The Seventy-Two Prophets and Prophetesses

Name: The Seventy-Two Prophets and Prophetesses
Author: Epiphanius of Salamis

Enumeratio lxxii prophetarum et prophetissarum

Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 310/320–403 AD) · PG 41-43

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Contents4 passages

1Enumeration of Prophets
2List of Prophets
3The Sequence of Prophets
4List of Prophets and Prophetesses

Author

Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 310/320–403 AD) — Bishop of Salamis (Constantia) on Cyprus. Best known for the Panarion (Medicine Chest), a vast catalogue of heresies, with the Ancoratus as a shorter doctrinal anchor for the churches. A fierce defender of Nicene orthodoxy and monastic discipline.

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About this text

Discover the surprising list of 72 prophets and prophetesses from ancient texts, including familiar and forgotten names.

Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 310/320–403) was bishop of Salamis, the chief city of Cyprus, and a vigorous defender of orthodox Christian teaching. He wrote this catalogue to give readers a complete numbered list of the prophets and prophetesses recognized in Scripture.

The work is a summary catalogue rather than a sustained argument. Epiphanius first lists sixty-three prophets, beginning with Adam and continuing through the Old Testament to John the Baptist. He then adds nine further figures who possessed a small portion of prophecy, bringing the total to seventy-two prophets. Finally he enumerates ten prophetesses separately, from Sarah to Mary the Mother of God.

A reader will meet many familiar biblical figures, from patriarchs such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah, and Elisha, to the major and minor prophets. Some names are less familiar or uncertain, such as Idithun, Aeman, and Aetham, who appear to be temple singers, and Oziel, Eliad, Joad, Addo, Obed, Abdadon, and Amase, whose identities are unclear. The old man in Bethel may be the unnamed prophet of 1 Kings 13. The term prophet means a person through whom God speaks, and prophetess means a woman through whom God speaks. The author uses the old Greek names of Bible books, which are rendered here in their familiar English forms.

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Translated from PG 41 – 43 (Greek)

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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Enumeration of Prophets§1

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1An enumeration of seventy-two prophets and prophetesses. Concerning the Old Testament prophets and prophetesses, Epiphanius. 1. Adam. 2. Enoch. 3. Noah. 4. Abraham. 5. Isaac. 6. Jacob. 7. Moses. 8. Aaron. 9. Joshua. 10. Eldam. 11. Mordad. 12. Job. 13. Samuel. 14. Nathan. 15. David. 16. Gad. 17. Ithidoum. 18. Asaph. 19. Aiman. 20. Aitham. 21. Solomon. 22. Achias. 23. Semeas. 24. The man of God, Seth. 25. Eli, and also Shillum. 26. Joad. 27. Addow. 28. Azarias. 29. Anani, and also Ananias. 30. Jehu. 31. Michaias. 32. Elias. 33. Oziel. 34. Eliad. 35. Jesus, son of Ananius. 36. Elisha. 37. Jonathan.

Greek · §1

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List of Prophets§2

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2Zechariah, who is also Azariah, 40. Another Zechariah, 34. Hosea, 33. Joel, 42. Amos, 43. Abdi, 44. Jonah, 45. Isaiah, 40. Micah, 47. Nahum, 46. Habakkuk, 49. Obadiah, 40. Abdon, 50. Jeremiah, 52. Baruch, 53. Zephaniah, 54. Urias, 55. Ezekiel, 54. Daniel, 57. Ezra, 56. Haggai, 59. Zechariah, 60. Malachi, 61. Zechariah the father of John, 62. Simeon, 63. John the Baptist. And also others having been found.

Greek · §2

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The Sequence of Prophets§3

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3We have known a very small part of prophecy, or even a prophetic appearance; but regarding those who also prophesied somewhat more abundantly, some from Adam and others from the successive years, it seems necessary for me not to leave them behind after the sixty-third number, but to join them to the sequence of the recapitulation, such as these are: 44. Enos. 45. Mahalalel. 46. Jared. 47. Enoch. 48. Methuselah. 49. Lamech. 50. Balaam. 51. Saul. 52. Abimelech, who is also Achimelech. 53.

Greek · §3

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List of Prophets and Prophetesses§4

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4Amos, 1st. Zadok, 2nd. The elder who is in Bethlehem. Agabus, who is in the Acts. The Prophetesses: 1st. Sarah, 2nd. Rebecca, 3rd. Mary the sister of Moses, 4th. Deborah, 5th. Olda, 6th. Anna the mother of Samuel, 7th. Judith, 8th. Elizabeth, the mother of John, 9th. Anna the daughter of Phanuel, 10th. Mary the Theotokos.

Greek · §4

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