προφητεία (prophēteia)
prophēteia
prophecy
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun prophēteia refers to a message inspired by God that reveals His purposes. In the New Testament, it covers both the ancient predictions of Old Testament writers and the spontaneous utterances of Christian prophets. It is not merely foretelling future events; it includes declaring God’s will, offering comfort, or correcting wrong behavior through divine insight.
This term appears frequently in Revelation and Paul’s letters, such as 1 Corinthians 12:10 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. The sources highlight that it encompasses the spiritual gift itself, not just the spoken words. For instance, 2 Peter emphasizes that this prophecy did not originate from human will but came through holy men moved by the Holy Spirit.
Its root connects to speaking on behalf of another, reflecting the prophet’s role as a mouthpiece for God. The word carries weight in contexts like Revelation 19:10, where it is linked to the spirit of Jesus. It signifies a channel through which divine truth enters human history, bridging the gap between God’s hidden plans and His people’s understanding.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for prophecy here is far more than a list of future events. It describes a divine message that reveals God’s heart and purposes to His people. When we encounter this term, we are reminded that God actively speaks into our history, offering guidance, correction, and comfort through those He chooses to use as His mouthpieces.
In your own life, this truth invites you to listen closely to Scripture and the wise counsel of others. It is not about guessing what will happen next, but about trusting the One who holds the future. Whether in the ancient warnings of Isaiah or the fresh encouragement found in the early church, God’s voice remains clear, reliable, and full of grace for those who seek to understand it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- prophecy14×
- prophecy,1×
- prophecies,1×
- of prophecy.1×
- [there are] prophesies,1×
- Prophecies1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προφητείας8×
- προφητεία4×
- προφητείαν2×
- προφητεῖαι,1×
- προφητείᾳ1×
- προφητείας.¶1×
- προφητείας,1×
- προφητεία,1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 1:21
For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
This verse clarifies that true prophecy originates from the Holy Spirit moving human writers, rather than stemming from personal human opinion or invention.
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Revelation of John 19:10
I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.”
Here, prophecy is directly linked to the testimony of Jesus, showing that its ultimate purpose is to point believers toward Christ's truth and character.
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I Corinthians 14:22
Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
Paul distinguishes the function of prophecy as a sign specifically intended for believers, highlighting its role in building up the community of faith.
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II Peter 1:20
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.
This statement warns against treating Scripture as open to private interpretation, grounding the authority of prophetic words in their divine origin.