Some people think that only men can be prophets. But the Bible mentions many women who served as prophets and some who were even called prophets.

The earliest prophecy of the Messiah is thought by some to be that of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, in 1 Samuel 2:10. “The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

The first woman to whom God spoke, giving a message, and even a prediction of the future, was Eve (Genesis 3:16). An angel appeared to Hagar with a message from God in Genesis 16:7-14.

One of the most famous women prophets was Deborah. God used her because Barak was too weak a leader to serve alone (see Judges 4:8). It is easy to see in her prophecy the woman’s perspective. “To Sisera a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?” A man might not notice that a piece of embroidery was done so carefully that both sides are perfect.

When Josiah wished to “inquire of the LORD”, he sent to “Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.” 2 Kings 22:14.

At the time of Nehemiah there was also a woman prophet, named Noadiah. But she appears to have been a false prophet, for Nehemiah says “My God, think thou upon 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.” Nehemiah 6:14.

Although it may seem that prophecy had all but ceased by the time of the birth of Jesus, even in the time of little prophecy, there were women prophets. One of these is reported in the Gospel itself. “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:36,37.

Women have served as prophets during all times. Sometimes they served alongside men in their own right. Sometimes they were called especially because men were too weak in leadership. Sometimes, just like men, they were false prophets. Women served as prophets at the time of Christ and in the early church. God’s people have always had the blessing of prophecy to guide them. This is one of the marks of the true people of God. “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10. Those who have the testimony of Jesus are led by the spirit of prophecy. That is the difference between the true woman or church of Revelation 12, and the false woman or church, who follow the false prophetess Jezebel. “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17.