Lexical Summary prophétés: Prophet Original Word: προφήτης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prophet. From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet -- prophet. see GREEK pro see GREEK phemi HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4396 prophḗtēs (from 4253 /pró, "beforehand" and 5346 /phēmí, "elevating/asserting one idea over another, especially through the spoken-word") – properly, one who speaks forth by the inspiration of God; a prophet. See 4394 (prophēteia). A prophet (4396 /prophḗtēs) declares the mind (message) of God, which sometimes predicts the future (foretelling) – and more commonly, speaks forth His message for a particular situation. 4396 /prophḗtēs ("a prophet") then is someone inspired by God to foretell or tell-forth (forthtell) the Word of God. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a comp. of pro and phémi Definition a prophet (an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will) NASB Translation prophet (63), prophets (81). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4396: προφήτηςπροφήτης, προφήτου, ὁ (προφημι, to speak forth, speak out; hence, properly, 'one who speaks forth'; see πρό, d. ἆ.), the Sept. for נָבִיא (which comes from the same root as I. In Greek writings from Aeschylus, Herodotus, and Pindar down: 1. an interpreter of oracles (whether uttered by the gods or the μάντεις), or of other hidden things. 2. a foreteller, soothsayer, seer. II. In the N. T. 1. "one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence, his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially future events, and in p*articular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation. The title is applied to a. the O. T. prophets" — and with allusion to their age, life, death, deeds: Matthew 5:12; Matthew 12:39; Matthew 13:17; Matthew 23:29-31; Mark 6:15; Luke 4:27; Luke 10:24; Luke 11:47; Luke 13:28; John 8:52, 55 Acts 3:25; Acts 7:52; Acts 13:20; Romans 11:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Hebrews 11:32; James 5:10; appeal is made to their utterances as having foretold the kingdom, deeds, death, of Jesus the Messiah: Matthew 1:22; Matthew 2:5, 15, 17, 23; Matthew 3:3; Matthew 4:14; Matthew 8:17; Matthew 11:13; Matthew 12:17; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 21:4; Matthew 24:15; Matthew 26:56; Matthew 27:9; Mark 13:14 Rec.; Luke 1:70; Luke 3:4; Luke 4:17; Luke 18:31; Luke 24:25; John 1:23, 45(46); b. John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah: Matthew 21:26; Mark 6:15; Mark 11:32; Luke 1:76; Luke 20:6, whom Jesus declares to be greater than the O. T. prophets, because in him the hope of the Jews respecting Elijah as the forerunner of the Messiah was fulfilled: Matthew 11:9-11, 14 (cf. Matthew 17:11, 12; Mark 9:12f); Luke 7:28 (R G T Tr brackets). c. That illustrious prophet whom the Jews (apparently on the ground of Deuteronomy 18:15) expected to arise just before the Messiah's advent: John 1:21, 25; John 7:40. those two illustrious prophets, the one Elijah, the other Enoch or Moses (but compare the commentaries; e. g. Stuart, commentary vol. ii, p. 219f), who according to the writer of the Apocalypse will publicly appear shortly before the visible return of Christ from heaven: Revelation 11:10 (cf. 3). d. the Messiah: Acts 3:22, 23; Acts 7:37, after Deuteronomy 18:15; Jesus the Messiah, inasmuch as he is about to fulfil the expectation respecting this Messiah, Matthew 21:11; John 6:14. e. universally, "a man filled with the Spirit of God, who by God's authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges the salvation of men": Matthew 21:46; Luke 13:33; Luke 24:19; John 7:52; in the proverb that a prophet is without honor in his own country, Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44. he may be known — now by his supernatural knowledge of hidden things (even though past), Luke 7:39; John 4:19 (προφήτης ἀληθείας ἐστιν ὁ πάντοτε πάντα εἰδώς, τά μέν γεγοντα ὡς ἐγένετο, τά δέ γινόμενα ὡς γίνεται, τά δέ σεομενα ὡς ἔσται, Clement, hom. 2, 6) — now by his power of working miracles, Luke 7:16; Luke 24:19; John 9:17; such g prophet Jesus is shown to have been by the passages cited, nor is it denied except by his enemies, Luke 7:39; John 7:52. f. The prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among the Christians: Matthew 10:41; Matthew 23:34; Acts 15:32; 1 Corinthians 14:29, 37; Revelation 22:6, 9; they are associated with apostles in Luke 11:49; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11; Revelation 18:20; they discerned and did what was best for the Christian cause, Acts 13:1f; foretold certain future events, Acts 11:27; Acts 21:10ff; and in the religious assemblies of the Christians, being suddenly seized by the Spirit (whose promptings, however, do not impair their self-government, 1 Corinthians 14:32), give utterance in glowing and exalted but intelligible language to those things which the Holy Spirit teaches them, and which have power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, stimulate, their hearers, 1 Corinthians 14:3, 24. (Cf. Harnack, Lehre der Zwölf Apostel, Proleg. § 5 i. 2, p. 93ff, 119ff; Bonwetsch in (Luthardt's) Zeitschr. f. kirchl. Wissen. as above with 1884, pp. 408ff, 460ff) g. Prophets both of the Old Testament and of the New Testament are grouped together under the name προφῆται in Revelation 11:18; Revelation 16:6; Revelation 18:24. 2. a poet (because poets were believed to sing under divine inspiration): so of Epimenides, Titus 1:12. The term refers to one who speaks forth the message of God under divine impulse. In the New Testament it embraces historic prophets of Israel, John the Baptist (Luke 7:26), the Lord Jesus as the promised “Prophet like Moses” (Acts 3:22), and Spirit-gifted messengers active in the early church (Acts 13:1; Ephesians 4:11). Old Testament Background Although the word itself is Greek, New Testament writers consistently connect it to the Hebrew prophetic tradition. Jesus explains that “all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John” (Matthew 11:13), underlining continuity between the covenants. Luke 1:70 recalls that God “spoke through His holy prophets of old,” while Hebrews 1:1 summarizes the age-long method: “God spoke to our fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways.” Prophets in the Life and Ministry of Jesus 1. Jesus as Fulfillment. New Testament authors repeatedly cite prophetic texts to demonstrate that events in Christ’s life “happened that the word spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled” (Matthew 2:15; 4:14; 12:17; 21:4; 26:56). Prophets in the Early Church Acts portrays prophets as essential to congregational life. Agabus foretells famine (Acts 11:27-28) and Paul’s imprisonment (Acts 21:10-11). Judas and Silas, “themselves prophets,” strengthen believers with “a lengthy message” (Acts 15:32). Antioch’s leadership features prophets and teachers together (Acts 13:1). Paul ranks the gift directly after apostleship: “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets” (1 Corinthians 12:28). Prophets receive and weigh revelations in gathered worship (1 Corinthians 14:29-32); they must submit to apostolic doctrine (1 Corinthians 14:37). Ephesians 2:20 places prophets, with apostles, as foundational to the household of God, while Ephesians 3:5 says the mystery of Christ was “revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.” Distinctive Functions • Foretelling: Specific predictive messages (Acts 11:28; 21:11). Testimony to Christ Peter affirms, “All the prophets testify about Him” (Acts 10:43). The collective witness culminates in the suffering Messiah (Acts 3:18, 24) and the promise of restoration (Acts 3:21). Revelation pictures the consummation: “The mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7). Honor and Persecution Prophets are honored for faithfulness yet often suffer rejection. Jesus warns, “You bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets” (Matthew 23:31). Believers facing opposition are encouraged: “Remember the patience of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10). Heavenly reward awaits: “Rejoice and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven; for this is how their fathers treated the prophets” (Luke 6:23). Eschatological Witness Revelation depicts two prophetic witnesses whose ministry precedes Christ’s return (Revelation 11:3-10) and celebrates final vindication: “Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has judged for you against her” (Revelation 18:20). The book closes declaring that the words of the prophecy must not be sealed, for “the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place” (Revelation 22:6). Examples of New Testament Usage Matthew 5:17; 10:41; 23:37 Luke 16:29-31; 24:25 John 1:45; 7:52 Acts 3:24; 13:40; 28:23 Romans 1:2; 3:21 Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:11 Revelation 11:10; 22:9 Application for Today The prophetic office, whether embodied in scriptural writers or in Spirit-empowered exhorters, directs God’s people to covenant faithfulness and to Christ Himself. Modern ministry that claims the prophetic mantle must be tested by conformity to canonical revelation (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) and by fruit that glorifies God. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:22 N-GMSGRK: διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος NAS: by the Lord through the prophet: KJV: the Lord by the prophet, saying, INT: through the prophet saying Matthew 2:5 N-GMS Matthew 2:15 N-GMS Matthew 2:17 N-GMS Matthew 2:23 N-GMP Matthew 3:3 N-GMS Matthew 4:14 N-GMS Matthew 5:12 N-AMP Matthew 5:17 N-AMP Matthew 7:12 N-NMP Matthew 8:17 N-GMS Matthew 10:41 N-AMS Matthew 10:41 N-GMS Matthew 10:41 N-GMS Matthew 11:9 N-AMS Matthew 11:9 N-GMS Matthew 11:13 N-NMP Matthew 12:17 N-GMS Matthew 12:39 N-GMS Matthew 13:17 N-NMP Matthew 13:35 N-GMS Matthew 13:57 N-NMS Matthew 14:5 N-AMS Matthew 16:14 N-GMP Matthew 21:4 N-GMS Strong's Greek 4396 |
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