נְבוּאָה (ne.vu.ah)
ne.vu.ah
prophecy
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun nevu’ah refers to prophecy or prophetic writing in the Hebrew Bible. It appears only three times, primarily in the post-exilic books of II Chronicles and Nehemiah. In these contexts, it distinguishes between genuine messages from God and false ones, marking a time when the community was carefully evaluating the authenticity of their spiritual leaders.
Unlike earlier terms that might emphasize the act of speaking, nevu’ah often points to the written record or the specific content of what was declared. The sources note it can mean either true prophecy or false prophecy, depending on the context. This reflects a period where discernment was crucial for the restored community in Jerusalem.
The word’s rarity highlights its specialized use in these later texts. It serves as a technical term for the prophetic tradition as it was being preserved and assessed. Its presence in Nehemiah underscores the importance of written authority in maintaining religious identity after the exile.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nevu’ah appears rarely in Scripture, yet its context reveals a vital lesson for believers today. In the post-exilic period, when Israel was rebuilding its identity, this term distinguished between genuine divine messages and false claims. It reminds us that spiritual authority requires careful discernment, not just enthusiasm or popularity.
When Nehemiah faced opposition, he recognised that some so-called prophecies were hired lies rather than God’s voice. This encourages us to test every teaching against the character of God and the witness of Scripture. True prophecy aligns with truth and brings courage; false words often serve selfish agendas or fear.
As you study the Bible, let this word deepen your trust in God’s reliable Word. May you find peace in knowing that God speaks clearly through His chosen messengers, guiding His people with wisdom and grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ prophecy1×
- and/ the/ prophecy of1×
- [the] prophecy of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נְבוּאַ֞ת1×
- וְ/הַ/נְּבוּאָה֮1×
- הַ/נְּבוּאָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 6:12
I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
This verse shows the word used critically to expose a hired false prophet, highlighting the need for discernment in spiritual matters.
-
II Chronicles 15:8
When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed Yahweh’s altar that was before Yahweh’s porch.
Here, the prophecy of Oded encourages King Asa to act courageously in removing idolatry, demonstrating how true prophecy inspires reform.
-
II Chronicles 9:29
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
This reference lists nevu’ah alongside other historical records, showing it as a formal category of prophetic writing preserved for future generations.