told them about.

So when Jesus arrived, the only people there to greet Him were His mother and father, some foreign scholars, and a handful of ragged shepherds.

Prophecies about Jesus’ life and ministry

Many of the old prophecies spoke of a coming king—someone who would set God’s people free. Many Jews took this literally, expecting the Messiah would come as a warrior, a conqueror, someone who would end the oppressive rule of Rome and restore Jerusalem to its former glory. 

Comparatively, that perspective is quite short-sighted. So many Jews at that time were fixated on their oppression under Roman rulership. Since they were supposed to be the chosen nation of the one and only all-powerful God, it does make sense why this situation felt “wrong” to them, and why it would feel “right” for their Savior to turn things around.

But if they’d paid more mind to the other details of these prophecies, they might’ve seen what kind of Savior the Messiah was truly going to be.

Jesus’ ministry was to help save every single human being—not just one group of people. Israel being a “chosen people” was never supposed to be an issue of status, but of their role to reveal God to the whole world.

So let’s start by looking at some verses in the Gospel account of Matthew. These confirm what several prophetic passages were talking about.

• Matthew 3:1-3 introduces us to John the Baptist, who was “preaching in the wilderness of Judea,” saying that the “kingdom of heaven has come near” (CSB). It includes a reference to Isaiah 40:3, which prophesies a “voice of one crying out…in the wilderness” (CSB). 
• Matthew 3:17 describes how, after Jesus’ baptism, a voice spoke out from heaven, saying: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (ESV). This is a confirmation of Jesus’ true identity.
• Isaiah 11:1-5 describes exactly what the coming savior would be like, and what kind of character He would have:
  • “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 
  • And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked.
  • Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins” (ESV).

• Isaiah 35:5-6 tells us that Jesus would perform miracles and heal many people.
• Isaiah 61:1 predicts that the Messiah would be a bearer of good news.
• Isaiah 9:1 states that Christ’s ministry would begin in Galilee.
• Malachi 3:1 predicts how the Messiah would one day cleanse the temple.
• Psalm 78:1-2, while not framed as prophecy at the time, gives us an idea of how the Messiah would teach the people: “I will open my mouth in a parable…” (ESV). Matthew’s Gospel account makes reference to these verses in Matthew 13:34-35, alongside many of Jesus’ parables.
• Isaiah 6:9-10 explains that many people would not understand Christ’s word or His mission, that they would “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive” (ESV).
• Isaiah 53:3 predicts that the Messiah would be “despised and rejected by men” (ESV).
• Zacheriah 9:9 describes Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as “humble and mounted on a donkey” (ESV).
• Zacheriah 11:13 predicts that Jesus would be sold out and betrayed for “thirty pieces of silver” (ESV).

Reading through the Gospel accounts, we see that all these prophecies line up with what actually happened during Jesus’ years of ministry.

• Matthew 4:23-25, 8:14-17, 15:29-31, Mark 1:29-45, Luke 4:38-41, and 6:17-19 all tell how Jesus traveled all over, restoring sight to the blind, raising up the lame to walk, and giving hope to people who had become hopeless.
• Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 3:7-12, Luke 19:28-40, and John 6:14-15 tell us that many people believed in Him, followed Him, wanted Him to be the king they’d long waited for.

What few realized, however, was that Jesus never meant to be an earthly king or to wear an earthly crown. He had a different, and much more magnificent, goal in mind—to save the entire human race from eternal destruction. 

And to make this possible, He wouldn’t wear a jeweled crown of gold. He would be forced to wear a crown of thorns.

Prophecies about Jesus’ Crucifixion

The day of Jesus’ crucifixion may be one of the most tragic events in the entire Bible. We see Jesus betrayed, unjustly tried, and sentenced to execution in one of the cruelest ways possible. 

But at the same time, we see the great depths of Jesus’ love and forgiveness, His willingness to die even for those who despised Him, and His victory over sin and death. This sad, tragic event led to the most triumphant event.

• Exodus 12:21-23 describes the first Passover and the first Passover lamb, symbolizing how the pure and innocent life of Christ would be sacrificed to spare the lives of His people.
• Leviticus 17:11 explains the concept of a sacrifice providing atonement, “for the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (ESV).
• Psalm 31:5 references Luke 23:46, when Jesus was on the Cross and said, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit” (ESV).
• Psalm 22:1 references Matthew 27:46, when the psalmist penned the very words Jesus would say while he was being crucified “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (ESV).
• Psalm 22:6-18 describes the way Jesus would eventually be crucified, pierced through the hands and feet while onlookers mocked Him and soldiers cast lots for His clothes.
• Isaiah 53:4-5 offers an even broader description of the death Christ would suffer:
  • “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (ESV).

• Isaiah 53:3 shows us how Jesus would be treated as He neared the end of His earthly ministry—that He’d be rejected by those who had once followed Him.
• Isaiah 53:7 tells how Christ would be silent against His accusers.
• Isaiah 53:12 describes how the Messiah would be crucified alongside thieves.
• Isaiah 53:9 predicts how Jesus would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.

All through the Bible we find so many prophecies, so many messages of how the Messiah would suffer, how He would lay down His life even for those who failed to—or even refused to—understand what He was trying to teach them. 

He wanted to show them the true character of God, and He did so by taking their rightful judgment upon Himself.

If that were the end of the story, we would all be left feeling rather hopeless. But thankfully, there’s one more scene to go—one more miraculous event that the prophecies foretold.

Prophecies about Jesus’ resurrection and ascension

The story of Jesus’ life would not be complete without the final scene, the part when He rose from the dead, walked out of the tomb, and presented Himself to His followers before returning to God’s right hand.

This is the most important part of the story—the part that gives us hope for something beyond this life. And this, too, was foretold in prophecy.

• Hosea 6:2 references Christ’s resurrection on the third day, saying that “after two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him” (ESV).
• Psalm 68:18 describes Christ’s ascension to heaven after the resurrection.
• Jonah 1:17 tells how Jonah was in the belly of a great fish for three days and nights, foreshadowing how Christ would be buried in the earth for three days before He would be raised again.
  • Matthew 12:40 references this foreshadowing, stating that “ just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (ESV).
• Matthew 16:21-23, 17:22-23, Mark 8:31-38, 9:30-32, 10:32-34, Luke 9:21-22, 44-45 are all times when Christ Himself prophesied that He would be killed, buried, and brought back to life on the third day.
• In Acts 2:25-33, Peter quotes Psalm 16:9-10 shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, explaining how He really was the Christ, God’s son:
  • “For David says concerning Him,
    
    ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For You will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let Your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
    
    “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing” (ESV).

The psalm Peter quoted shows just how deep a trust David had in God and His promises. David trusted that, even in death, God was not powerless. He knew that God had a plan, some way of conquering death, though he probably never could have guessed what form that plan would take.

Even though King David never knew about Christ’s plan to come to earth, never knew that a descendant of his would one day save the world from their sins, he had faith in what God was doing. He knew God’s character, His love, and His power. He saw clearly that, someday, somehow, the Lord would be lifted up for all the world to see, and that those who love Him will be drawn up to Him.

We also see this faith magnified in Jesus, who trusted His Father so much that He was willing to go through with a plan that meant the worst of suffering and death. But His love for humanity and His connection with the Father were stronger than death itself.

We too can take part in that faith, secure in the knowledge that Jesus conquered sin and death, and offers that victory to us as well—all we have to do is sincerely accept it.

The Purpose of Messianic Prophecy

Throughout the Bible, we see message after message, prophecy after prophecy, pointing to the coming of Jesus and detailing His mission on earth. And Jesus fulfilled every one.

Each one of these Old Testament prophecies is a piece of evidence building up to one clear picture: Jesus was exactly who He said He was—the Son of God, sent to earth for the vital mission of revealing God’s character to a fallen humanity and restoring our relationship with Him.

Every major chapter in Christ’s life, from His birth in Bethlehem to His crucifixion and resurrection, was foretold in prophecy. These prophecies gave hope to the Jews and gave them the opportunity to recognize Jesus when He arrived.

For readers today, these prophecies serve as a demonstration of God’s character, His unfathomable love for us all, and how His plan to save us has been well underway.

God gave these messages to prophets so that people would recognize Jesus for who He truly was and is. And these same messages still have a purpose—to inform us and build our trust, giving us a wider view of God’s plan. Though it may not be immediately obvious, those messages God sent thousands of years ago are meant for our ears as well. 

When we read the passages promising a coming Messiah, we understand just how badly humanity needed a Savior. Ever since sin came into this world, our hearts have been longing for someone to free us from it. Reading through messianic prophecies reminds us just how important Christ’s mission is and how much we need Him, the only One who is able to be our Savior.

Messianic prophecies also help us have faith in things yet to happen. Since everything that was predicted about Christ our Messiah came true to the letter, we can expect the same of the prophecies He gave about returning for us one day at the Second Coming.

Every fulfilled prophecy is one more ounce of proof that God is the perfect promise-keeper. They show us how He has been, and still is, continuously involved in making salvation available to us—to everyone. Throughout all of history, we repeatedly see how far God will go to make sure we can be reconciled to Him.

Comparing Old Testament messianic prophecies with New Testament Fulfillments [TABLE] ¹

	MESSIANIC PROPHECY PASSAGES	MESSAGE	NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENTS
1.	Isaiah 7:14	Jesus would be born of a virgin.	Matthew 1:21-23
2.	Genesis 12:1-3	Jesus would be a descendant of Abraham.	Matthew 1:21-23
3.	Genesis 49:10	Jesus would be of the line of the tribe of Judah.	Luke 3:23, 33, Hebrews 7:14
4.	2 Samuel 7:12-16	Jesus would be of the house of David.	Matthew 1:1
5.	Micah 5:2	Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.	Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7
6.	Hosea 11:1	Jesus would be taken to Egypt.	Matthew 2:14-15
7.	Jeremiah 31:15	Herod tried to kill Him.	Matthew 2:16-18
8.	Isaiah 11:2	Jesus was to be anointed by the Holy Spirit.	Matthew 3:16-17
9.	Isaiah 40:3-5, Malachi 3:1	Jesus would be heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist).	Matthew 3:1-3
10.	Isaiah 35:5-6	Jesus would perform miracles.	Matthew 9:35
11.	Isaiah 61:1	Jesus would preach good news.	Luke 4:14-21
12.	Isaiah 9:1	Jesus would minister in Galilee.	Matthew 4:12-16
13.	Malachi 3:1-15	Jesus would cleanse the temple.	Matthew 21:12-13
14.	Daniel 9:25	Jesus would first present Himself as King—173,880 days from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.	Matthew 21:4-11
15.	Zechariah 9:9	Jesus would enter Jerusalem in the manner of a king—riding on a donkey.	Matthew 21:4-9
16.	Psalm 118:22	Jesus would be rejected by Jews.	I Peter 2:7
17.	Psalm 22	Jesus would die a painful and humiliating death, involving:	Isaiah 53
–	Isaiah 53:3	Rejection	John 1:10-11; 7:5,48
–	Psalm 41:9	Betrayal by a friend	Luke 22:3-4, John 13:18
–	Zechariah 11:12	Sold for 30 pieces of silver	Matthew 26:14-15
–	Isaiah 53:7	He would be silent before His accusers.	Matthew 27:12-14
–	Psalm 22: 7-8	Mocked	Matthew 27:31
–	Isaiah 52:14	Beaten	Matthew 27:26
–	Isaiah 50:6	Spit upon	Matthew 27:30
–	Psalm 22:16	Piercing His hands and feet	Matthew 27:31
–	Isaiah 53:12	He would be crucified with thieves.	Matthew 27:38
–	Isaiah 53:12	He would pray for His persecutors.	Luke 23:34
–	Zechariah 12:10	His side would be pierced.	John 19:34
–	Psalm 69:21	He would be given vinegar to drink.	Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36
–	Psalm 34:20	No broken bones	John 19:32-36
–	Isaiah 53:9	He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.	Matthew 27:57-60
–	Psalm 22:18	Casting lots for His garments	John 19:23-24
18.	Psalm 16:10	Jesus would rise from the dead.	Matthew 28:7-10, Mark 16:6, Acts 2:31
19.	Psalm 68:18	Jesus would ascend into heaven.	Acts 1:9

1. Chart provided by Gerhard Pfandl, PhD, retired associate director of the Biblical Research Institute [↩]