25 Essential Names from the Major Prophets You Should Know

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Discover the Key Figures Who Shaped Biblical History During Israel's Most Turbulent Period

The Major Prophets consist of five books in the Old Testament: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. These prophetic works encompass Israel and Judah's most tumultuous periods, including the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, the fall of Jerusalem, and the ensuing exile.

A - B

1. Ahikam

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 26:24

• Role: Protector of Jeremiah, son of Shaphan the scribe

• Scripture Quote: "Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death." (Jeremiah 26:24)

• Key Contributions: Defended Jeremiah when he was threatened with death for prophesying against Jerusalem

• Historical Context: Served during King Jehoiakim's reign when opposition to Jeremiah's prophecies was strong

• Connections: Father of Gedaliah, who became governor after Jerusalem's fall; son of Shaphan, who was a royal secretary

2. Baruch

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 32:12

• Role: Jeremiah's faithful scribe and assistant

• Scripture Quote: "I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard." (Jeremiah 32:12)

• Key Contributions: Wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies, read them publicly, and preserved them after King Jehoiakim burned the original scroll

• Historical Context: Served during the final years of Judah's kingdom and into the Babylonian exile

• Connections: Brother of Seraiah, who was King Zedekiah's staff officer; deeply trusted by Jeremiah

3. Belshazzar

• First Appearance: Daniel 5:1

• Role: Last king of Babylon before Persian conquest

• Scripture Quote: "King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them." (Daniel 5:1)

• Key Events: Hosted the infamous feast where a hand wrote on the wall; slain the night Babylon fell to the Persians

• Historical Context: Son or grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, ruling during Babylon's final days before the Persian conquest

• Connections: Connected to Daniel, whom he called to interpret the writing on the wall

C - D

4. Cyrus

• First Appearance: Isaiah 44:28 (prophetically), Ezra 1:1 (historically)

• Role: Persian king who conquered Babylon and permitted Jews to return to Jerusalem

• Scripture Quote: "I am the Lord... who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."'" (Isaiah 44:28)

• Key Contributions: Conquered Babylon in 539 BC; issued decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple

• Historical Context: Founder of the Persian Empire, implemented policies of religious tolerance

• Connections: Prophesied about by Isaiah approximately 150 years before his birth; fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecy about 70 years of exile

5. Daniel

• First Appearance: Daniel 1:6

• Role: Major prophet and advisor to Babylonian and Persian kings

• Scripture Quote: "Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah." (Daniel 1:6)

• Key Events: Interpreted dreams for Nebuchadnezzar; survived the lions' den; received apocalyptic visions

• Historical Context: Taken to Babylon during the first deportation (605 BC); served throughout the entire 70-year exile period

• Connections: Close friend of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; served under multiple kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus

6. Darius the Mede

• First Appearance: Daniel 5:31

• Role: Ruler who took over Babylon after its fall

• Scripture Quote: "That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two." (Daniel 5:30-31)

• Key Events: Threw Daniel into the lions' den; later acknowledged Daniel's God

• Historical Context: Ruled Babylon as a subordinate to Cyrus the Persian

• Connections: Appointed Daniel as one of his administrators; developed respect for Daniel's God after the lions' den incident

E - G

7. Ezekiel

• First Appearance: Ezekiel 1:3

• Role: Major prophet during the Babylonian exile

• Scripture Quote: "The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him." (Ezekiel 1:3)

• Key Contributions: Received dramatic visions, including the valley of dry bones; prophesied about the restoration of Israel

• Historical Context: Began prophesying in 593 BC, after the second deportation to Babylon; ministered primarily to the exiles

• Connections: Contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel; a priest who became a prophet in exile

8. Gedaliah

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 39:14

• Role: Governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar after Jerusalem's fall

• Scripture Quote: "So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people." (Jeremiah 39:13-14)

• Key Events: Briefly governed the remnant in Judah; assassinated by Ishmael, son of Nethaniah

• Historical Context: Served as governor during the anarchic period following Jerusalem's destruction

• Connections: Son of Ahikam, who had protected Jeremiah; grandson of Shaphan the scribe

H - I

9. Hananiah (false prophet)

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 28:1

• Role: False prophet who opposed Jeremiah

• Scripture Quote: "In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people..." (Jeremiah 28:1)

• Key Events: Prophesied falsely that Babylon's yoke would be broken; died within the year, as Jeremiah predicted

• Historical Context: Active during the early years of Zedekiah's reign when Judah was contemplating rebellion against Babylon

• Connections: Directly opposed Jeremiah's prophecies; died because of his false prophecies

10. Hananiah (Shadrach)

• First Appearance: Daniel 1:6-7

• Role: Hebrew exile renamed Shadrach by the Babylonians

• Scripture Quote: "The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego." (Daniel 1:7)

• Key Events: Refused to eat the king's food; survived the fiery furnace

• Historical Context: Taken to Babylon during the first deportation (605 BC); served in the Babylonian court

• Connections: Close friend of Daniel; served alongside Meshach and Abednego

11. Isaiah

• First Appearance: Isaiah 1:1

• Role: Major prophet to Judah before the exile

• Scripture Quote: "The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah." (Isaiah 1:1)

• Key Contributions: Prophesied about the coming Messiah; warned of judgment and promised restoration

• Historical Context: Ministered during the Assyrian threat to Judah; witnessed the fall of the Northern Kingdom

• Connections: Contemporary of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah; possibly related to the royal family

J - M

12. Jeremiah

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 1:1

• Role: Major prophet during Judah's final years and the Babylonian exile

• Scripture Quote: "The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin." (Jeremiah 1:1)

• Key Contributions: Prophesied Judah's destruction and the 70-year exile; wrote Lamentations

• Historical Context: Witnessed Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC; ministered during Judah's final five kings

• Connections: Assisted by Baruch; opposed by many false prophets; respected by Nebuchadnezzar

13. Jehoiachin

• First Appearance: 2 Kings 24:8 (historically), Jeremiah 22:24 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: King of Judah taken captive to Babylon

• Scripture Quote: "As surely as I live," declares the Lord, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off." (Jeremiah 22:24)

• Key Events: Surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar; spent 37 years in prison before being released

• Historical Context: Ruled for only three months before being deported in the second wave of exiles (597 BC)

• Connections: Son of Jehoiakim; grandfather of Zerubbabel who later led the return from exile

14. Jehoiakim

• First Appearance: 2 Kings 23:34 (historically), Jeremiah 22:18 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: King of Judah who rebelled against Babylon

• Scripture Quote: "Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 'They will not mourn for him: "Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!" They will not mourn for him: "Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!"'" (Jeremiah 22:18)

• Key Events: Burned Jeremiah's scroll; rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar

• Historical Context: Ruled as a vassal king under Egyptian and then Babylonian control

• Connections: Son of Josiah; father of Jehoiachin; opposed Jeremiah's ministry

15. Meshach (Mishael)

• First Appearance: Daniel 1:6-7

• Role: Hebrew exile renamed Meshach by the Babylonians

• Scripture Quote: "The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego." (Daniel 1:7)

• Key Events: Refused to eat the king's food; survived the fiery furnace

• Historical Context: Taken to Babylon during the first deportation (605 BC); served in the Babylonian court

• Connections: Close friend of Daniel; served alongside Shadrach and Abednego

N - P

16. Nebuchadnezzar

• First Appearance: 2 Kings 24:1 (historically), Jeremiah 21:2 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem

• Scripture Quote: "Then Jeremiah the prophet replied to them, 'I will pray to the Lord your God, as you have requested. I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.' Then they said to Jeremiah, 'May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.'" (Jeremiah 42:4-6)

• Key Events: Conquered Jerusalem in 605, 597, and 586 BC; experienced temporary insanity; eventually acknowledged God's sovereignty

• Historical Context: Expanded the Neo-Babylonian Empire; destroyed the First Temple

• Connections: Interacted with Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel; father or grandfather of Belshazzar

17. Nebuzaradan

• First Appearance: 2 Kings 25:8 (historically), Jeremiah 39:9 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: Commander of Nebuchadnezzar's imperial guard

• Scripture Quote: "Nebuzaradan commander of the guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people." (Jeremiah 39:9)

• Key Events: Oversaw the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple; showed kindness to Jeremiah

• Historical Context: Served as Nebuchadnezzar's military commander during the final fall of Jerusalem

• Connections: Carried out Nebuchadnezzar's orders regarding Jeremiah; supervised the deportation of Jews

18. Pashhur

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 20:1

• Role: Chief officer of the temple who persecuted Jeremiah

• Scripture Quote: "When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lord's temple." (Jeremiah 20:1-2)

• Key Events: Had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks; received a personal prophecy of doom

• Historical Context: Served as a temple official during Jehoiakim's reign when opposition to Jeremiah was strong

• Connections: Son of Immer; direct antagonist to Jeremiah's ministry

S - T

19. Serashoiah

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 51:59

• Role: Staff officer to King Zedekiah

• Scripture Quote: "This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year of his reign." (Jeremiah 51:59)

• Key Contributions: Carried Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon to Babylon itself

• Historical Context: Accompanied King Zedekiah to Babylon, possibly as a diplomatic envoy

• Connections: Brother of Baruch; trusted by both Jeremiah and King Zedekiah

20. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

• First Appearance: Daniel 1:6-7 (as Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah)

• Role: Hebrew exiles who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image

• Scripture Quote: "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" (Daniel 3:16-18)

• Key Events: Refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image; survived the fiery furnace

• Historical Context: Served in the Babylonian court during the height of Nebuchadnezzar's power

• Connections: Close friends of Daniel; their faith influenced Nebuchadnezzar's view of God

21. Shaphan

• First Appearance: 2 Kings 22:3 (historically), Jeremiah 36:10 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: Royal secretary under King Josiah

• Scripture Quote: "Baruch read to all the people at the Lord's temple the words of Jeremiah from the scroll. He was in the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple." (Jeremiah 36:10)

• Key Contributions: Read the book of the law to King Josiah, father of officials who supported Jeremiah

• Historical Context: Served during Josiah's reforms; his family continued to influence events after his time

• Connections: Father of Ahikam (who protected Jeremiah) and Gemariah; grandfather of Gedaliah

22. Shemaiah

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 29:24-32

• Role: False prophet in Babylon who opposed Jeremiah

• Scripture Quote: "Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 'This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests...'" (Jeremiah 29:24-25)

• Key Events: Wrote letters from Babylon urging punishment for Jeremiah

• Historical Context: Active among the exiles in Babylon; opposed Jeremiah's message about the length of the exile

• Connections: Opposed Jeremiah from exile; condemned by God through Jeremiah

23. Tyre (personified)

• First Appearance: Isaiah 23:1 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: Wealthy trading city whose destruction is prophesied

• Scripture Quote: "A prophecy against Tyre: Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed and left without house or harbor." (Isaiah 23:1)

• Key Events: Subject of extensive prophecies in Isaiah and Ezekiel

• Historical Context: Major Mediterranean trading power; allied with Judah at times

• Connections: Often mentioned alongside Sidon; used as an example of pride and wealth

Z

24. Zedekiah

• First Appearance: 2 Kings 24:17 (historically), Jeremiah 21:1 (in Major Prophets)

• Role: Last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile

• Scripture Quote: "The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah." (Jeremiah 21:1)

• Key Events: Rebelled against Babylon; witnessed his sons' execution before being blinded

• Historical Context: Ruled as a vassal king under Nebuchadnezzar; led the final rebellion that resulted in Jerusalem's destruction

• Connections: Uncle of Jehoiachin; interacted extensively with Jeremiah; imprisoned and later consulted Jeremiah

25. Zephaniah (priest)

• First Appearance: Jeremiah 21:1

• Role: Priest during the final years of Jerusalem

• Scripture Quote: "The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah." (Jeremiah 21:1)

• Key Events: Served as messenger between King Zedekiah and Jeremiah; executed by Nebuchadnezzar

• Historical Context: Served as a priest during Jerusalem's final years; depicted as second in rank to the chief priest

• Connections: Son of Maaseiah; served as an intermediary between King Zedekiah and Jeremiah

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