Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7700 Leadership and the people of God  »  7772 prophets  »  7774 prophets, false

Men or women who falsely claim to speak on God's behalf. They are denounced in the OT and NT for leading people astray. Scripture provides criteria by which true prophets may be recognised and distinguished from false prophets, who often speak from base motives.

Criteria for recognising true prophets

A true prophet's word will be fulfilled

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 See also Jeremiah 28:8-9

A true prophet's teaching commends righteous behaviour

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 See also Ezekiel 13:17-23; Ezekiel 14:4-8; Lamentations 2:14

A true prophet's godly life will reflect his calling

Matthew 7:15-20 See also Isaiah 28:7; Jeremiah 23:10-11,14; Zephaniah 3:4

A true prophet will acknowledge Jesus Christ as divine

1 John 4:1-6

The motivations of false prophets

Their messages originate with themselves

Jeremiah 23:16 See also Jeremiah 14:13-14; Jeremiah 23:25-32,36; Ezekiel 13:1-7

Their messages may be occasioned by popular demand

Jeremiah 29:8-9

God places a strict requirement upon his prophets that they should proclaim only what is divinely revealed:

Numbers 22:35,38; Numbers 23:12,26; Numbers 24:12-13; 1 Kings 22:13-14 Isaiah 30:10-11; Jeremiah 5:30-31; Micah 2:11

Their messages may be given for financial reward

Nehemiah 6:12-13 See also Jeremiah 6:13-14; Ezekiel 13:19; Micah 3:11; 2 Peter 2:1-3

Their messages may be the result of deception

1 Kings 22:19-23 pp 2 Chronicles 18:18-22 See also Ezekiel 14:9

Their messages may be inspired by divination

Jeremiah 14:14 See also Ezekiel 13:6-7; Ezekiel 22:28; Acts 13:6

Examples of false prophets

In the OT

Nehemiah 6:10-13 See also 1 Kings 22:1-28 pp 2 Chronicles 18:1-27; Jeremiah 27:9-10,14-18

False prophetesses

Nehemiah 6:14; Ezekiel 13:17

Prophets of other gods

Jeremiah 23:13 See also 1 Kings 18:19-40; 2 Kings 10:19; Jeremiah 2:8

In the NT

Matthew 24:24 pp Mark 13:22 See also Matthew 24:10-11; Acts 13:6-11

False prophets feature as part of the symbolism of the book of Revelation:

Revelation 2:20; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10

The punishment of false prophets

Deuteronomy 18:20 See also Deuteronomy 13:5; Zechariah 13:3; Jeremiah 14:15

God sometimes intervened to strike the false prophet down:

Jeremiah 28:15-17; Jeremiah 29:21-23,30-32 Jeremiah 23:34-40; Ezekiel 13:8-16; Micah 3:5-6

See also

4155  divination
5908  motives
6145  deceit
8748  false religion
8749  false teachers
8750  false teachings
8776  lies
8846  ungodliness
9105  last things