What is a prophet/prophetess?
What is a prophet/prophetess?
What is a prophet?
Amcient manuscripts of the Bible can be found in ancient Greek.
The Greek word for "PROPHET" [prophétés 4396 in Greek, noun] come from a compound of "BEFORE" [pro 4253 in Greek, preposition] and "TO-SAY" [phémi 5346 in Greek, verb].
A "PROPHET" can be understood as someone who "SAY" things "BEFORE" (or "IN FRONT OF", or "ON BEHALF OF") another entity.
Other similars term to describe a "PROPHET" may be:
"SPOKEMAN"
"MOUTHPIECE"
What is a prophetess?
The Greek word for "PROPHETESS" [prophétis 4398 in Greek, noun] is a FEMININE noun that can also be used to describe someone.
It comes from the Greek word for "PROPHET" [prophétés 4396 in Greek, noun] which is a MASCULINE noun.
Examples of prophets:
Several PROPHETS are mentioned in the Bible. For example:
"ABRAHAM" (Genesis 20:2), "for he is a PROPHET" (Genesis 20:7).
"NATHAN the PROPHET" (1 Kings 1:8).
"ELIJAH the PROPHET" (1 Kings 18:36).
"ASAPH the PROPHET" (1 Chronicles 25:2).
"JUDAS AND SILAS, also THEMSELVES BEING PROPHETS" (Acts 15:32).
"(A) CERTAIN PROPHET from Judea, AGABUS (by) name" (Acts 21:10).
Examples of prophetesses:
Several PROPHETESSES are mentioned in the Bible. For example:
"MARIAM the PROPHETESS [prophétis 4398 in Greek] the SISTER of Aaron" (Exodus 15:20).
"DEBBORA, a PROPHETESS [prophétis 4398 in Greek], the WIFE of Lapidoth" (Judges 4:4).
"OLDA the PROPHETESS [prophétis 4398 in Greek] the MOTHER of Sellem" (2 Kings 22:14).
"ANNA, a PROPHETESS [prophétis 4398 in Greek], a DAUGHTER of Phanuel" (Luke 2:36).
Prophets can commanded to say things on behalf of another entity:
It is written about "Jeremiah" (Jeremiah 1:1) that "(the) word of the LORD" said to him: "I have appointed you a PROPHET" (Jeremiah 1:5) "AS MANY (WORDS) AS I SHALL COMMAND TO YOU, YOU WILL SPEAK" (Jeremiah 1:7).
It is written about "Ezekiel" (Ezekiel 1:3) that "(the) Spirit" (Ezekiel 2:2) said to him: "they will know that you are a PROPHET in (the) midst of them" (Ezekiel 2:5), "YOU WILL SPEAK MY WORDS TO THEM" (Ezekiel 2:7).
Prophets can exist for different entities:
Aaron was appointed to say things on behalf of Moses:
Aaron was a prophet for Moses, as it is written: "the LORD spoke to MOSES, saying, “Behold, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and AARON your brother WILL BE YOUR PROPHET" (Exodus 7:1).
People were appointed to say things on behalf of God:
People could be "THE PROPHETS OF GOD" (Ezra 5:2).
People were appointed to say things on behalf of Baal:
People could be "THE PROPHETS OF BAAL" (1 Kings 18:22).
Prophets do not necessarily work signs:
John the Baptist was considered to be a prophet, as it is written about the crowd that "they all were-holding (as to) JOHN that he really was (a) PROPHET" (Mark 11:32).
Yet John the Baptist did not work signs, as it is written that "JOHN DID NO SIGN" (John 10:41).
Prophets can be distinct from apostles:
It is written: "I-will-send-forth PROPHETS AND APOSTLES to them" (Luke 11:49). Here "PROPHETS" & "APOSTLES" are separated by the conjunction "AND".
It is written: "God placed some in the church (as) FIRST, APOSTLES; SECOND, PROPHETS" (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Prophets can be distinct from teachers:
It is written: "there were PROPHETS AND TEACHERS at Antioch" (Acts 13:1). Here "PROPHETS" & "TEACHERS" are separated by the conjunction "AND".
It is written: "God placed some in the church (as) first, apostles; SECOND, PROPHETS; THIRD, TEACHERS" (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Prophets can be distinct from shepherds (pastors):
It is written: "He gave some (as) apostles, and some (as) PROPHETS, and some (as) evangelists, AND some (as) SHEPHERDS" (Ephesians 4:11). Here "PROPHETS" & "SHEPHERDS" are separated by the conjunction "AND".
Prophets can be distinct from evangelists:
It is written: "He gave some (as) apostles, and some (as) PROPHETS, AND some (as) EVANGELISTS" (Ephesians 4:11). Here "PROPHETS" & "EVANGELISTS" are separated by the conjunction "AND".
Prophets can be distinct from proclaimers (preachers, heralds):
It is written in Daniel about "Jeremiah the PROPHET [prophétés 4396 in Greek]" (Daniel 9:2, LXX).
In contrast, in the same book of Daniel it is written about a proclaimer, using a different Greek word: "the PROCLAIMER [kérux 2783 in Greek] shouted with strength: To you it is commanded O peoples, nations, and languages, at the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and do homage to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up" (Daniel 3:4-5, LXX).
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