"pr. a spokesman for another; spc. a spokesman or interpreter for a deity; a prophet, seer, Tit. 1:12; in NT a prophet, a divinely commissioned and inspired person, Mt. 14:5; Lk. 7:16, 39; Jn. 9:17; a prophet in the Christian church, a person gifted for the exposition of divine tr..."
Definition and meaning
pr. a spokesman for another; spc. a spokesman or interpreter for a deity; a prophet, seer, Tit. 1:12; in NT a prophet, a divinely commissioned and inspired person, Mt. 14:5; Lk. 7:16, 39; Jn. 9:17; a prophet in the Christian church, a person gifted for the exposition of divine truth, 1 Cor. 12:28, 29; a prophet, a foreteller of the future, Mt. 1:22, et al. freq.; οἱ προφῆται, the prophetic scriptures of the Old Testament, Lk. 16:29
In the original Greek the word is written: προφήτης
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 prophetes (G4396) across the King James Bible.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
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Common questions
Strong's G4396 (prophetes) is a Greek word that means: pr. a spokesman for another; spc. a spokesman or interpreter for a deity; a prophet, seer, Tit. 1:12; in NT a prophet, a divinely commissioned and inspired person, Mt. 14:5; Lk. 7:16, 39; Jn. 9:17; a ... It appears 143 times in the King James Bible.
The word prophetes (G4396) appears 143 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4396 is prophetes, a Greek word defined as: pr. a spokesman for another; spc. a spokesman or interpreter for a deity; a prophet, seer, Tit. 1:12; in NT a prophet, a divinely commissioned and ins. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
prophetes is a Greek word found in the New Testament.