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προφητεία

prophēteía

G4394 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act or process of speaking forth, delivering, or declaring a message believed to originate from a divine source; more specifically, an inspired utterance, pronouncement, or message communicated by a person (a 'prophet') deemed inspired, with or without explicit prediction of future events. In various contexts, προφητεία can refer to a divinely inspired message, the function or office of a prophet, or the content of such utterance, which may involve exhortation, warning, instruction, or prediction. The term's semantic range thus includes both the event of inspired speech and the content thereof, encompassing predictive, revelatory, and exhortatory aspects.

Semantic Range

an inspired utterance, prophetic message, function or activity of a prophet, content of revelation, prediction, inspired exhortation or teaching, spiritual gift of inspired speech

Root / Etymology

From the verb προφητεύω ('to prophesy, speak on behalf of a god'), itself from προφήτης ('prophet', literally 'one who speaks forth'). Root: προ- ('before', 'forth') + φημί ('to speak'). Thus, fundamentally relating to 'speaking forth (for a deity)'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, προφητεία was less common than the related verb and referred abstractly to the activity of a prophet or the delivery of oracular statements. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, it most often refers to a divinely inspired message or utterance, not limited to prediction of future events but also including revelation of God's will, exhortation, rebuke, and teaching. In the Septuagint, προφητεία renders Hebrew נְבוּאָה (nevu'ah), 'prophecy, prophetic message.' In the New Testament, the word can denote the spiritual gift or activity of inspired speech, sometimes in a communal worship context (1 Corinthians 12–14), rather than prediction per se. English translations such as "prophecy" sometimes narrow its meaning to foretelling the future, but the primary biblical usage also includes inspired forth-telling and exhortation. The term's connotations shifted from classical oracular functions to specifically Israelite/Judean concepts of inspired speech and revelation.

Translation Consistency

primary "prophecy" 12 occurrences

The lemma is a noun denoting an inspired utterance, message, or the prophetic function; English "prophecy" is the natural, widely used noun that covers the content (message), the act/function (prophetic activity), and the gift/office. It matches the typical usage in translations and fits the full semantic range better than an adjective or a verb form.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"prophecies" (4x) "inspired proclamation" (2x) "inspired proclamations" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from προφήτης ("prophecy"); prediction (scriptural or other):--prophecy, prophesying.

Root Family

προφητεία (prophēteia) — inspired speaking forth, proclamation, prophetic utterance, declared revelation

Root προφη- to speak forth, declare, proclaim with inspiration

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4394-04 προφητείας propheteias N ACC F PL prophecy inspired utterances prophecy 10
G4394-01 προφητεία propheteia N NOM F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired prophecy 6
G4394-03 προφητείαν propheteian N ACC F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired proclamation 2
G4394-02 προφητεῖαι propheteiai N NOM F PL prophecies inspired proclamations inspired proclamations 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4394-01 Matthew 13:14 προφητεία propheteia N NOM F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired prophecy
G4394-03 Romans 12:6 προφητείαν propheteian N ACC F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired proclamation
G4394-01 1 Corinthians 12:10 προφητεία propheteia N NOM F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired prophecy
G4394-03 1 Corinthians 13:2 προφητείαν propheteian N ACC F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired proclamation
G4394-02 1 Corinthians 13:8 προφητεῖαι propheteiai N NOM F PL prophecies inspired proclamations inspired proclamations
G4394-01 1 Corinthians 14:6 προφητείᾳ propheteia N DAT F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired prophecy
G4394-01 1 Corinthians 14:22 προφητεία propheteia N NOM F SG prophecy inspired proclamation inspired prophecy
G4394-04 1 Thessalonians 5:20 προφητείας propheteias N ACC F PL prophesyings inspired utterances prophecies
G4394-04 1 Timothy 1:18 προφητείας propheteias N ACC F PL prophecies inspired utterances prophecies
G4394-04 1 Timothy 4:14 προφητείας propheteias N GEN F SG prophecy inspired utterances prophecies
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