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 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.
[1] J. E. Hunter, Let Us Go On To Maturity, Zondervan Books, 14th Printing, 1978, page 13.
Concerning His birth |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 1. Born of the seed of woman | Genesis 3:15 | Galatians 4:4 |
| 2. Born of a virgin | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:18-25 |
| 3. Seed of Abraham | Genesis22:18 | Matthew 1:1 |
| 4. Seed of Isaac | Genesis 21:12 | Luke 3:23-34 |
| 5. Seed of Jacob | Numbers 24:17 | Luke 3:34 |
| 6. Seed of David | Jeremiah 23:5 | Luke 3:31 |
| 7. Tribe of Judah | Genesis 49:10 | Revelation 5:5 |
| 8. Family line of Jesse | Isaiah 11:1 | Luke 3:32 |
| 9. Born in Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:1-6 |
| 10. Herod kills the children | Jeremiah 31:15 | Matthew 2:16-18 |
Concerning His nature |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 11. He pre-existed creation | Micah 5:2 | 1 Peter 1:20 |
| 12. He shall be called Lord | Psalm 110:1 | Acts 2:36 |
| 13. Called Immanuel (God with us) | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:22-23 |
| 14. Prophet | Deuteronomy 18:18-19 | Acts 3:18-25 |
| 15. Priest | Psalm 110:4 | Hebrews 5:5-6 |
| 16. Judge | Isaiah 33:22 | John 5:22-23 |
| 17. King | Psalm 2:6 | John 18:33-37 |
| 18. Anointed by the Spirit | Isaiah 11:2 | Matthew 3:16-17 |
| 19. His zeal for God | Psalm 69:9 | John 2:15-17 |
Concerning His ministry |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 20. Preceded by a messenger | Isaiah 40:3 | Matthew 3:1-3 |
| 21. To begin in Galilee | Isaiah 9:1-2 | Matthew 4:12–17 |
| 22. Ministry of Miracles | Isaiah 35:5-6 | Matthew 9:35; 11:4 |
| 23. Teacher of parables | Psalm 78:1-4 | Matthew 13:34–35 |
| 24. He was to enter the temple | Malachi 3:1 | Matthew 21:10–12 |
| 25. Enter Jerusalem on donkey | Zechariah 9:9 | Matthew 21:1–7 |
| 26. Stone of stumbling to Jews | Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22 | 1 Peter 2:6–8 |
| 27. Light to Gentiles | Isaiah 49:6 | Acts 13:46–48 |
The day Jesus was crucified |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 28. Betrayed by a friend | Psalm 41:9 | John 13:18-27 |
| 29. Sold for 30 pieces of silver | Zechariah 11:12 | Matthew 26:14-15 |
| 30. 30 pieces thrown in Temple | Zechariah 11:13 | Matthew 27:3-5 |
| 31. 30 pieces buys potter’s field | Zechariah 11:13 | Matthew 27:6-10 |
| 32. Forsaken by His disciples | Zechariah 13:7 | Mark 14:27-50 |
| 33. Accused by false witnesses | Psalm 35:11, 20-21 | Matthew 26:59-61 |
| 34. Silent before accusers | Isaiah 53:7 | Matthew 27:12-14 |
| 35. Wounded and bruised | Isaiah 53:4-6 | 1 Peter 2:21-25 |
| 36. Beaten and spat upon | Isaiah 50:6 | Matthew 26:67-68 |
| 37. Mocked | Psalm 22:6-8 | Matthew 27:27-31 |
| 38. Fell under the cross | Psalm 109:24-25 | John 19:17; Lk 23:26 |
| 39. Hands and feet pierced | Psalm 22:16 | John 20:24-28 |
| 40. Crucified with thieves | Isaiah 53:12 | Matthew 27:38 |
| 41. Prayed for enemies | Isaiah 53:12 | Luke 23:34 |
| 42. Rejected by His own people | Isaiah 53:3 | John 19:14-15 |
| 43. Hated without cause | Psalm 69:4 | John 15:25 |
| 44. Friends stood aloof | Psalm 38:11 | Luke 22:54; 23:49 |
| 45. People wag their heads | Psalm 22:7; 109:25 | Matthew 27:39 |
| 46. People stare at Him | Psalm 22:17 | Luke 23:35 |
| 47. Clothing divided and gambled for | Psalm 22:18 | John 19:23-24 |
| 48. Became very thirsty | Psalm 22:15 | John 19:28 |
| 49. Gall and vinegar offered to Him | Psalm 69:21 | Matthew 27:34 |
| 50. His forsaken cry | Psalm 22:1 | Matthew 27:46 |
| 51. Committed Himself to God | Psalm 31:5 | Luke 23:46 |
| 52. Bones not broken | Psalm 34:20 | John 19:32-36 |
| 53. Heart broken | Psalm 69:20; 22:14 | John 19:34 |
| 54. His side pierced | Zechariah 12:10 | John 19:34-37 |
| 55. Darkness over the land | Amos 8:9 | Luke 23:44-45 |
| 56. Buried in rich man’s tomb | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60 |
His Resurrection and Ascension |
Prophesied |
Fulfilled |
| 57. Raised from the dead | Psalm16:8-11 | Acts 2:24-31 |
| 58. Begotten as Son of God | Psalm 2:7 | Acts 13:32-35 |
| 59. Ascended to God | Psalm 68:18 | Acts 1:11 |
| 60. Seated beside God | Psalm 110:1 | Hebrews 1:3-13 |
