What Are Some Old Testament Prophecies About The Incarnation?
Unveiling Old Testament Prophecies About the Incarnation
The Incarnation—God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ—is central to the Christian faith. While the New Testament clearly declares Jesus as God in human form, this truth is deeply rooted in the Old Testament through a tapestry of prophecies and promises. Let’s journey through key passages that foretold the coming of the Messiah, focusing on how they point to the Incarnation.
1. The Promise of "God With Us"
Perhaps the most direct prophetic statement about the Incarnation is found in Isaiah:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14 ASV
"Immanuel" means "God with us"—a clear indication that the coming child would be no ordinary human, but God Himself dwelling among His people. Matthew's Gospel explicitly connects this prophecy to the birth of Christ (see Matthew 1:23 ASV).
2. The Divine Child Foretold
Isaiah expands on this idea by describing the child’s divine nature and attributes:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6 ASV
This prophecy is remarkable in its explicitness: the Messiah is called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father.” Evangelical interpretation recognizes this as a clear reference to the divine nature of the coming Savior, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
3. The Birthplace of the Eternal Ruler
Micah prophesied the Messiah’s humble birthplace, while also affirming His eternal pre-existence:
But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. - Micah 5:2 ASV
Not only would the Messiah be born in Bethlehem, but He would be one “whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”—language that points to an eternal, divine origin.
4. The Anticipation of a Divine King
The Psalms often speak prophetically of the Messiah as a divine king. For example:
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. - Psalm 110:1 ASV
Jesus Himself quoted this verse to show that the Messiah would be more than David’s descendant—He would be David’s Lord (Matthew 22:41-46 ASV). The divine status of the Messiah is implied, anticipating the Incarnation.
5. The Suffering Servant and the Mystery of God’s Presence
Isaiah’s portrait of the Servant who bears the sins of many also hints at a figure who is more than human:
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6 ASV
The Servant’s ability to bear sin and justify many (see Isaiah 53:11 ASV) points to a unique, God-sent Redeemer, foreshadowing Jesus’ atoning work as God in the flesh.
6. The Seed Promise: God’s Deliverer
The very first hint of the Incarnation is found in God’s words to the serpent after humanity’s fall:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. - Genesis 3:15 ASV
This “seed of the woman” who would defeat evil is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who had to be both truly human and truly divine to accomplish salvation.
Conclusion: Christ the Fulfillment
From the earliest chapters of Genesis to the promises of the prophets, the Old Testament anticipated the Incarnation—the coming of God in human flesh. Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies, revealing God’s heart to dwell among and redeem His people. As the apostle John declares:
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 ASV
The Incarnation is not an unexpected twist but the glorious fulfillment of God’s ancient promises.