Lexicon
προφητεία
prophēteia
G4394
G:N-F Greek

prophecy

19
Occurrences
7
Books
Greek
Language

Propheteia denotes a prophetic ministry or message, including words received, spoken, kept, or recorded in Scripture.

The term most often names a prophetic ministry or communication within the community, set alongside gifts, teaching, revelation, and knowledge. It also identifies prophetic words as scriptural or book-bound material to be read, heard, kept, and not altered, and appears in statements about the activity and testimony associated with prophecy.

Senses in use

  1. Prophetic ministry or communication · dominant

    In 1 Corinthians 12:10, the nominative singular occurs in a list of different allotments, while 1 Corinthians 14:6 places the dative singular alongside revelation, knowledge, and teaching as speech that could benefit the hearers. The plural in 1 Thessalonians 5:20 is not to be rejected, and 1 Timothy 1:18 speaks of plural messages previously made about Timothy that frame his charge.

  2. Prophetic words as scriptural or book material · common

    Matthew 13:14 identifies a singular prophecy as fulfilled and introduces what Isaiah says. In 2 Peter 1:20, the APB renders the clause "no prophecy of scripture comes of one's own explanation," while Revelation 1:3 and Revelation 22:18 describe words of prophecy that are read, heard, kept, and protected from addition.

  3. Prophetic activity and its testimony · occasional

    In Revelation 11:6, the genitive singular marks the days during which two figures exercise authority. In Revelation 19:10, the APB renders a statement equating "the testimony of Jesus" with "the spirit of prophecy"; the precise contribution of the noun within that expression is less isolated by the translation.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the noun with "prophecy" or "prophecies," and in 1 Timothy 4:14 uses "a prophetic message." Because the English is a whole-verse translation, these renderings confirm the clauses' presentation but do not by themselves define each occurrence.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture