Scripture often reports that someone prophesied without preserving the content:
OLD TESTAMENT
The 70 elders (Num 11:25-30) — the Spirit rested on them and they prophesied; nothing quoted. Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp; content unrecorded. Occasions Moses’ “would that all the LORD’s people were prophets.”
Numbers 11:24-30 SAAS So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and placed them around the tabernacle.
25 Then the Lord descended in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit upon him, and put Him upon the seventy men of the elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, although they never did so again.
26 But two men remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other, Medad, and the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those registered, but had not come to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp.
27 So a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28 Then Joshua the son of Nun, who was near Moses, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Lord Moses, forbid them.”
29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people might be prophets, when the Lord would put His Spirit upon them.”
Saul among the prophets (1 Sam 10:10–13) — No words given.
1 Samuel 9:27–10:13. SAAS Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. But you stand here today, and give heed to the word of God.”
10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of olive oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said to him, “Has not the Lord anointed you as ruler to His people, over Israel? You shall rule among the people of the Lord, and you shall save them from the hand of their enemies round about them. For you, this shall be the sign that the Lord anointed you as a ruler for His inheritance.
2 As you depart from me today, you shall come to find two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin who are jumping about ecstatically, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys you searched for are found, but take notice, your father stopped worrying about news concerning the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’
3 Then you shall go on from there and come to the oak tree of Tabor. There you will find three men going up to God at Bethel, one carrying three young goats, one carrying three containers of bread, and one carrying a skin of wine.
4 And they will entreat you in peace and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall take from their hands.
5 After this, you shall come to the hill of God, which for the Philistines is the high place there. The Philistine Nasib is located there. And when you enter the city, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them. They will be prophesying.
6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and you shall be turned into another man.
7 And when these signs shall come to pass for you, do all the many things your hand finds to do, because God is with you.
8 You shall go down before me to Gilgal, and I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings. You shall wait for seven days, till I come to you and show you what to do.”
9 So it came about that when he turned his back to depart from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all the signs came to pass on that day.
10 And he came there to the hill, and behold there was a band of prophets opposite him, and the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied in the midst of them.
11 It came about that all those who had seen him previously saw it, and behold, he was in the midst of the prophets. And the people said, each one to his neighbor, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
12 Then one of them answered and said, “But who is his father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Truly, even Saul is among the prophets.”
13 And he finished prophesying and came to the hill.
Saul later sent three groups of messengers that prophesied. Then Saul himself followed and again prophesied (1 Samuel 19:18-24). — None of their prophecies became Scripture.
1 Samuel 19:18–24, SAAS So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all Saul had done to him. And David and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth in Ramah.
19 And it was told to Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!”
20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the assembly of prophets, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when this was told to Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied as well. Then for a third time, Saul sent messengers, and they too, prophesied.
22 Now Saul was inflamed with anger, and he too went to Ramah. He came as far as the storage well of the threshing floor in Sechu and asked, saying, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Look, they are in Naioth in Ramah.”
23 So he went onward to Naioth in Ramah. And then the Spirit of God came upon him too, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 There he removed his clothes and prophesied before them, and he fell unclothed on the ground all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul among the prophets?”
The “sons of the prophets” in Elijah–Elisha’s day — ongoing prophetic activity, almost none of it quoted.
The 100 prophets Obadiah hid (1 Kgs 18:4, 13 and 1 Kings 19:10-14) — an entire generation of prophetic ministry with zero recorded oracles.
1 Kings 18:1–16, SAAS It came to pass many days later, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Go and appear to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”
2 So Elijah went and appeared to Ahab, and there was a severe famine in Samaria.
3 Then Ahab called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
4 For when Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.
5 So Ahab said to Obadiah, “Let us go into the land, to the springs of water and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so none of the livestock dies.”
6 So to explore it, they divided the path between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Now Obadiah was alone on his way, and Elijah came alone to meet him. Obadiah quickly fell on his face in Elijah’s presence and said, “My lord Elijah, is that you?”
8 Elijah replied, “It is I; go, tell your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’ ”
9 So Obadiah said, “What sin did I commit for you to give me, your servant, into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?
10 As the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to hunt you. If they said, ‘He is not here,’ then he set fire to the kingdom and its territories, because he did not find you.
11 So now you say to me, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah is here’ ”!
12 But if I so do, it shall come to pass, when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord shall carry you to a land I do not know. Moreover, when I go and report this to Ahab, he will kill me. Yet your servant fears the Lord from his youth.
13 Was it not reported to you, my lord, as to what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the Lord’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 But now you say to me, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah is here,’ ” but he will kill me.”
15 Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives before whom I stand, today I will appear to him.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab ran out and went to meet Elijah.
1 Kings 19:10-14, SAAS Behold, the word of the Lord came to him and said to him, “Elijah, what are you doing here?” And Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord Almighty since the children of Israel have forsaken You. They tore down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”
11 Then He replied, “Go out tomorrow and stand on the mountain before the Lord; and behold, the Lord will pass by, and before the Lord, a great and powerful wind will be rending the mountains and shattering the rocks; but the Lord will not be in the wind. After the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord will not be in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake, there will be a fire, but the Lord will not be in the fire. After the fire, there will be a sound of a gentle breeze, and the Lord will be there.”
13 So when Elijah heard this, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a Voice came to him and said, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord Almighty, since the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”
Miriam (Exod 15:20; Mic 6:4) — called a prophetess and named a leader of the Exodus generation; only the one song survives.
Prophets whose writings existed but weren’t canonized: the records of Nathan, Gad, Ahijah the Shilonite, the visions of Iddo (2 Chr 9:29), Shemaiah (2 Chr 12:15), Jehu son of Hanani (2 Chr 20:34).
Enoch (Jude 14–15) — prophesied in the seventh generation from Adam; we only have it secondhand through Jude’s citation.
NEW TESTAMENT
Anna (Luke 2:36–38) — a prophetess who “spoke of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem”; not one sentence quoted.
Luk 2:25-38 AKJV And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was on him. 26 And it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word: 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 Which you have prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Philip’s four daughters (Acts 21:9) — explicitly said to prophesy; nothing recorded. Notably, Agabus’s oracle is quoted in the very next verses, making the omission conspicuous.
Act 21:8-15 AKJV And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came to Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and stayed with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come to us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus said the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that ownes this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, sought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
The Ephesian disciples (Acts 19:6) — spoke in tongues and prophesied after Paul laid hands on them.
Act 19:1-7 AKJV And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said to them, To what then were you baptized? And they said, To John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve.
Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32) — “being prophets themselves,” they encouraged the brothers “with many words”; none preserved.
Act 15:32-33 AKJV And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
The saints at Corinth (1 Cor 11:4–5) — men prophesying with head uncovered, women prophesying with head covered, none of their prophecies entered into Scripture.
1Co 11:4-5 AKJV Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
The Corinthian assembly (1 Cor 14) — congregational prophecy, weighed by the others (14:29), and none of it entered the canon.
1Co 14:1-40 AKJV Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy. 2 For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God: for no man understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks shall be a barbarian to me. 12 Even so you, for as much as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Why let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you say? 17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brothers, be not children in understanding: however, in malice be you children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, said the LORD. 22 Why tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believes not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 26 How is it then, brothers? when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted to them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also said the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it to you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Why, brothers, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
The Thessalonians (1 Thess 5:20) — “do not despise prophecies” implies live prophetic utterance in the assembly, all unrecorded.
1Th 5:19-21 AKJV Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
The pattern is striking: canonical Scripture itself testifies that the vast majority of genuine, Spirit-given prophecy was never inscripturated — it served its moment, was tested, built up its hearers, and passed. Canonization and inspiration were never coextensive.