Lexical Summary nebuah: prophesying Original Word: נְבוּאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prophesying (Aramaic) corresponding to nbuw'ah; inspired teaching -- prophesying. see HEBREW nbuw'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to nebuah Definition a prophesying NASB Translation prophesying (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נְבוּאָה] noun feminine prophesying; — construct נְבוּאַת Ezra 6:14. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope נְבוּאָה (Strong’s Hebrew 5017) denotes a spoken or written “prophecy,” the concrete expression of revelatory truth delivered through a prophet. Though the noun appears only once in the Old Testament, it draws on the rich semantic field of its verbal root נָבָא, “to prophesy,” and thereby stands as a concise summary term for divine communication that both reveals God’s will and summons His people to covenant faithfulness. Canonical Occurrence Ezra 6:14 contains the single attestation: “So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo” (Berean Standard Bible). The verse locates נְבוּאָה at a strategic hinge in redemptive history, linking prophetic proclamation to the physical rebuilding of the second Temple and the spiritual re-ordering of post-exilic Judah. Historical Setting 1. Post-exilic Judah (ca. 520 – 515 B.C.) faced political opposition, economic hardship, and spiritual lethargy following the decree of Cyrus that allowed the exiles to return (Ezra 1:1-4). Function in the Restoration Era • Motivational: Prophecy infused courage, enabling the elders to “build and prosper.” Relationship to the Prophetic Office Haggai and Zechariah exemplify complementary aspects of prophecy: – Haggai stresses practical obedience and temple priorities. – Zechariah widens the horizon to apocalyptic hope, messianic expectation, and ultimate cleansing (Zechariah 3:8-10; 6:12-13). Their shared ministry underscores that true נְבוּאָה upholds prior revelation while extending its implications to new historical contexts. Theology of Prophecy in Ezra 6:14 1. Divine Initiative: God remains the source; human prosperity hinges on receptivity to His voice. Ministry Lessons • Spiritual revival and practical success arise when God’s people place themselves under faithful exposition of His word. Christological Foreshadowing The restored Temple anticipates the incarnation of the true Temple, Jesus Christ (John 2:19-21). The coordinating role of נְבוּאָה in Ezra 6:14 prefigures the New Testament dynamic in which prophecy culminates “in His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2), who is both Messenger and Message. Practical Application for the Church 1. Build according to the Word: Every ministry initiative should flow from prayerful engagement with Scripture. Summary Though נְבוּאָה appears only once, its solitary placement powerfully illustrates the indispensable role of prophetic revelation in advancing God’s redemptive agenda. The rebuilding of the second Temple stands as historical proof that when God speaks, His people are enabled to act, His purposes move forward, and His glory fills the work of their hands. Forms and Transliterations בִּנְבוּאַת֙ בנבואת bin·ḇū·’aṯ binḇū’aṯ binvuAtLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:14 HEB: בָּנַ֣יִן וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין בִּנְבוּאַת֙ חַגַּ֣י [נְבִיאָה NAS: in building through the prophesying of Haggai KJV: and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai INT: building were successful the prophesying of Haggai prophet 1 Occurrence |