"prophecy, a prediction of future events, Mt. 13:14; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; prophecy, a gifted faculty of setting forth and enforcing revealed truth, 1 Cor. 12:10; 13:2; prophecy, matter of divine teaching set forth by special gift, 1 Tim. 1:18"
Definition and meaning
prophecy, a prediction of future events, Mt. 13:14; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; prophecy, a gifted faculty of setting forth and enforcing revealed truth, 1 Cor. 12:10; 13:2; prophecy, matter of divine teaching set forth by special gift, 1 Tim. 1:18
In the original Greek the word is written: προφητεία
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of propheteia (G4394) across the King James Bible.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Despise not prophesyings.
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
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Common questions
Strong's G4394 (propheteia) is a Greek word that means: prophecy, a prediction of future events, Mt. 13:14; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; prophecy, a gifted faculty of setting forth and enforcing revealed truth, 1 Cor. 12:10; 13:2; prophecy, matter of divine teaching s... It appears 19 times in the King James Bible.
The word propheteia (G4394) appears 19 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4394 is propheteia, a Greek word defined as: prophecy, a prediction of future events, Mt. 13:14; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; prophecy, a gifted faculty of setting forth and enforcing revealed truth, 1 Cor. . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
propheteia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.