Last week, I began this series about female prophets by discussing Miriam and Deborah (The Four Prophetesses of the Old Testament, Part 1 of 1). This week, let’s take a look at Isaiah’s wife and Huldah.
First, a quick recap. What is a prophet? Jewish scholar Abraham Joshua Heschel writes that “the task of the prophet is to convey the word of God.” Christian scholar Sandra Richter adds that “in Israel’s world Yahweh is truly the king of the country, and the prophets are among several human officers who carry out his will.”
Now, let’s meet two more prophetesses–Isaiah’s wife and Huldah.
Isaiah’s wife
The scripture: Isaiah 8:3
The story: We know virtually nothing about Isaiah’s wife. She is, in fact, unnamed in the single verse which mentions her. After Isaiah prophesies to King Ahaz about the Messiah, he writes that he “went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.'”
Her life and times: Scholars are not in agreement concerning the role of Isaiah’s wife in his ministry. Some believe that she was called a prophetess only because she was married to a prophet. Others believe that she was a prophet in her own right.
Claude Mariottini, Professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary, explains why he believes that Isaiah’s wife was a true prophetess. In Isaiah 8:3, when Isaiah says, “I went to the prophetess (neb’iah),” he uses the Hebrew word neb’iah to describe his wife.
The prophets Ezekiel and Hosea, however, did not use the word neb’iah when referring to their wives. Ezekiel said, “My wife died.” Hosea referred to his wife Gomer as “my wife.”
But because Isaiah specifically used the word neb’iah to describe the woman to whom he was married, Mariottini purports that Isaiah indicated that his wife was a prophet in her own right.
Her legacy: Father Lawrence Farley, pastor of St. Herman’s Orthodox Church in Langley, BC., writes that although Isaiah’s wife remains unnamed, the prophetess “who loved Isaiah, bore his children, lived through terrible times and watched while her husband was martyred, has long since vanished into history…. But God knows her name.” And that is her legacy.
Huldah
The scripture: 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-33
The story: During King Josiah’s reign, he ordered the restoration of the temple. In the process, the high priest Hilkiah and others discovered a copy of the Book of Law in the temple. What they discovered was most likely the core of the Book of Deuteronomy which contained dire predictions for Judah and Jerusalem.
When King Josiah heard the contents of the Book of Law, he needed an expert to tell him whether the predictions would come to pass. And although the prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah were active at the time, King Josiah’s retinue called on Huldah.
Huldah confirmed that the prophecies of the scroll would come to pass, and she also prophesied that, because he had humbled himself before God, Josiah would not be alive to witness the terrors described in the scroll. Huldah’s words to King Josiah:
“Thou shalt be gathered unto thy grave in peace, neither shall thy eyes see all the evil which I shall bring upon this place.”
Her life and times: Huldah’s name in Hebrew means “to abide” or “to continue.” Huldah was the wife of Shallum, and she lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah, the 16th king of Judah. Josiah, who lived from c. 648-609 B.C., ordered renovations of the temple, and it was during this restoration that the Book of Law scrolls were discovered.

Just 100 years earlier, just as the prophets had warned, the northern kingdom (Israel) was conquered taken captive to Assyria. Huldah would have known of Israel’s fate, and she would have known of and/or witnessed the evils perpetrated by evil kings such as Manasseh and Ahaz.
Her legacy: After Huldah’s prophecy, Josiah led one of the greatest religious reforms in history. He purged Judah, and even parts of Israel, of paganism.Sadly, but not surprisingly, just 35 years after her prophecy, Judah was conquered and taken in chains to Babylon. All of its cities were destroyed. And as Huldah had prophesied, King Josiah did not live to see the destruction.
*****
Miriam. Deborah. Isaiah’s wife. Huldah. Four women who, each in her own way, was led by a Holy Spirit that had not yet made Himself known in the world. And each of these prophetesses–neb’iah–influenced the course of history that led to the birth of the Messiah.
To read more about prophets by this author:
Pay Attention! (Joel)
We Need a New Plumb Line, (Amos)
Listen. Listen. Listen!(Isaiah)
Resources for this article:
The Prophets, by Abraham Joshua Heschel, Hendrickson Publishers, 2021.
The Epic of Eden: Isaiah, by Sandra L. Richter, Seedbed Publishing, 2019.
The Prophetess: Wife of Isaiah , by Heather Farrell, November 20, 2010.
Isaiah’s Wife, by Claude Mariottini, August 23, 2013.
Biblical Women: The Prophetess November 17, 2021.
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A very interesting treatment of women in the Bible (and before).
Thanks Teresa for this great lesson that I got to enjoy on this Sunday afternoon