Jewish Prophecy: The Forgotten Pillar of Faith and Its Promise for the Future

In today’s world, prophecy may seem like a mystical relic of the past, but within Judaism, it is considered one of the most fundamental forces shaping the spiritual character of the Jewish people. Moreover, the understanding that Hashem communicates with man through prophecy is foundational to Judaism. The nature of prophecy is inherently beyond human comprehension. Just as we cannot grasp the full reality of God, we cannot fully define prophecy in ordinary terms. Yet, even without understanding its essence or experiencing it ourselves, we are obligated to believe that prophecy is a central component of the Jewish nation's identity.

The Height of Human Potential

Prophecy is viewed in Jewish tradition as a human being's ultimate spiritual achievement. A prophet transcends the physical, temporal, and emotional limitations of ordinary life. The preeminent example is Moshe, the “father of prophets,” who remained on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights without food or water (Exodus 34:28). His existence during that time defied the boundaries of the body, embodying the prophetic ideal.

In ancient times, there were many prophets. Anyone who prepared themselves spiritually could access Divine wisdom, insight, and connection. However, prophecy ceased during the Second Temple period. As the Talmud states, “When Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi died, the Divine Spirit departed from Israel” (Sotah 48b).

Prophecy is not a fringe idea in Jewish belief. It is one of the core principles of faith. Maimonides includes two relevant declarations in his Thirteen Principles: “I believe with perfect faith that all the words of the prophets are true,” and “I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moshe our teacher was true, and that he was the father of the prophets.”

Throughout Jewish history, false prophets also emerged. The key distinction is that while false prophets focused on predicting the future, true prophets delivered Divine rebuke and guided the people to improve their ways. Their goal was not to reveal what God would do, but to guide the people toward what they should do to find favor in His eyes. Even when prophets spoke of the future, it was always in service of this greater purpose.

Prophecy was never meant for the prophet alone. It sought to uplift the entire nation. In those days, anyone could approach a prophet to gain clarity about their Divine service or to understand their soul’s unique mission in the world. The prophet offered not only vision but also spiritual direction.

A Light to the Nations

The influence of Jewish prophecy extended far beyond Israel. Even non-Jews recognized that God revealed His secrets to His prophets and that their words reflected Divine truth. One powerful example is found in the Book of Kings: when the king of Aram repeatedly failed to ambush Israel due to warnings from the prophet, his servants told him, “The prophet in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom” (II Kings 6:12).

The miraculous signs performed by prophets were well known among the nations and served to sanctify God’s name. When Naaman, the Aramean army commander, was healed of leprosy following Elisha’s instruction, he was so moved by the miracle that he renounced his idolatry and declared, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel” (II Kings 5:15).

Prophets had the power to transform not only individuals but entire societies. The story of Jonah and the people of Nineveh is a striking example.  Jonah’s prophecy sparked a sweeping national repentance. The people fully believed in his Divine mission and did everything they could to avert the impending decree.

Although prophecy no longer exists in our time, our vision for the future includes the hope for its return. As the prophet Joel proclaimed: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. Even upon the servants and handmaids will I pour out My spirit in those days” (Joel 3:1–2).

Jewish tradition maintains that in the days of the Messiah, the spirit of prophecy will once again fill the people of Israel, and the world will be renewed in Divine wisdom and awareness.  “And the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.”