Definition and Scope:
To foretell is to predict or declare a future event before it occurs. In the biblical context, foretelling is often associated with prophecy, where individuals, known as prophets, are divinely inspired to reveal God's will and future events to His people. This act of foretelling is a significant aspect of biblical narrative and theology, serving as a means through which God communicates His plans, warnings, and promises.

Biblical Examples of Foretelling:

1. Old Testament Prophets:
The Old Testament is replete with instances of foretelling through the prophets. These prophets were chosen by God to deliver His messages to Israel and other nations. For example, Isaiah foretold the coming of the Messiah, saying, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Similarly, Jeremiah prophesied the Babylonian exile and the subsequent return of the Israelites (Jeremiah 25:11-12).

2. Messianic Prophecies:
The foretelling of the coming of Jesus Christ is a central theme in the Old Testament. Prophets like Micah predicted the birthplace of the Messiah, stating, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me one to be ruler over Israel" (Micah 5:2). These prophecies were fulfilled in the New Testament, affirming the reliability of divine foretelling.

3. New Testament Fulfillment:
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself engaged in foretelling. He predicted His own death and resurrection, saying, "The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life" (Matthew 17:22-23). Jesus also foretold the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred in AD 70 (Matthew 24:1-2).

4. The Book of Revelation:
The Apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, provides a series of prophetic visions concerning the end times. These visions include the foretelling of the final judgment, the return of Christ, and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-4). This apocalyptic literature serves as a culmination of biblical prophecy, offering hope and assurance of God's ultimate plan for humanity.

Purpose and Significance:
Foretelling in the Bible serves multiple purposes. It acts as a testament to God's sovereignty and omniscience, demonstrating that He is in control of history and the future. Prophecies often come with calls to repentance and faithfulness, urging God's people to align with His will. Additionally, fulfilled prophecies validate the truth of Scripture and the authenticity of God's messengers.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The ability to foretell is attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers prophets to speak God's truth. As Peter writes, "For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). This divine inspiration ensures that the messages delivered are accurate and authoritative.

Warnings Against False Prophets:
The Bible also warns against false prophets who claim to foretell events without divine sanction. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22, God provides criteria for discerning true prophets from false ones, emphasizing that a true prophet's predictions will come to pass. Jesus reiterated this warning, cautioning His followers to be vigilant against those who would deceive (Matthew 24:24).

Conclusion:
The concept of foretelling is integral to understanding the biblical narrative and God's interaction with humanity. Through prophecy, God reveals His plans, calls His people to righteousness, and assures them of His ultimate victory over sin and death.1. (v. t.) To predict; to prophesy; to foreshow.

2. (v. i.) To utter predictions.

FORETELL; FORETOLD

for-tel', for-told': The King James Version occurrences of these words in the New Testament represent as many Greek terms, and are in each case rendered differently in Revised Version:

(1) Mark 13:23 (proeipon), the Revised Version (British and American) "told beforehand";

(2) Acts 3:24 (prokataggello), the Revised Version (British and American) simply "told";

(3) 2 Corinthians 13:2 (prolego), the Revised Version (British and American) "said beforehand," margin "plainly"; compare 1 Thessalonians 3:4.

The foretelling of future events is claimed in the Old Testament as a prerogative of Yahweh (Isaiah 41:22, 23; Isaiah 42:9, etc.; compare Deuteronomy 18:22).

See PROPHECY.

4395. propheteuo -- to foretell, tell forth, prophesy
... to foretell, tell forth, prophesy. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: propheteuo
Phonetic Spelling: (prof-ate-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I foretell, prophesy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4395.htm - 8k

4280. proereo -- foretell, say before.
... 4279, 4280. proereo. 4281 . foretell, say before. Part of ... predict, foretell.
Word Origin fut. of proeipon, qv. foretell, say before. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4280.htm - 6k

4302. prolego -- to say beforehand, ie to predict
... foretell, tell before. From pro and lego; to say beforehand, ie Predict, forewarn --
foretell, tell before. see GREEK pro. see GREEK lego. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4302.htm - 7k

4293. prokataggello -- to announce beforehand
... foretell, have notice, show before. From pro and kataggello; to anounce beforehand,
ie Predict, promise -- foretell, have notice, (shew) before. see GREEK pro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4293.htm - 7k

4283. proeuaggelizomai -- to announce good news beforehand
... Spelling: (pro-yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I preach the gospel
beforehand Definition: I preach the gospel beforehand, foretell good tidings. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4283.htm - 7k

4277 -- forewarn, say before
... before. Part of Speech: Verb Phonetic Spelling: (pro-ep'-o) Short Definition: I
say previously, predict Definition: I say previously, predict, proclaim, foretell ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4277.htm - 6k

Whether the Prophets of the Demons ever Foretell the Truth?
... OF THE CAUSE OF PROPHECY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the prophets of the demons ever
foretell the truth? ... Therefore it would seem that they never foretell the truth. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the prophets of the.htm

Wherefore if they Pretend to Foretell the Future...
... Life of Antony. Section 31. Wherefore if they pretend to foretell the future?
31. Wherefore if they pretend to foretell the future ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 31.htm

The Old Testament Scriptures, and those Written by Moses in ...
... IV Chapter X."The Old Testament Scriptures, and those written by Moses in particular,
do everywhere make mention of the Son of God, and foretell His advent ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter x the old testament scriptures.htm

Whether we Ought to Distinguish Several Species of Divination?
... counsel and help of a demon, who is either expressly called upon to give his help,
or else thrusts himself in secretly, in order to foretell certain future ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we ought to distinguish.htm

Past and Future Times Cannot be Thought of but as Present.
... foretold. Which conceptions again now are, and they who foretell those
things behold these conceptions present before them. Let ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xviii past and future times.htm

Whether Divination is a Sin?
... and always; and such like future effects can be foreknown and foretold with certainty,
from considering their causes, even as astrologers foretell a coming ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether divination is a sin.htm

Again on the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xi. 25, "I Thank Thee, O ...
... planets, the movements [2292] of the heavenly bodies, so as to arrive by certain
[2293] calculations to that degree of knowledge as to foretell the eclipses of ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xviii again on the.htm

On Kings.
... How then, says he, did he foretell the calamities that were to befall Saul
and Jonathan at the same time? He did foretell indeed ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on kings.htm

Permit Me, Lord, to Seek Further. ...
... foretold. Which fore-conceptions again now are; and those who foretell those
things, do behold the conceptions present before them. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xviii permit me lord.htm

Thus in Days Gone by Arose the Oracles of the Greeks...
... For they know nothing of themselves, but, like thieves, what they get to know from
others they pass on, and guess at rather than foretell things. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 33.htm

Foretell (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To utter predictions. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FORETELL; FORETOLD. ...
See PROPHECY. Multi-Version Concordance Foretell (4 Occurrences). ...
/f/foretell.htm - 9k

Divine (39 Occurrences)
... 11. (vt) To foretell; to predict; to presage. 12. ... 13. (vi) To use or practice divination;
to foretell by divination; to utter prognostications. 14. ...
/d/divine.htm - 19k

Augur (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (vi) To anticipate, to foretell, or to indicate a favorable or an unfavorable
issue; as, to augur well or ill. 5. (vt) To predict ...
/a/augur.htm - 7k

Foretold (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Foretell. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. FORETELL; FORETOLD. for-tel', for-told': The ...
/f/foretold.htm - 13k

Jambres (2 Occurrences)
... have withstood Moses 40 years previously at the court of Pharaoh, to whom it was
also said, they so interpreted a dream of that king, as to foretell the birth ...
/j/jambres.htm - 11k

Jannes (2 Occurrences)
... have withstood Moses 40 years previously at the court of Pharaoh, to whom it was
also said, they so interpreted a dream of that king, as to foretell the birth ...
/j/jannes.htm - 10k

Foretells (1 Occurrence)

/f/foretells.htm - 6k

Foretaste (4 Occurrences)

/f/foretaste.htm - 8k

Predict (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as,
to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet. 2. (n.) A prediction. ...
/p/predict.htm - 7k

Prophesy (96 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To foretell by divine inspiration; to predict;
to prognosticate. 2. (vt) To foreshow; to herald; to prefigure. ...
/p/prophesy.htm - 38k

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