By Ray KonigPublished: April 11, 2018.
Revised: April 27, 2024.
How many prophecies are there in the Old Testament that were fulfilled by Jesus? A common answer is that there are 300 or more prophecies in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfills as the Messiah.
Scholars have different ways of definining and counting Messianic prophecies, generally ranging from about 200 to 400.
On the low end, J. Barton Payne in his Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, gives a list of 191 prophecies that he deems as having a "personal reference to Christ."
On the high end, Alfred Edersheim, concluded that there at least 456 passages in the Old Testament that Jewish Rabbis historically have interpreted as being about the Messiah.
The chart below shows 70 major prophecies from the Old Testament that predicted a savior, commonly known as the Messiah. These major prophecies are arranged more or less in chronoligical order in which Jesus fulfills them.
1
Genesis 3:15
Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:18
2
Genesis 3:15
Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:18
3
Genesis 22:18
Matthew 1:1, Luke 3:34, Romans 4:13, Galatians 3:7
4
Genesis 26:1-5
Romans 9:7, Hebrews 11:18, Matthew 1:2
5
Genesis 28:10-15
Matthew 1:2, Luke 3:34
6
Genesis 49:10
Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33
7
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 1:6, Luke 3:32
8
2 Samuel 7:12-16
Matthew 1:6, Luke 3:31
9
Isaiah 11:1
Luke 3:1-23. History: The Babylonians destroyed the Kingdom of Judah and forced many Jews into exile and captivity (about 2,600 years ago).
10
Jeremiah 23:3-6
Luke 3:1-23. History: Jews began returning to their homeland after the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (about 2,500 years ago).
11
Daniel 9:24-26
Luke 3:1-23. History: Jerusalem was fully rebuilt when Jesus arrived as the Messiah about 2,000 years ago.
12
Genesis 49:10
Matthew 2. History: Herod the Great became the first foreigner to reign from Jerusalem as king over the Jews in Israel. Jesus was born during his reign.
13
Ezekiel 21:26-27
The Messiah would appear after a disruption to the succession of Davidic kings, who were members of the Tribe of Judah
Matthew 2. History: Zedekiah, who lived during the time of Ezekiel, was the last Davidic king until Jesus was born.
14
Micah 5:1-2
Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:1-21
15
Genesis 17:15-21
The predicted miraculous birth of Isaac foreshadows the predicted miraculous birth of Jesus
Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38. Both births were the result of miracles and the fulfillment of prophecy.
16
Isaiah 7:13-14
Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38
17
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23
18
Daniel 9:26
Luke 3:1-23. History: The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus appeared as the Messiah in about AD 30.
19
Malachi 3:1
Matthew 21:12. History: The Temple was destroyed AD 70, about 2,000 years ago, and has never been rebuilt.
20
Isaiah 40:1–5,9
Matthew 3:1-4
22
Daniel 9:24-27
John 1:29-34. History: Artaxerxes began giving permission to restore and rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC. Jesus began his public ministy in AD 26.
23
Isaiah 61:1-2
Luke 4:14-30
24
Isaiah 9:1-2
Matthew 4:12-17
26
Psalm 78:1–2
Matthew 13:3, 13-15
27
Deuteronomy 18:15-18
John 5:45-47, 6:14
28
Isaiah 42:1-9
Matthew 11:28-30
29
Psalm 2:1-12
Matthew 14:33
30
Isaiah 9:6-7
Matthew 1:23, John 10:30, 20:27-29
31
Zechariah 9:9
Matthew 21:6-9
32
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 8
34
Psalm 22:6
Luke 23:21-23
35
Psalm 118:22-24
The Messiah would be rejected even though he is the cornerstone of a plan from God
Matthew 21:42-43
36
Isaiah 53:1-3
Matthew 27:21-23
37
Daniel 9:24-26
Mark 15:1-15
38
Isaiah 53:7
Matthew 27:27-31
39
Isaiah 53:7
Matthew 27:12-14
40
Isaiah 50:6-7
Matthew 26:67, 27:30
41
Psalm 35:19, 69:4
The Messiah would be hated without reason or cause
John 15:25
42
Isaiah 53:12
Luke 22:37, 23:32
43
Isaiah 50:4-10
The Messiah would serve God with perfect obedience
Matthew 26:39, John 8:28
44
Isaiah 50:4-10
The Messiah would willingly submit to the will of God and the abuse of people
Matthew 26:47-56
45
Genesis 22:1-18
The near-sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus
John 19:1-37
46
Psalm 22
Matthew 27:32-44, John 19:1-37, 20:27
47
Psalm 22:8
Matthew 27:39, 27:43
48
Psalm 22:17-18
Luke 23:34-35
49
Psalm 22:18
Matthew 27:35, Luke 23:34, John 19:23
50
Psalm 22:16
John 19:37, 20:27
52
Psalm 22:1
Matthew 27:46
53
Zechariah 12:10
John 19:34-37
54
Isaiah 53:12
The Messiah would intercede for sinners
Matthew 10:32, Luke 23:34, Romans 8:34
55
Isaiah 53:4-9
John 19:1-37, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 4:10
56
Isaiah 53:8-9
The Messiah would be "cut off out of the land of the living" (executed)
John 19:1-37
57
Daniel 9:26
The Messiah would be "cut off" (executed)
John 19:1-37
58
Daniel 9:24
The Messiah's sacrificial death would bring an end to the problem of sin
Galatians 1:3-5
59
Genesis 3:15
John 19:1-37, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 4:10
60
Isaiah 53:9
Matthew 27:57-61
61
Psalm 16:8-11
John 20:1-18; Acts 2:29-32, 13:32-37, 1 Corinthians 15
62
Isaiah 53:10-12
The Messiah would be resurrected and see the results of his atoning death
John 20:1-18, Acts 1:8
63
Psalm 110
Matthew 26:64, Luke 24:50-53, John 20:17, Acts 1:1-12. Jesus ascended 40 days after his resurrection.
64
Isaiah 11:10
Acts 1:8, 13:47-48. History: Christianity is the world's largest religion.
65
Isaiah 42:1-4
Matthew 28:19-20, John 12:18-21
66
Isaiah 42:6
Luke 2:22-40
67
Zechariah 9:9-11
The Messiah would have a worldwide impact
Acts 1:8, 13:47-48.
68
Isaiah 49:6
Acts 13:47-48. History: Christianity is the world's most widespread religion.
69
Psalm 110
The Messiah will return to preside over Judgment Day
Daniel 7:13-14, 12:1-2. To be fulfilled in the future when Jesus returns.
70
Daniel 7:13–14
The Messiah will reign eternally over the Kingdom of God, also known as the Kingdom of Heaven
Luke 1:31-33
© Ray Konig.