Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, the role of a prophet is significant, serving as a mouthpiece for God to convey His messages to His people. However, the Scriptures also warn against false prophets—those who claim to speak for God but lead people astray. While much of the biblical text focuses on male prophets, there are instances where women are depicted as false prophets, highlighting the pervasive nature of this spiritual deception.Old Testament Instances One of the most notable examples of a female false prophet is found in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 13:17-23, the prophet is instructed to confront the women of Israel who prophesy out of their own imaginations. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare souls.’" (Ezekiel 13:17-18). These women are condemned for their deceptive practices, which include the use of magic charms and veils to manipulate and control others, leading them away from the truth of God. The passage further describes how these women profane God's name for personal gain, promising life to those who should not live and condemning those who should not die. Their actions are portrayed as a direct affront to God's sovereignty and truth, and they are held accountable for their misleading prophecies. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the theme of false prophecy continues, though specific references to female false prophets are less explicit. However, the spirit of false prophecy is addressed in the context of the early church. In Revelation 2:20, the church in Thyatira is rebuked for tolerating a woman named Jezebel, who "calls herself a prophetess" and leads God's servants into immorality and idolatry. The BSB states: "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." (Revelation 2:20). This reference to Jezebel, a name synonymous with idolatry and false teaching, underscores the danger of false prophecy within the church, regardless of gender. Theological Implications The presence of female false prophets in the biblical text serves as a reminder of the universal potential for deception and the importance of discernment within the community of faith. The Bible consistently emphasizes the need to test the spirits and to hold fast to what is true (1 John 4:1). The warnings against false prophets, both male and female, highlight the necessity for vigilance and adherence to the teachings of Scripture. In examining these instances, it is clear that the issue of false prophecy transcends gender, focusing instead on the heart and intent of the individual. The biblical narrative calls believers to be wary of those who claim divine authority but whose actions and teachings contradict the revealed Word of God. Torrey's Topical Textbook Nehemiah 6:14My God, think you on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. Torrey's Topical Textbook Revelation 2:20 Library The Restoration of the Jews. The Case of all the Protestant or Reformed Churches, With Book 8 Footnotes Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ... Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ... Concerning the Ministry. Letter Xciii. (AD 408. ) The Sacrifice of Christ. The Pastoral Epistles The Synagogue at Nazareth - Synagogue-Worship and Arrangements. Resources What is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was a prophet in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org What is a prophet in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics False Prophets: Called Foolish Prophets False Prophets: Compared to Foxes in the Desert False Prophets: Compared to Wind False Prophets: Immoral and Profane False Prophets: Influenced by Evil Spirits False Prophets: Involved the People in Their own Ruin False Prophets: Judgments Denounced Against False Prophets: Light and Treacherous False Prophets: Made Use of by God to Prove Israel False Prophets: Mode of Trying and Detecting False Prophets: Not Sent or Commissioned by God False Prophets: Often Deceived by God As a Judgment False Prophets: Often Practised Divination and Witchcraft False Prophets: Often Pretended to Dreams False Prophets: Predicted to Arise in the Latter Times False Prophets: Predicted to Arise: Before Destruction of Jerusalem False Prophets: Pretended to be Sent by God False Prophets: Prophesied in the Name of False Gods False Prophets: Prophesied: Falsely False Prophets: Prophesied: Lies in the Name of the Lord False Prophets: Prophesied: out of Their own Heart False Prophets: Prophesied: Peace, when There Was No Peace False Prophets: The People: Deprived of God's Word By False Prophets: The People: Encouraged and Praised False Prophets: The People: Led Into Error False Prophets: The People: Made to Forget God's Name By False Prophets: The People: Oppressed and Defrauded By False Prophets: The People: Taught Profaneness and Sin By False Prophets: The People: Warned not to Listen To False Prophets: Women Sometimes Acted As Prophets were Called: Holy Men of God Prophets were Called: Holy Prophets Prophets were Called: Men of God Prophets were Called: Prophets of God Prophets were Consulted in all Difficulties Prophets were Esteemed As Holy Men Prophets were Mighty Through Faith Prophets were Required: Not to Speak Anything But What They Received from God Prophets were Required: To be Bold and Undaunted Prophets were Required: To be Vigilant and Faithful Prophets were Required: To Declare Everything That the Lord Commanded Prophets were Required: To Receive With Attention all God's Communications Prophets were Sent to Denounce the Wickedness of Kings Prophets were Sent to Exhort to Faithfulness and Constancy in God's Service Prophets were Sent to Predict the Coming of Christ Prophets were Sent to Predict the Downfall of Nations Prophets were Sent to Reprove the Wicked and Exhort to Repentance Prophets were Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit While Prophesying Prophets: Assisted the Jews in Their Great National Undertakings Prophets: Azariah the Son of Oded Prophets: Benefits of Presents Prophets: Benefits of Presents Refused By Prophets: Christ Exercised the office of Prophets: Christ Predicted to Exercise the office of Prophets: Extraordinary: Often Endued With Miraculous Power Prophets: Extraordinary: Specially Raised up on Occasions of Emergency Prophets: False: 400 in Samaria Prophets: False: Denunciations Against Prophets: False: Punishment of Prophets: Felt Deeply on Account of the Calamities Which They Predicted Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Prophets: Frequently Left Without Divine Communication on Account of Prophets: Frequently Married Men Prophets: Frequently Spoke in Parables and Riddles Prophets: God Avenged all Injuries Done To Prophets: God Communicated to At Various Time and in Different Ways Prophets: God Communicated To by an Audible Voice Prophets: God Communicated To by Angels Prophets: God Communicated To by Dreams and Visions Prophets: God Communicated to His Secret Things Prophets: Great Patience of, Under Suffering Prophets: Jehu the Son of Hanani Prophets: Micaiah the Son of Imlah Prophets: Not Honored in Their own Country Prophets: Often Accompanied by Music While Predicting Prophets: Often Committed Their Predictions to Writing Prophets: Often Led a Wandering and Unsettled Life Prophets: One Generally Attached to the King's Household Prophets: Ordinary: Numerous in Israel Prophets: Ordinary: The Sacred Bards of the Jews Prophets: Ordinary: Trained up and Instructed in Schools Prophets: Predictions of Frequently Proclaimed at the Gate of the Lord's House Prophets: Predictions of Proclaimed in the Cities and Streets Prophets: Predictions of Were all Fulfilled Prophets: Predictions of Written on Rolls and Read to the People Prophets: Predictions of Written on Tables and Fixed up in some Public Place Prophets: Presented With Gifts by Those Who Consulted Them Prophets: Prophet Set to Israel Prophets: Simple in Their Manner of Life Prophets: Sometimes Received Divine Communications and Uttered Prophets: Sometimes Thought It Right to Reject Presents Prophets: Sometimes Uttered Their Predictions in Verse Prophets: Spoke in the Name of the Lord Prophets: The Historiographers of the Jewish Nation Prophets: The Interpreters of Dreams Prophets: The Jews: Often Imprisoned Them Prophets: The Jews: Often Left Without, on Account of Sin Prophets: The Jews: Often Put Them to Death Prophets: The Jews: Often Tried to Make Them Speak Smooth Things Prophets: The Jews: Persecuted Them Prophets: The Jews: Require to Hear and Believe Prophets: The Messengers of God Prophets: The Watchmen of Israel Prophets: Women Sometimes Endowed As Prophets: Wore a Coarse Dress of Hair-Cloth Prophets: Writings of, Read in the Synagogues Every Sabbath Prophets: Zacharias the Father of John Prophets: Zechariah Son of Iddo Related Terms |
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