The first Christians were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. Again and again the New Testament writers point back to the Hebrew Scriptures and say, in effect, "This is what the prophets were talking about." Here are some of the best-known passages that Christians understand as pointing to Jesus.
A brief note: the Old Testament prophets spoke first to their own generation, and some passages had an earlier fulfilment as well. The New Testament reads them in the light of Jesus, seeing him as their fullest meaning.
His birth
1. Born of a virgin
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)
Fulfilment: Matthew 1:22–23.
2. Born in Bethlehem
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." (Micah 5:2, KJV)
Fulfilment: Matthew 2:1–6.
3. From the family of David
God promised David an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7:12–16), and Isaiah spoke of "a rod out of the stem of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1). Fulfilment: Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32–33.
4. A child who is God
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, KJV)
His ministry
5. A messenger to prepare the way
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD" (Isaiah 40:3; see also Malachi 3:1). Fulfilment: John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1–3).
6. Anointed to bring good news
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek." (Isaiah 61:1, KJV)
Jesus read this in the synagogue at Nazareth and said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:16–21).
7. A prophet like Moses
Moses promised that God would raise up a prophet like him (Deuteronomy 18:15). Peter applies this to Jesus (Acts 3:22–26).
His final week
8. The king on a donkey
"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass." (Zechariah 9:9, KJV)
Fulfilment: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1–9).
9. Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver
Zechariah 11:12–13 speaks of thirty pieces of silver thrown to the potter. Fulfilment: Judas's betrayal (Matthew 26:15; 27:3–10).
10. Rejected by his own
"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner" (Psalm 118:22). Jesus applied this to himself (Matthew 21:42).
His death
11. The suffering servant
Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 describes a servant who is despised, suffers silently and dies for others:
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, KJV)
Philip explains this passage as being about Jesus (Acts 8:32–35).
12. Pierced hands and feet, garments divided
Psalm 22 begins "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" — words Jesus cried from the cross (Matthew 27:46). It also speaks of mockery, pierced hands and feet, and casting lots for clothing (Psalm 22:7–8, 16, 18; see John 19:23–24).
13. Buried with the rich
Isaiah 53:9 says he made "his grave… with the rich in his death". Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man (Matthew 27:57–60).
His resurrection and reign
14. Not abandoned to the grave
"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Psalm 16:10, KJV)
Peter and Paul both quote this as fulfilled in the resurrection (Acts 2:25–32; 13:35–37).
15. Seated at God's right hand
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand" (Psalm 110:1). This is the Old Testament verse most often quoted in the New Testament, applied to Jesus' exaltation (Matthew 22:41–45; Acts 2:34–36; Hebrews 1:13).
The first promise
Many Christians see the very first hint of the gospel in Genesis 3:15, where God tells the serpent that the woman's offspring "shall bruise thy head". The whole Bible traces how that promise is fulfilled in Christ's victory over evil.
Why these prophecies matter
Christians see fulfilled prophecy as one reason to trust that the Bible is God's Word and that Jesus is the promised Messiah. They also show that God's plan was not an afterthought — it was announced centuries in advance.
Read more in how the Old and New Testaments connect and why Christians believe the Bible is God's Word.