By Mark Wash

The Bible holds remarkable prophetic significance, with some predictions already fulfilled and others awaiting fulfillment, such as the second coming of Jesus. However, prior to Christ's second coming, Jesus had to arrive for the first time. The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies regarding Jesus' first coming. Where, one might ask, does the Old Testament foretell the birth and death of Jesus? Consider for a moment some of these prophetic revelations.

Before exploring where the Old Testament prophesies Jesus' birth and death, it is vital to address a fundamental question: How can one trust biblical prophecy? We can validate the accuracy of prophecy by assessing its fulfillment within the Scriptures themselves. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

Let's examine 5 passages in which the Old Testament accurately anticipates Jesus' birth and death.

Predictions of Jesus' Birth in the Old Testament

1. Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

From the very beginning, immediately after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He indicated that a savior would come from the seed of the woman, Eve. Right away, God revealed that this seed would crush the serpent's head. We know that the seed pointed to Jesus. The Book of Genesis credits Moses as its author. Although we cannot pinpoint the exact time of Moses' writing, we estimate it to be approximately 1500 years before the birth of Christ.

2. Genesis 12:3

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

In this verse, God is making a promise to Abraham that He would make him into a great nation. He assures Abraham that He will bring blessings to all people on earth through him, as part of that promise. This blessing for all mankind points to the One who would redeem people from every tribe and tongue on the face of the earth. The blessing of salvation was for all who would believe.

3. Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This scripture alludes to the way in which he will be born, and also to one of the names given to Christ: Immanuel, which means God with us. It points to both his human birth and his divine nature. The author wrote this more than 700 years before the birth of Christ.

4. Micah 5:2

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; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and this scripture informs us in advance of the place where Jesus would be born. Micah wrote this prophecy approximately 800 years before Christ's birth.

5. Hosea 11:1

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Hosea wrote this prophecy about 800 years before the birth of Christ. The verse looks both backward and forward. It is worth remembering that the Israelites were once slaves in Egypt when God brought them out, and also that Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with baby Jesus to avoid Herod's slaughter. Matthew 2:14-15 also references this verse, which applies to both of those situations.