Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7700 Leadership and the people of God » 7772 prophets » 7775 prophets, lives of
God called individuals from differing backgrounds to speak as prophets on his behalf, sometimes in difficult circumstances.
The backgrounds of the prophets
Exodus 2:1-10 Moses was brought up in the Egyptian royal court; 1 Samuel 1:21-28 Samuel was a temple servant at Shiloh; 1 Kings 19:19-21 Elisha was a farmer; Ezekiel 1:3 Ezekiel was a priest living in exile in Babylonia.
It is not entirely clear whether Amos was a wealthy sheep breeder and land owner or a poor migrant worker before his call to be a prophet. The Hebrew word translated “shepherd” could equally well be translated “sheep breeder”:
Amos 1:1; Amos 7:14
The calling of the prophets
Their initial encounter with God
Isaiah 6:1-4 See also Exodus 3:1-6; Ezekiel 1:4-28
God communicating his call
Jeremiah 1:4-5 See also Isaiah 6:8-10; Ezekiel 2:3-3:5; Jonah 1:1; Jonah 3:1
Their response to God's call
Jeremiah 1:6-10 See also Exodus 3:11-12
The family life of the prophets
Jeremiah 16:1-4 See also Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 8:1-4; Ezekiel 24:15-24; Hosea 1:2-11; Hosea 3:1-5
The hardships faced by prophets
Persecution
Hebrews 11:32-38 See also Acts 7:52
Reviling and beating
Luke 6:22-23 pp Matthew 5:11-12 See also Jeremiah 20:1-2; James 5:10
Imprisonment
Jeremiah 37:11-16 See also 1 Kings 22:26-27 pp 2 Chronicles 18:25-26; 2 Chronicles 16:10; Jeremiah 37:21; Jeremiah 38:6-13
Killing
1 Kings 19:14 See also 1 Kings 18:4,13; Kings 19:2; Jeremiah 26:8-11,20-23; Matthew 23:29-31,37 pp Luke 13:34; Luke 11:47-49; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-15
The death of prophets
Deuteronomy 34:1-8 Moses; 1 Samuel 28:3 Samuel; 2 Kings 2:11-12 Elijah did not die but was taken up in a chariot of fire.
See also
1421 oracles 1450 signs, kinds of 2318 Christ as prophet 5344 imprisonment 5420 music 5560 suffering 5893 insults 6620 calling 7712 convincing 7778 school of prophets 8794 persecution 9020 death