After the fall of Adam and Eve, but before God cursed the earth and pronounced judgment on Adam and Eve, He spoke of how He would restore mankind back to Himself. He would do this through the offspring (seed) of the woman as stated in Genesis 3:15. From this first glimmer of light, the Bible builds up a large and specific range of prophecies regarding this One (Messiah) who was to come and restore the close and intimate relationship that God had with mankind before Adam had sinned. He, the Messiah, would accomplish this by becoming the only sacrifice acceptable to the Father for the forgiveness of sin, because He was, and is, without sin. One scholar has suggested that there are 300 prophecies recorded in the Old Testament concerning the coming Messiah. (1) All of these prophecies were completely fulfilled in the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
Below is a list of 60 Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Concerning His Birth |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 1. Born of the seed of woman | Gen 3:15 | Gal 4:4 |
| 2. Born of a virgin | Isa 7:14 | Mt 1:18-25 |
| 3. Seed of Abraham | Gen 22:18 | Mt 1:1 |
| 4. Seed of Isaac | Gen 21:12 | Lk 3:23-34 |
| 5. Seed of Jacob | Num 24:17 | Lk 3:34 |
| 6. Seed of David | Jer 23:5 | Lk 3:31 |
| 7. Tribe of Judah | Gen 49:10 | Rev 5:5 |
| 8. Family line of Jesse | Isa 11:1 | Lk 3:32 |
| 9. Born in Bethlehem | Mic 5:2 | Mt 2:1-6 |
| 10. Herod kills the children | Jer 31:15 | Mt 2:16-18 |
Concerning His Nature |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 11. He pre-existed creation | Mic 5:2 | 1 Pet 1:20 |
| 12. He shall be called Lord | Ps 110:1 | Acts 2:36 |
| 13. Called Immanuel (God with us) | Isa 7:14 | Mt 1:22-23 |
| 14. Prophet | Deut 18:18-19 | Acts 3:18-25 |
| 15. Priest | Ps 110:4 | Heb 5:5-6 |
| 16. Judge | Isa 33:22 | Jn 5:22-23 |
| 17. King | Ps 2:6 | Jn 18:33-37 |
| 18. Anointed by the Spirit | Isa 11:2 | Mt 3:16-17 |
| 19. His zeal for God | Ps 69:9 | Jn 2:15-17 |
| 20. Preceded by a messenger | Isa 40:3 | Mt 3:1-3 |
| 21. To begin in Galilee | Isa 9:1-2 | Mt 4:12–17 |
| 22. Ministry of Miracles | Isa 35:5-6 | Mt 9:35; 11:4 |
| 23. Teacher of parables | Ps 78:1-4 | Mt 13:34–35 |
| 24. He was to enter the temple | Mal 3:1 | Mt 21:10–12 |
| 25. Enter Jerusalem on donkey | Zech 9:9 | Mt 21:1–7 |
| 26. Stone of stumbling to Jews | Isa 28:16; Ps 118:22 | 1 Pet 2:6–8 |
| 27. Light to Gentiles | Isa 49:6 | Acts 13:46–48 |
The day Jesus was crucified |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 28. Betrayed by a friend | Ps 41:9 | Jn 13:18-27 |
| 29. Sold for 30 pieces of silver | Zech 11:12 | Mt 26:14-15 |
| 30. 30 pieces thrown in Temple | Zech 11:13 | Mt 27:3-5 |
| 31. 30 pieces buys potter’s field | Zech 11:13 | Mt 27:6-10 |
| 32. Forsaken by His disciples | Zech 13:7 | Mk 14:27-50 |
| 33. Accused by false witnesses | Ps 35:11, 20-21 | Mt 26:59-61 |
| 34. Silent before accusers | Isa 53:7 | Mt 27:12-14 |
| 35. Wounded and bruised | Isa 53:4-6 | 1 Pet 2:21-25 |
| 36. Beaten and spat upon | Isa 50:6 | Mt 26:67-68 |
| 37. Mocked | Ps 22:6-8 | Mt 27:27-31 |
| 38. Fell under the cross | Ps 109:24-25 | Jn 19:17; Lk 23:26 |
| 39. Hands and feet pierced | Ps 22:16 | Jn 20:24-28 |
| 40. Crucified with thieves | Isa 53:12 | Mt 27:38 |
| 41. Prayed for enemies | Isa 53:12 | Lk 23:34 |
| 42. Rejected by His own people | Isa 53:3 | Jn 19:14-15 |
| 43. Hated without cause | Ps 69:4 | Jn 15:25 |
| 44. Friends stood aloof | Ps 38:11 | Lk 22:54; 23:49 |
| 45. People wag their heads | Ps 22:7; 109:25 | Mt 27:39 |
| 46. People stare at Him | Ps 22:17 | Lk 23:35 |
| 47. Clothing divided and gambled for | Ps 22:18 | Jn 19:23-24 |
| 48. Became very thirsty | Ps 22:15 | Jn 19:28 |
| 49. Gall and vinegar offered to Him | Ps 69:21 | Mt 27:34 |
| 50. His forsaken cry | Ps 22:1 | Mt 27:46 |
| 51. Committed Himself to God | Ps 31:5 | Lk 23:46 |
| 52. Bones not broken | Ps 34:20 | Jn 19:32-36 |
| 53. Heart broken | Ps 69:20; 22:14 | Jn 19:34 |
| 54. His side pierced Zech | Zech 12:10 | Jn 19:34-37 |
| 55. Darkness over the land | Amos 8:9 | Lk 23:44-45 |
| 56. Buried in rich man’s tomb | Isa 53:9 | Mt 27:57-60 |
His Resurrection and Ascension |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 57. Raised from the dead | Ps 16:8-11 | Acts 2:24-31 |
| 58. Begotten as Son of God | Ps 2:7 | Acts 13:32-35 |
| 59. Ascended to God | Ps 68:18 | Eph 2:8-10 |
| 60. Seated beside God | Ps 110:1 | Heb 1:3-13 |
[1] J. E. Hunter, Let Us Go On To Maturity, Zondervan Books, 14th Printing, 1978, page 13.
