Easter is a significant celebration for Christians, a time to commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the New Testament recounts these events in detail, many may not realize that the Old Testament also contains numerous references and prophetic scriptures pointing toward the ultimate sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. The Old Testament, though written long before Christ’s birth, offers a rich tapestry of verses that foreshadow and illuminate the significance of Easter.
In this article, we will explore 21 Old Testament verses that are closely tied to Easter, offering a deeper understanding of how the events of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection were prefigured long ago. These scriptures help us see that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not a random or isolated event, but rather the fulfillment of God‘s divine plan set in motion from the very beginning of time.
21 Easter Bible Verses from the Old Testament
1. Genesis 3:15 – The First Promise of Redemption
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
This verse is known as the Protoevangelium, meaning “first gospel,” and it contains the first promise of redemption after the fall of man. God speaks these words to the serpent, representing Satan, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. The “offspring of the woman” refers to Jesus Christ, who would come to crush the power of Satan, ultimately through His death and resurrection. The idea that the serpent would strike His heel refers to the suffering of Christ on the cross, but the victory would come through His resurrection when He triumphed over death and sin.
2. Isaiah 9:6 – The Promised Savior
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
This verse, a prophetic declaration of the birth of Jesus Christ, highlights His divine nature and the eternal kingdom He will establish. It speaks to the profound significance of Christ’s coming—He is both fully God and fully man. His death on the cross and resurrection were integral to fulfilling the promises of His role as the Savior of the world, bringing peace and reconciliation between God and humanity.
3. Isaiah 53:3-5 – The Suffering Servant
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)
Isaiah 53 is a powerful prophecy about the suffering of the Messiah, and it is one of the most direct foreshadowings of Christ’s sacrificial death in the Old Testament. This passage vividly describes the pain and suffering Christ would endure on the cross, not for His own sins, but for ours. His ultimate sacrifice was the means through which we are healed, both spiritually and physically. The resurrection of Jesus confirms that His suffering was not in vain; it brought eternal victory over sin and death.
4. Psalm 16:10 – The Promise of Resurrection
“Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” (Psalm 16:10)
David’s psalm prophetically speaks of Jesus’ resurrection. Although it initially refers to David himself, Peter and Paul later interpreted this verse as a prophecy about the Messiah’s triumph over death. The resurrection of Christ fulfilled this promise, demonstrating that God would not allow His anointed one to remain in the grave, and He would overcome death once and for all.
5. Psalm 22:16-18 – The Crucifixion Foretold
“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” (Psalm 22:16-18)
Psalm 22 is often referred to as the “Psalm of the Cross” because it prophetically details the crucifixion of Jesus. The piercing of His hands and feet, the division of His garments, and the mocking of His enemies all point directly to the events of the crucifixion. Jesus even quoted the opening words of this psalm (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) while hanging on the cross, underscoring the connection between this ancient psalm and His Passion.
6. Zechariah 12:10 – The Pierced One
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10)
This verse is a direct prophecy about the piercing of Jesus’ side during His crucifixion. It highlights the mourning that would come as the people of Israel recognize the one they have pierced as their Messiah. The sorrow and repentance that would follow Jesus’ death and resurrection are essential to the Christian understanding of salvation, as it calls for a heart change and recognition of Jesus as the Savior.
7. Hosea 6:2 – Resurrection After Two Days
“After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.” (Hosea 6:2)
This verse is another powerful Old Testament reference to the resurrection. While Hosea speaks of the nation of Israel being restored after a time of discipline, Christians have long understood this as a type of the resurrection of Jesus. Just as Israel would be revived after two days, Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day, restoring us to eternal life with God.
8. Jonah 1:17 – Jonah’s Three Days in the Fish
“Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17)
Jonah’s three days and nights in the belly of the great fish serve as a prophetic sign of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus Himself referenced this event in Matthew 12:40, saying, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jonah’s experience prefigures the burial of Jesus, and just as Jonah emerged from the fish alive, Jesus would rise from the grave on the third day.
9. Psalm 110:1 – The Ascension of Christ
“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” (Psalm 110:1)
This psalm, quoted several times in the New Testament, speaks of the Messiah’s exaltation following His resurrection. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, signifying His authority and victory over sin and death. The resurrection is the precursor to this ascension, as it marks the moment when Christ’s work on earth is complete, and He returns to the Father to rule and reign.
10. Daniel 12:2 – The Resurrection of the Dead
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
This verse from the book of Daniel speaks of the general resurrection, when all the dead will rise. Christians believe that Jesus’ resurrection was the firstfruits of this promise, offering eternal life to all who trust in Him. His victory over death provides hope for the future resurrection of believers.
11. Genesis 22:8 – Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac
“Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.” (Genesis 22:8)
In the story of Abraham and Isaac, God calls Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as an act of faith. However, God provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac, a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice that would come through Jesus Christ. Just as Isaac was spared by God’s provision, Jesus would be the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world.
12. Micah 5:2 – The Birth of the Messiah
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)
This prophecy, quoted in Matthew 2:6, foretells the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. While it initially speaks of a ruler over Israel, Christians understand this prophecy as referring to Jesus, who would be born in this small town but whose impact on the world would be eternal. His death and resurrection would establish His reign as King forever.
13. Isaiah 11:1 – The Branch of Jesse
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1)
This verse refers to the Messiah as the “Branch” who will come from the line of David (Jesse being David’s father). Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, as He is born into David’s lineage and will bring forth righteousness and justice. His resurrection signifies the beginning of His reign as the eternal King.
14. Exodus 12:46 – The Passover Lamb
“Do not break any of the bones. When the lamb is eaten, it must be completely consumed.” (Exodus 12:46)
The Passover lamb, whose blood was shed to protect the Israelites from the angel of death, is a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. His bones were not broken during the crucifixion, fulfilling the requirement of the Passover lamb. Jesus’ death and resurrection mark the fulfillment of the Passover, providing salvation and protection from spiritual death for all who believe in Him.
15. Psalm 118:22-24 – The Rejected Stone
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-24)
This psalm is a prophetic statement about Jesus’ rejection by the religious leaders, yet His ultimate exaltation as the cornerstone of the Church. Jesus quoted this psalm in reference to Himself, showing that His resurrection would confirm His role as the foundation of God’s kingdom.
16. Exodus 14:21-22 – Crossing the Red Sea
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)
The crossing of the Red Sea represents deliverance from slavery, and it is seen as a type of baptism in the New Testament. Just as the Israelites passed through the waters to freedom, Christians believe that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers are delivered from the bondage of sin and enter into new life.
17. Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The New Covenant
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah… I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
This passage speaks of the new covenant that would be established through the Messiah. Jesus inaugurated this new covenant through His death on the cross, and His resurrection ensures that this covenant is available to all who believe in Him, granting forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
18. Ezekiel 37:1-14 – The Valley of Dry Bones
“He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know.’” (Ezekiel 37:3)
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones symbolizes the spiritual resurrection of Israel, but it also points to the resurrection of believers through Christ. Just as the dry bones are brought back to life by the breath of God, Jesus’ resurrection breathes new life into all who trust in Him, giving them spiritual rebirth.
19. Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord’s Victory
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
This verse reminds us that Jesus’ victory over death is a cause for great rejoicing. Christ’s resurrection brings God’s love and peace to His people, and He delights in their salvation, bringing joy to the hearts of all believers.
20. 2 Samuel 7:12-16 – The Promise to David
“When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom… Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
God’s promise to David that his throne would be established forever finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the eternal King. His resurrection ensures that His kingdom will have no end, and all who follow Him are part of that eternal reign.
21. 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 – The Eternal Kingdom
“When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you… I will be his father, and he shall be my son… and I will establish his throne forever.” (1 Chronicles 17:11-14)
Similar to the promise in 2 Samuel, this passage prophesies the eternal kingdom of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. His resurrection confirmed His eternal reign, and His kingdom is one that will never be shaken.
Conclusion
The Old Testament is filled with prophetic insights that point directly to Jesus Christ and His resurrection. These 21 verses are just a glimpse into the deep and rich imagery that prefigures the events we celebrate at Easter. As we reflect on these scriptures, we are reminded that God’s plan for redemption was set in motion long before Jesus’ birth, and His victory over death was always part of His divine purpose. May these ancient words deepen our understanding and gratitude for the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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