Minor Bible Prophets

The Bible Prophets shown in this section are called "minor" not in depreciation but because their Books are very much shorter than those of the three Major Prophets--Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. In the first six Books--those of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah--one can see how different the ancient Books of Prophecy are in form and content. Hosea, one of the greatest figures in the prophetic line, uses autobiography to drive home a religious moral. Joel is distinguished for what has been called the best example of dramatic characterization in Hebrew writing. Amos, the shepherd of Tekoa, conveys an atmosphere of bucolic activity. Obadiah is a Hebrew nationalist, denouncing his people's ancient foe. Jonah presents one of the best-known of the Bible stories. And Micah combines fierce invective with visions of peaceful happiness.

The Minor Prophets who have given their names to the last six Books of the Old Testament--Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi--offer no less interest and variety than their predecessors. They resemble one another in their intensity and conviction, but differ widely in their imagery and modes of expression. Nahum devotes his whole Book to depicting the impending fall of Nineveh, and his imagination revels in the terrors of the onslaught. Habakkuk predicts the uprising of the Chaldean nation; his account is interrupted by a prayer. Zephaniah is inspired by the irruption of the Scythian hordes to foretell the Day of the Lord, but holds out the possibility that repentance may still save Judah. The oracles of Haggai and Zechariah are concerned with the glory of the Lord and the restoration of Jewish Nationality. The book of Malachi is largely given up to a polemic against the priest of Jerusalem, with a message to the ungodly of retribution and of hope to the Gentile.

These drawings of the Minor Bible Prophets are from a variety of Bible books. Feel free to use these Minor Bible Prophet pictures in your artwork. Click on the drawings of the Bible Prophets below to see more details about saving a free image or about purchasing an image at a higher resolution.