FALSE PROPHET(S), THE (נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר. prophet of falsehood, deceit; ψευδοπροφῆται). Moses ordered the death of any prophet advocating the worship of another god (Deut 13:1-4). During the monarchy, false prophets were often in the majority in the court of Israel. Ahab’s 800 prophets openly advocated the worship of Baal and Asherah (1 Kings 18:20). Later, 400 prophets, influenced by a lying spirit, assured Ahab of victory at Ramoth-gilead, only to be contradicted by Micaiah, the true prophet (22:6-23). Frequently, lying prophets told the leaders what they wanted to hear (Jer 5:31; Luke 6:26). Jeremiah inveighed against those who claimed to be receiving visions from God, but who counseled rebellion against Babylon (Jer 27:9). Zedekiah and Ahab were two prophets cursed because of their evil advice (29:21-23). Testing the prophets should have been a constant practice.

In the NT false prophets were plentiful (1 John 4:1) and were compared with wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15) and false teachers (2 Pet 2:1). The false prophet Bar-Jesus was smitten with blindness by Paul (Acts 13:6, 11). Christ warned of false prophets whose miracles would deceive many in the end (Matt 24:24; Mark 13:22). In Revelation 13:12-14 and 19:20, the master false prophet is described. He will support the beast through powerful signs before his destruction.

Bibliography J. B. Payne, The Theology of the Older Testament (1962), 56, 57.