Prophet Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Etymology == The English word ''[[wiktionary:prophet|prophet]]'' is the [[transliteration]] of a compound [[Greek language|Greek]] word derived from ''pro'' (before/toward) and ''phesein'' (to tell); thus, a [[wiktionary:προφήτης|προφήτης]] (''prophḗtēs'') is someone who conveys messages from the divine to humans, including occasionally foretelling future events. In a different interpretation, it means [[advocacy|advocate]] or [[public speaking|speaker]]. It is used to translate the Hebrew word נָבִיא (''nāvî'') in the Septuagint and the Arabic word نبي (''nabī''). [[W.F. Albright]] points to the Akkadian [[Nabu]] for the origin of these Hebrew (נָבִיא (''nāvî'') and the Arabic نبي (''nabī'') words.<ref>https://www.jstor.org/stable/43721226</ref> The Akkadian ''nabû'' means "announcer" or "authorised person",<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Richter |first=Thomas |title=Nabû |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/nabu-e815710 |encyclopedia=Brill’s New Pauly |publisher=Brill |year=2006 |access-date=2022-10-14}}</ref> derived from the [[Semitic root]] {{smallcaps|n-b-y}} or {{smallcaps|nbʾ}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Semitic Roots Appendix |url=https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/semitic.html |website=The American Heritage Dictionary |access-date=6 December 2019 |quote=nbʾ To name, proclaim, summon."}}</ref> It is cognate with {{lang-syc|[[:Wiktionary:ܢܒܝܐ|ܢܒܝܐ]]|nəḇiyyā}}, {{lang-ar|[[:Wiktionary:نبي|نبي]]|nabiyy}}, and {{lang-he|[[:Wiktionary:נביא|נביא]]|nāḇi}},<ref>p.1571, Alcalay. An alternative translation of this Hebrew word is derived from an Akkadian word "Nabu," meaning to call. The Hebrew "Navi" has a passive sense and means "the one who has been called" (see HALOT, p.661).</ref> all meaning 'prophet'. In [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], the word נָבִיא (''nāvî''), "spokesperson", traditionally translates as "prophet". The second subdivision of the [[Tanakh]], [[Nevi'im]], is devoted to the Hebrew prophets. The meaning of ''navi'' is perhaps described in [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] 18:18,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|18:18|105}}</ref> where [[God]] said, "...and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Thus, a ''navi'' was thought to be the "mouth" of God. A Jewish tradition was that the root [[Nun (letter)|nun]]-[[Bet (letter)|bet]]-[[Aleph|alef]] ("navi") is based on the two-letter root nun-bet which denotes hollowness or openness; to receive transcendental wisdom, one must make oneself "open".<ref>[[Rashbam]]'s comment to [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 20:7.{{Bibleverse||Genesis|20:7|105}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page