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נָבָא

𐤍𐤁𐤀

nâbâʼ

H5012 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To act as a prophet, to speak, declare, or deliver messages claimed to be inspired by a deity, whether in prediction, admonition, encouragement, or instruction; to perform the role of a spokesperson on behalf of the deity. The semantic range includes both the formal public proclamation frequently encountered in the Hebrew Bible and more private, visionary, or ecstatic utterances. In certain contexts, may carry the nuance of delivering poetic prophecies or proclamations, sometimes in song or liturgical settings.

Semantic Range

to speak as a prophet, to deliver a prophetic message, to proclaim inspired speech, to utter in a state of inspiration, to perform as a prophetic spokesperson, (rarely) to sing inspired oracular poetry

Root / Etymology

Root נבא (n-b-ʼ). The root's core meaning relates to functioning as a prophet, or acting in a prophetic capacity, especially in the sense of delivering a message from the deity. The precise morphological origin of the root is uncertain; some propose connection to Akkadian nabû (to call, announce), but any direct etymological relationship remains debated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb נָבָא is used throughout pre-exilic, monarchic, exilic, and post-exilic biblical texts. In the earliest usage, it describes individuals recognized as spokespeople or intermediaries for the Israelite deity, delivering messages, warnings, or predictions. Over time, the verb comes to denote both ecstatic utterance (1 Sam 10:10–13) and formal proclamation (Jeremiah, Isaiah). In some texts (esp. in the Deuteronomistic history and the prophets), the verb appears both for designated prophets (נָבִיא) and for false prophets or prophetic impostors; contextually, the word by itself does not indicate the truth value or status of the message. Use of the root rarely denotes singing per se, though prophesying was at times accompanied by music (cf. 1 Chron 25:1–3, but the primary sense is declamatory). Later translators (LXX) often rendered it as 'prophēteuō.' English translations usually render as 'prophesy,' but this can mislead by suggesting only prediction; the core involves bearing oracular/inspired speech, whether predictive, admonitory, or revelatory. The verb contrasts with words for divination (e.g., קסם) and soothsaying, which are treated as distinct from the Israelite understanding of prophecy.

Translation Consistency

primary "prophesy" 31 occurrences

Prophesy best captures the dominant and specific meaning of נָבָא—acting/speaking as a prophet and delivering inspired messages—while fitting both public proclamations and private/visionary utterances. It is the most frequent and natural rendering in the data and preserves the distinct prophetic nuance that a more general verb like “speak” would lose.

Alternatives (19 occurrences):
"prophesied" (12x) "prophesied as a prophet" (4x) "prophesies" (1x) "acted as prophets" (1x) "acted as a prophet" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse); prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

נבא (nâbâʼ) — to act as a prophet, to deliver inspired speech, to proclaim on behalf of deity

Root נבא to act as a prophet, to deliver inspired speech, to proclaim on behalf of deity
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5013 נְבָא and he proclaimed as inspired spokesman
H5016 נְבוּאָה the prophetic utterance
H5017 נְבוּאָה in prophetic utterance of
H5029 נְבִיא the divine proclaimer
H5030 נָבִיא in the proclaiming-spokesmen

Word Forms

36 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5012-09 הִנָּבֵ֖א hinave HVNv2ms prophesy Prophesy yourself prophesy 19
H5012-18 נִבְּאִ֥ים nibeim HVNrmpa are prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying 10
H5012-07 הַֽ/נִּבְּאִ֛ים hanibeim HTd/VNsmpa who prophesy the prophesying ones the prophesying ones 9
H5012-30 וְ/הִנָּבֵ֖א vehinave HC/VNv2ms and prophesy and act as a prophet and prophesy 9
H5012-15 נִבָּ֑א niba HVNrmsa prophesying the one prophesying the one prophesying 8
H5012-28 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֔וּ vayitenabeu HC/Vtw3mp and they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves 6
H5012-14 מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים mitenabeim HVtrmpa are prophesying the ones acting as prophets the ones prophesying 5
H5012-27 וַ/יִּתְנַבֵּ֖א vayitenabe HC/Vtw3ms and he prophesied and he acted as a prophet and he prophesied as a prophet 5
H5012-22 תִּנָּבֵֽא tinave HVNi2ms prophesy you will act as a prophet you will prophesy 4
H5012-11 לְ/הִנָּבֵ֑א lehinave HR/VNc to prophesy to act as a prophet to prophesy 3

Occurrences in Scripture

115 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5012-28 Numbers 11:25 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ vayitenabeu HC/Vtw3mp they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves
H5012-28 Numbers 11:26 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ vayitenabeu HC/Vtw3mp they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves
H5012-14 Numbers 11:27 מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים mitenabeim HVtrmpa are prophesying the ones acting as prophets the ones prophesying
H5012-14 1 Samuel 10:5 מִֽתְנַבְּאִֽים mitenabeim HVtrmpa will be prophesying the ones acting as prophets the ones prophesying
H5012-31 1 Samuel 10:6 וְ/הִתְנַבִּ֖יתָ vehitenabita HC/Vtq2ms and you shall prophesy and you will act as a prophet and you will prophesy
H5012-27 1 Samuel 10:10 וַ/יִּתְנַבֵּ֖א vayitenabe HC/Vtw3ms and he prophesied and he acted as a prophet and he prophesied as a prophet
H5012-15 1 Samuel 10:11 נִבָּ֑א niba HVNrmsa prophesying the one prophesying the one prophesying
H5012-12 1 Samuel 10:13 מֵֽ/הִתְנַבּ֔וֹת mehitenabot HR/Vtc from prophesying from acting as a prophet from prophesying
H5012-27 1 Samuel 18:10 וַ/יִּתְנַבֵּ֣א vayitenabe HC/Vtw3ms and he raved and he acted as a prophet and he prophesied as a prophet
H5012-18 1 Samuel 19:20 נִבְּאִ֔ים nibeim HVNrmpa prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-28 1 Samuel 19:20 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ vayitenabeu HC/Vtw3mp and they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves
H5012-28 1 Samuel 19:21 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ vayitenabeu HC/Vtw3mp and they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves
H5012-28 1 Samuel 19:21 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ vayitenabeu-2 HC/Vtw3mp and they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves
H5012-27 1 Samuel 19:23 וַ/יִּתְנַבֵּ֔א vayitenabe HC/Vtw3ms and prophesied and he acted as a prophet and he prophesied as a prophet
H5012-27 1 Samuel 19:24 וַ/יִּתְנַבֵּ֤א vayitenabe HC/Vtw3ms and he prophesied and he acted as a prophet and he prophesied as a prophet
H5012-28 1 Kings 18:29 וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֔וּ vayitenabeu HC/Vtw3mp and they prophesied and they prophesied themselves and they prophesied themselves
H5012-36 1 Kings 22:8 יִתְנַבֵּ֨א yitenabe HVti3ms he prophesies he will act as a prophet he prophesies
H5012-14 1 Kings 22:10 מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים mitenabeim HVtrmpa were prophesying the ones acting as prophets the ones prophesying
H5012-18 1 Kings 22:12 נִבְּאִ֥ים nibeim HVNrmpa were prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-36 1 Kings 22:18 יִתְנַבֵּ֥א yitenabe HVti3ms he prophesy he will act as a prophet he will prophesy
H5012-20 Jeremiah 2:8 נִבְּא֣וּ nibeu HVNp3cp prophesied they acted as prophets they prophesied
H5012-20 Jeremiah 5:31 נִבְּא֣וּ nibeu HVNp3cp have prophesied they acted as prophets they prophesied
H5012-22 Jeremiah 11:21 תִנָּבֵא֙ tinave HVNi2ms you shall prophesy you will act as a prophet you will prophesy
H5012-18 Jeremiah 14:14 נִבְּאִ֣ים nibeim HVNrmpa are prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-14 Jeremiah 14:14 מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֥ים mitenabeim HVtrmpa are prophesying the ones acting as prophets the ones prophesying
H5012-07 Jeremiah 14:15 הַ/נִּבְּאִ֣ים hanibeim HTd/VNrmpa who prophesy the prophesying ones the prophesying ones
H5012-18 Jeremiah 14:16 נִבְּאִ֣ים nibeim HVNrmpa are prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-11 Jeremiah 19:14 לְ/הִנָּבֵ֑א lehinave HR/VNc to prophesy to act as a prophet to prophesy
H5012-15 Jeremiah 20:1 נִבָּ֖א niba HVNsmsa prophesying the one prophesying the one prophesying
H5012-19 Jeremiah 20:6 נִבֵּ֥אתָ nibeta HVNp2ms you have prophesied you acted as a prophet you prophesied
H5012-08 Jeremiah 23:13 הִנַּבְּא֣וּ hinabeu HVtp3cp they prophesied they acted as prophets they prophesied
H5012-07 Jeremiah 23:16 הַ/נִּבְּאִ֣ים hanibeim HTd/VNrmpa who prophesy the prophesying ones the prophesying ones
H5012-16 Jeremiah 23:21 נִבָּֽאוּ nibau HVNp3cp prophesied they acted as prophets they acted as prophets
H5012-07 Jeremiah 23:25 הַֽ/נִּבְּאִ֥ים hanibeim HTd/VNrmpa who prophesy the prophesying ones the prophesying ones
H5012-17 Jeremiah 23:26 נִבְּאֵ֣י nibeey HVNrmpc who prophesy the prophet-acting ones of the prophesying ones of
H5012-17 Jeremiah 23:32 נִבְּאֵ֞י nibeey HVNrmpc those who prophesy the prophet-acting ones of the prophesying ones of
H5012-15 Jeremiah 25:13 נִבָּ֥א niba HVNp3ms he-prophesied the one prophesying the one prophesying
H5012-22 Jeremiah 25:30 תִּנָּבֵ֣א tinave HVNi2ms prophesy you will act as a prophet you will prophesy
H5012-21 Jeremiah 26:9 נִבֵּ֨יתָ nibeyta HVNp2ms have you prophesied you acted as a prophet you acted as a prophet
H5012-15 Jeremiah 26:11 נִבָּא֙ niba HVNp3ms he has prophesied the one prophesying he has prophesied
H5012-11 Jeremiah 26:12 לְ/הִנָּבֵ֞א lehinave HR/VNc to-prophesy to act as a prophet to prophesy
H5012-15 Jeremiah 26:18 נִבָּ֔א niba HVNrmsa prophesying the one prophesying the one prophesying
H5012-13 Jeremiah 26:20 מִתְנַבֵּא֙ mitenabe HVtrmsa prophesying acting as a prophet prophesying
H5012-25 Jeremiah 26:20 וַ/יִּנָּבֵ֞א vayinave HC/VNw3ms and he prophesied and he acted as a prophet and he prophesied
H5012-18 Jeremiah 27:10 נִבְּאִ֣ים nibeim HVNrmpa are prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-18 Jeremiah 27:14 נִבְּאִ֥ים nibeim HVNrmpa are prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-18 Jeremiah 27:15 נִבְּאִ֥ים nibeim HVNrmpa are-prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
H5012-07 Jeremiah 27:15 הַֽ/נִּבְּאִ֥ים hanibeim HTd/VNrmpa who-are-prophesying the prophesying ones the prophesying ones
H5012-07 Jeremiah 27:16 הַֽ/נִּבְּאִ֤ים hanibeim HTd/VNrmpa who prophesy the prophesying ones the prophesying ones
H5012-18 Jeremiah 27:16 נִבְּאִ֥ים nibeim HVNrmpa are prophesying those acting as prophets those prophesying
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