The Bible mentions several women who are considered prophetesses. Here are the most prominent:
* Miriam: (Exodus 15:20-21) The sister of Moses and Aaron. She led the women in song and dance after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea.
* Deborah: (Judges 4-5) A judge and prophetess who led Israel to victory over the Canaanites. Her story is told in Judges 4, and her victory song is in Judges 5.
* Huldah: (2 Kings 22:14-20, 2 Chronicles 34:22-28) Consulted by King Josiah to validate the book of the Law that was found in the Temple.
* Noadiah: Mentioned in Nehemiah 6:14 as a false prophetess who tried to intimidate Nehemiah.
* Anna: (Luke 2:36-38) An elderly widow who prophesied about the infant Jesus in the Temple.
* The daughters of Philip the evangelist: (Acts 21:9) Luke mentions that Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
Some other women are sometimes considered to have prophetic roles or insights, even if not explicitly called "prophetesses" in the Bible. These include:
* Abigail: (1 Samuel 25) While not called a prophetess, her wisdom and ability to foresee consequences are notable.
* Elizabeth: (Luke 1:41-45) Filled with the Holy Spirit, she recognizes Mary as the mother of the Lord.
* Mary, mother of Jesus: Her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) is often seen as a prophetic song.
It's important to note that the role and authority of prophetesses varied in biblical times. Some, like Deborah, held significant leadership positions, while others offered prophetic insights in more specific contexts.