For centuries, Christians have claimed that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. But did he? If we set aside tradition and examine the actual texts, a starkly different picture emerges. The Jewish prophets laid out clear, tangible expectations for the Messiah—none of which Jesus fulfilled. So, was Jesus the prophesied Messiah, or was his status reinterpreted after his failure?
The Old Testament Passages That Never Prophesied Jesus
Many Old Testament passages are cited in the New Testament as prophecies about Jesus. However, when examined in their original context, these passages often have very different meanings. Below, we analyze several key examples where the New Testament claims fulfillment of prophecy, but the Old Testament context suggests otherwise.
Born of a Virgin
(Isaiah 7:14 / Matthew 1:22-23)
New Testament Claim:
Matthew 1:22-23 states that Jesus’ virgin birth fulfills Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”
Old Testament Context:
- Isaiah 7 takes place during the Syro-Ephraimite War (circa 735 BCE). King Ahaz of Judah fears an attack from Aram (Syria) and Israel (Ephraim).
- Isaiah reassures Ahaz that God will give a sign that Judah will be saved: a young woman (almah) will bear a son called Immanuel (“God is with us”).
- The Hebrew word “almah” means “young woman,” not necessarily “virgin.” The precise Hebrew word for virgin is “betulah.”
- The child in Isaiah 7:14 is not a future Messiah but a contemporary sign for Ahaz that Judah’s enemies would soon be defeated.
- In Isaiah 8, the prophecy is seemingly fulfilled when Isaiah’s own wife bears a son.
Mistranslation of “Virgin”:
The misunderstanding of Isaiah 7:14 stems from the Greek Septuagint translation, which rendered almah as parthenos, a Greek word that can mean “virgin” but also “young woman.” This mistranslation was later adopted in Matthew’s Gospel, influencing Christian theology about Jesus’ miraculous birth. However, in its original Hebrew context, almah simply refers to a young woman of marriageable age, with no implication of virginity. This distinction is crucial, as Isaiah’s prophecy was meant as an immediate sign to King Ahaz, not a prediction of a Messiah centuries later.
Matthew reinterprets a historical prophecy meant for Ahaz and applies it to Jesus. The Greek Septuagint translation of almah as parthenos (“virgin”) likely influenced this misapplication. The original Hebrew text suggests that the prophecy was meant as an immediate assurance to Ahaz, rather than a messianic prediction to be fulfilled centuries later. By lifting this verse out of its historical setting, Matthew creates a new theological narrative rather than adhering to the original intent of the passage.
Betrayed for 30 Pieces of Silver
(Zechariah 11:12 / Matthew 26:14-15)
New Testament Claim:
Matthew 26:14-15 states that Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver fulfills Zechariah 11:12.
Old Testament Context:
- Zechariah 11 describes a symbolic narrative in which the prophet Zechariah acts as a shepherd over Israel.
- The “thirty pieces of silver” represent the insultingly low wage paid to Zechariah for his service.
- In Zechariah 11:13, the silver is thrown into the house of the Lord, symbolizing God’s rejection of Israel’s leaders.
- This passage has nothing to do with a Messiah being betrayed, but rather a metaphorical depiction of Israel rejecting God.
Matthew borrows imagery from Zechariah and applies it to Judas, even though the original passage has no connection to the Messiah or betrayal. The thirty pieces of silver in Zechariah are part of a symbolic enactment about the people’s rejection of divine guidance, not a specific prophecy about a future betrayal. Matthew’s use of this passage is an example of theological reinterpretation, rather than an actual fulfillment of a messianic prophecy.
Pierced Hands and Feet
(Psalm 22:16 / Matthew 27:35)
New Testament Claim:
Matthew 27:35 applies Psalm 22:16 to Jesus’ crucifixion: “They have pierced my hands and feet.”
Old Testament Context:
- Psalm 22 is a lament psalm written by King David, describing his personal suffering and plea for God’s help.
- The phrase “pierced my hands and feet” is debated. The Hebrew Masoretic text reads “like a lion” (ka’ari), while the Septuagint and later Christian translations render it “pierced” (ka’aru).
- The psalm describes mockery, suffering, and eventual vindication, but it does not prophesy a future crucifixion.
Psalm 22 is not a prophecy about Jesus but a poetic lament. The piercing imagery comes from textual variations rather than the original Hebrew. The psalm ultimately portrays a suffering individual who is later vindicated, a theme that could apply to many historical figures, not just Jesus. The New Testament authors reinterpret the passage as a prophecy about the crucifixion, despite the textual ambiguity and the original poetic intent of the psalm.
The Messianic Expectations vs. Jesus’ Reality
The Hebrew Bible presents a detailed vision of what the Messiah would accomplish. Let’s compare these prophecies with the historical Jesus.
Isaiah 11: The Wolf and the Lamb, Universal Peace
Isaiah 11 describes the Messiah as a descendant of David who will bring a golden age of peace:
- Isaiah 11:6 – “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat…”
- Isaiah 11:9 – “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Did this happen? No. War, destruction, and suffering continued after Jesus’ time. The world did not become filled with the knowledge of God.
Micah 4-5: Nations Will No Longer Wage War, A Ruler from Bethlehem
Micah 4 and 5 describe a coming era where swords will be beaten into plowshares and a ruler from Bethlehem will establish permanent peace.
- Micah 4:3 – “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
- Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel.”
Did this happen? No. Jesus may have been born in Bethlehem (though some dispute this), but he never ruled Israel. War continued, including the Jewish-Roman War that led to the destruction of the Temple.
Zechariah 9: Was Jesus an Earthly King? No.
Zechariah 9 describes a coming king who would bring peace and dominion over all nations:
- Zechariah 9:9 – “Behold, your king is coming to you; he is righteous and having salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey.”
- Zechariah 9:10 – “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
Christians often point to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey as the fulfillment of this prophecy. However, the full passage speaks of a ruler who will bring global peace, end war, and establish universal dominion. Did Jesus do this? No. Rather than reigning as a king, Jesus was swiftly arrested, beaten, and executed by the Romans. Instead of peace, violence and destruction followed his movement, culminating in the Jewish-Roman War. His brief entry into Jerusalem was not the triumphant arrival of a world ruler—it was the prelude to his execution.
The Messiah’s Unfulfilled Promises
Beyond these prophecies, the Hebrew Bible lays out further expectations of the Messiah, all of which remain unfulfilled by Jesus:
Universal Peace and the End of War
- Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3 – “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
- Did this happen? No. Wars and conflicts continued after Jesus’ time. The world has not achieved the universal peace expected in the messianic age.
Jewish Messianic Expectation: The Messiah will bring tangible and lasting world peace.
Failed Messiah Theory: Jesus did not bring peace, meaning he failed as the Messiah.
Prophecy Reinterpretation Theory: Jesus’ peace is spiritual, not worldly; full peace will come in a second coming.
Mythicist Theory: The peaceful Messiah is an invented ideal, not a historical event.
The Ingathering of the Exiles of Israel
- Isaiah 11:12 – “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel.”
- Did this happen? No. The Jewish people remained in exile for centuries. The modern return to Israel was a political event, not a messianic fulfillment.
The Rebuilding of the Third Temple
- Amos 9:11, Haggai 2:9 – “In that day, I will restore David’s fallen shelter…”
- Did this happen? No. The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. Jesus did not rebuild it.
The Full Knowledge of God Among All People
- Isaiah 11:9 – “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.”
- Did this happen? No. Many people still do not know or believe in the God of Israel.
The Resurrection of the Dead
- Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2 – “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.”
- Did this happen? No. A general resurrection has not occurred.
The Establishment of a Worldwide Kingdom of Justice
- Zechariah 14:9, Isaiah 11:4 – “The Lord will be king over the whole earth.”
- Did this happen? No. Injustice and corruption continue to exist.
The Messiah from King David Through His Father
- Jeremiah 23:5, Psalm 89:3-4 – “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.”
- Did this happen? No. Jesus was not Joseph’s biological son, so he could not have inherited Davidic lineage.
The Messiah Leading Jews to Fully Observe the Torah
- Ezekiel 37:24 – “They will follow my laws and keep my decrees.”
- Did this happen? No. Christianity does not require full Torah observance.
The End of Death and Suffering
- Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever.”
- Did this happen? No. Death and suffering still exist.
The Messiah Ruling as a King on Earth
- Jeremiah 23:5 – “He shall reign as king and deal wisely.”
- Did this happen? No. Jesus never ruled as a king.
By the standards of the Hebrew Bible, Jesus did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies. Different perspectives arise: Did Jesus fail, was he reinterpreted, or was he a religious myth? The answer depends on how one approaches the evidence.
The examination of Old Testament passages cited in the New Testament reveals significant differences between their original meanings and how they were later interpreted. Many of these passages, when understood in their historical and literary contexts, were not prophetic predictions but rather responses to immediate circumstances, poetic expressions of suffering, or symbolic imagery. The New Testament authors often repurposed these texts to align with the narrative of Jesus, sometimes relying on translation differences or selective reinterpretation. This practice reflects an effort to establish theological continuity rather than a direct fulfillment of prophecy. Recognizing these distinctions helps provide a deeper understanding of how biblical texts have been adapted over time to shape religious beliefs and traditions.