Minor Prophets

The Minor Prophets, sometimes referred to as “the Book of the Twelve,” make up the final section of the Old Testament.

Hosea
Hosea ministered primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel in the eighth century BC, during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah of Judah, and Jeroboam II of Israel (Hosea 1:1). Such a lengthy ministry—60 or 70 years—makes Hosea one of the longest-serving prophets in the Bible.

Joel
The prophet that announces the coming day of the Lord when God will judge the nations

Amos
God called Amos to prophetic ministry in the eighth century BC. Although Amos was from the southern kingdom of Judah, he prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel. His message focused on Israel’s need to repent of its immorality and idolatry.

Obadiah
Obadiah probably lived in the harsh and bitter era after the capture and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. He was most likely a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Obadiah’s prophecies focus on God’s judgment against the Edomites (a hostile neighbor of Israel) for their part in destroying Jerusalem.

 Jonah
Jonah’s experience in the belly of the whale provides him with a unique opportunity to seek a unique deliverance, as he repents during this equally unique retreat. His initial disobedience leads not only to his personal revival, but to that of the Ninevites as well.

Micah
Micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon Israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. This judgment was expected to culminate in the destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem. On the other hand, the book proclaims not merely the restoration of the nation, but the transformation and exaltation of Israel and Jerusalem.

Nahum
Nahum was telling the people of Judah to not despair because God had pronounced judgment and the Assyrians would soon be getting just what they deserved.

Haggai
Haggai sought to challenge the people of God concerning their priorities. He called them to reverence and glorify God by building the Temple in spite of local and official opposition.

Zechariah
This prophet is also mentioned by Jesus as having been murdered by the rebellious and disobedient Jews of his day (Matthew 23:35).

Malachi
God’s warning through Malachi to tell the people to turn back to God.

Major Prophets

There are five Major Prophets: the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The Major Prophets are described as “major” because those books are longer, generally speaking, and their content has broad, even global implications.

Isaiah
Isaiah's writings are especially significant for the prophecies he made about the coming Messiah, hundreds of years before Jesus was born (Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7, 11:2-4; 53:4-7, 9, 12). 

Jeremiah
Was only about 17 when God called him, had great inner turmoil over the fate of his people, and he begged them to listen. He is known as “the weeping prophet,” because he cried tears of sadness, not only because he knew what was about to happen but because, no matter how hard he tried, the people would not listen.

Ezekiel
Was among the second group of captives taken to Babylon along with King Jehoiachin about 597 BC. While in Babylon Ezekiel became a prophet of God; he is the author of the Old Testament book that bears his name.

Daniel
Daniel and his compatriots proved to be the wisest of all the trainees, and, at the end of their training, they entered the service of King Nebuchadnezzar.