The Romans seemed to think that prophets were like fortune tellers.  In Luke 22:64, they mock Jesus saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” In the Bible, the Hebrew word for prophet is “navi” (which means “one who speaks on behalf of God.” In Greek, the word is “prophētēs,” meaning “one who speaks forth.”

A prophet acts as a messenger, communicating what God reveals — whether about the present, future, or spiritual truths.

Characteristics of a True Prophet:

The Law of Moses

In Exodus 13:2, 12-15 God commands to Noah that every firstborn male be consecrated to the Lord, as a reminder of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This was a symbolic act recognizing that the firstborn belonged to God. To redeem the child, parents would offer a sacrifice at the temple.  Mary and Joseph, being devout Jews, followed this law and presented the required offering — “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons”—which was the sacrifice permitted for those who were poor.

A Prophet and Prophetess in the Temple

While in the temple, Mary and Joseph met Simeon, a prophet to whom God had revealed that he would see the Messiah before he died. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Savior and prophesied about His mission, declaring Him to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32).  This was a radical thought – the Jews considered themselves as set apart and did not overly concern themselves with converting others.  While they did welcome converts, it was not something they sought out.

Anna the Prophetess, an elderly widow, also recognized Jesus as the Redeemer and gave thanks to God, “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”  Anna is one of about seven named prophetesses in the Bible.

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