Prophet, in religion, is the title given to a person who claims to communicate God’s will to others. The life and teachings of prophets have provided the basis for some religions. For example, Islam is based on the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Similarly, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, is considered a prophet by his followers. A number of famous prophets lived in ancient Israel during Biblical times.
There were two types of prophets in ancient Israel—professional prophets and classical prophets. Professional prophets earned a living by trying to determine for their clients the nature of God’s will in regard to specific issues and problems. Classical prophets did not choose to become prophets. They believed God called them to proclaim His message to the people of Israel. The classical prophets are also called literary prophets because their words are recorded in Biblical books. The magnificent poetry of many of their sayings represents a high point in Hebrew literature.
Classical prophets introduced the idea that God ruled over all nations, not just Israel. These prophets spoke directly to the major leaders of their time. They urged the people to remain faithful to God and to act justly with each other.
