How many prophecies are there in the Old Testament of the Bible about Jesus? Scholars offer differing answers, generally ranging from about 200 to 400.
J. Barton Payne in his Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, for example, lists 191 prophecies that have what he deems a "personal reference to Christ."
And another scholar, Alfred Edersheim, concluded that there at least 456 passages in the Old Testament that Jewish Rabbis have interpreted as being about the Messiah.
Scholars have different ways of defining, counting and classifying Messianic prophecies - prophecies that Christians believe were fulfilled by Jesus - but the list below is consistent with many that have been circulated throughout the years.
1
Genesis 3:15a
He would be human, born of a woman
Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:18
2
Genesis 3:15b
He will reconcile people to God
Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8
3
Genesis 3:15c
He would crush evil at his own expense
Matthew 27:35, Luke 24:39-40
4
Genesis 22:18
He would be a descendant of Abraham
Matthew 11:27 & Luke 3:36
5
Genesis 26:1-5
He would be a descendant of Abraham's son Isaac
Romans 9:7, Hebrews 11:18, Matthew 1:2
6
Genesis 28:13,14
He would be a descendant of Isaac's son Jacob
Luke 3:34
7
Genesis 49:10
He would be a descendant of Jacob's son Judah
Matthew 1:2-3
8
Isaiah 11:1-10
He would be a descendant of Jesse, a descendant of Judah
Matthew 1:2-3
9
Isaiah 11:1
He would be a descendant of Jesse's son King David
Matthew 1:1
10
Genesis 49:10
He would appear after a succession of rulers from the Tribe of Judah
History: Josephus writes that King Herod's son was dethroned in 6 A.D. and replaced by a Roman Procurator.
11
Daniel 9:25
He would appear after the rebuilding of Jerusalem
History: Jerusalem had been rebuilt by the time of Jesus, after recovering from the Babylonian destruction.
12
Daniel 9:26
He would appear before the (Roman) destruction of Jerusalem
History: The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
13
Micah 5:2
He would be born in Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-5
14
Isaiah 7:13,14
Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus
Luke 1:35
15
Isaiah 7:14
He would be called Immanuel (God with us)
Matthew 1:23
16
Isaiah 40:3–4
He would be preceded by a forerunner
Matthew 3:1-4
17
Malachi 3:1
A messenger would prepare the way for the Lord
Matthew 7:10
18
Isaiah 61:1,2a
The ministry of Jesus is foreshadowed by Isaiah
Matthew 3:16-17, Luke 4:18, John 8:31-32, Luke 4:19
19
Isaiah 9:1,2
He would appear in Galilee, be a light to Gentiles
Matthew 4:12-17, Luke 2:28-32
20
Isaiah 35:4-6
He would perform miracles
Mark 10:51-52, Mark 7:32-35, Matthew 11:4-5, Matthew 12:10-13, Matthew 9:32-33
21
Psalm 78:1–2
He would teach in parables
Matthew 13:3, 13-15
22
Deuteronomy 18:15-18
God promised another prophet like Moses
John 6:14, John 5:45-47, John 8:28-29, Acts 3:23, Hebrews 6:4-6
23
Isaiah 42:2-3
He would be humble, meek
Matthew 11:28-30
24
Psalm 2:1-12
He would be called God's son
Acts 4:25-28
25
Isaiah 9:6,7
Isaiah spoke of a son who would be called God
John 10:30, John 20:27-29
26
Zechariah 9:9
He would enter Jerusalem while riding on a donkey
Matthew 21:6-9
27
Psalm 41
Psalm 41 foreshadowed the betrayal of Jesus
John 13:18
28
Isaiah 53:1-4
He would be rejected
Matthew 27:21-23
29
Daniel 9:24-26
Daniel predicted when he would be rejected
Matthew 16:21; 21:38-39
30
Psalm 22:6
Messiah would be despised
Luke 23:21-23
31
Isaiah 53:7
He would be oppressed
Matthew 27:27-31
32
Isaiah 53:7
He would be silent before his accusers
Matthew 27:12-14
33
Psalm 22:7
Messiah would be mocked by people shaking their heads
Matthew 27:39
34
Isaiah 50:6,7
He would be beaten and spat upon
Matthew 26:67
35
Isaiah 50:6,7
He would be spat upon
Matthew 27:30
36
Psalm 35:19
He would be hated without reason
John 15:25
37
Psalm 69:4
He would be hated without cause
John 15:25
38
Psalm 69:8
He would become a stranger to his own brothers
Luke 8:20-21
39
Isaiah 53:12
He would be 'numbered with the transgressors'
Luke 23:32
40
Psalm 22:16
His hands and feet would be pierced
John 19:37, 20:27
41
Psalm 22:15
His suffering would include thirst
John 19:28
42
Isaiah 53:12
He would intercede for sinners
Luke 23:34
43
Psalm 22:1
He would be forsaken
Matthew 27:46
44
Psalm 22:1
He would cry out to God
Matthew 27:46
45
Psalm 22:8
His faith in God would be mocked
Matthew 27:43
46
Psalm 22:17-18
He would be stripped of his clothing
Luke 23:34-35
47
Psalm 22:18
They would cast lots for his clothing
Matthew 27:35, John 19:23
48
Isaiah 53:4-6
He would suffer for the sins of others
2 Corinthians 5:21
49
Isaiah 53:8,9
He would die
Matthew 27:45-56
50
Psalm 22:14
His death described
John 19:34
51
Zechariah 12:10
Zechariah foreshadowed the piercing of Jesus
John 19:34-37
52
Daniel 9:24
He would bring an end to sin
Galatians 1:3-5
53
Isaiah 53:9
He would be buried in a wealthy man's tomb
Matthew 27:57-61
54
Psalm 16:9–11
God's anointed one would not see decay
Acts 2:31
55
Zechariah 10:4
He would be the cornerstone
Ephesians 2:20
56
Psalm 118:22-24
The rejected stone would become the cornerstone
Matthew 21:42,43
57
Psalm 16:8-11
King David prophesied about resurrection
John 20:9
58
Job 19:25-27
Job foreshadows details of resurrection
John 5:24-29
59
2 Samuel 7:12–13
King David’s offspring would have an eternal kingdom
Luke 1:32, Revelation 22:16
60
2 Samuel 7:16
King David's throne would be established forever
Luke 3:31; Revelation 22:16
61
Psalm 89
Another prophetic promise about the permanence of David's throne
Luke 1:32,33
62
Daniel 7:13–14
Son of Man would have everlasting throne
Luke 1:31-33
63
Isaiah 11:10
He would be a banner to Gentiles
John 12:18-21
64
Isaiah 42:1-4
He would affect people throughout the world
Matthew 28:19,20
65
Isaiah 42:6
He would be a light to people around the world
Luke 2:32
66
Micah 5:4
He would have a worldwide impact
History: Christianity has spread to people all over the world.
67
Genesis 49:10b
He would receive the obedience of the people
History: Christianity has spread to people all over the world.
68
Isaiah 49:6
He would bring salvation to the ends of the earth
History: Christianity has spread to people all over the world.