Greek · G4395 · unreviewed

προφητεύω

To prophesy

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προφητεύω G4395

Pronunciation prophēteúō

What does προφητεύω (prophēteúō) mean in the Bible?

προφητεύω (prophēteúō) is a Greek word meaning "to prophesy". προφητεύω (προφήτης), [in LXX chiefly for נָבָא ni.

Full entry for προφητεύω (G4395) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to prophesy

Extended definition

Speaking forth divine counsel and truth, not merely predicting the future as primary purpose

(προφήτης), [in LXX chiefly for נָבָא ni., hith. ;] to be a προφήτης (which see), to prophesy: in the primary sense of telling forth the Divine counsels, Mat.7:22 26:68, Mrk.14:65, Luk.1:67 22:64, Act.19:6, 1Co.11:4-5 13:9 14:1 14:3-5 14:24 14:31 14:39, Heb.11:3; with the idea of foretelling future events (an idea merely incidental, not essential; see Lft., Notes, 83 f.), Mat.11:13, Act.2:17-18" (LXX) Act.21:9; before περί, Mat.15:7, Mrk.7:6, 1Pe.1:10; ἐπί, with dative, Rev.10:11; λέγων, Ju 14; ὅτι, Jhn.11:51.

Synonymsμαντεύομαι, q.v

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Present Future Imperfect

Voices

Active

Indicative states a fact or reality 12×

Aorist Active Matt 15:7 · Mark 7:6 · Luke 1:67 · John 11:51 · Jude 1:14 · Matt 7:22 · Matt 11:13 7×

Future Active Acts 2:17 · Acts 2:18 · Rev 11:3 3×

Imperfect Active Acts 19:6 1×

Present Active 1 Cor 13:9 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 7×

Present Active 1 Cor 11:4 · 1 Cor 14:3 · 1 Cor 14:4 · 1 Cor 14:5 · Acts 21:9 · 1 Cor 11:5 6×

Aorist Active 1 Pet 1:10 1×

Imperative command or strong request 3×

Aorist Active Matt 26:68 · Mark 14:65 · Luke 22:64 3×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×

Present Active 1 Cor 14:1 · 1 Cor 14:5 · 1 Cor 14:24 3×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×

Present Active 1 Cor 14:31 · 1 Cor 14:39 2×

Aorist Active Rev 10:11 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 26 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 7 ongoing 1 prospective 3 imperative 3 background 1 subjunctive 3 infinitive 3 participle 5

Tense

aorist 12 present 10 future 3 imperfect 1

Voice

active 26

Mood

indicative 12 participle 5 subjunctive 3 infinitive 3 imperative 3

NT Occurrences

Matthew 7:22 ἐπροφητεύσαμεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 11:13 ἐπροφήτευσαν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 15:7 ἐπροφήτευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 26:68 Προφήτευσον aorist active imperative imperative Mark 7:6 ἐπροφήτευσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 14:65 Προφήτευσον aorist active imperative imperative Luke 1:67 ἐπροφήτευσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 22:64 Προφήτευσον aorist active imperative imperative John 11:51 ἐπροφήτευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 2:17 προφητεύσουσιν future active indicative prospective Acts 2:18 προφητεύσουσιν future active indicative prospective Acts 19:6 ἐπροφήτευον imperfect active indicative background Acts 21:9 προφητεύουσαι present active participle participle 1 Corinthians 13:9 προφητεύομεν present active indicative ongoing 1 Corinthians 14:1 προφητεύητε present active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Corinthians 14:24 προφητεύωσιν present active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Corinthians 14:3 προφητεύων present active participle participle 1 Corinthians 14:31 προφητεύειν present active infinitive infinitive 1 Corinthians 14:39 προφητεύειν present active infinitive infinitive 1 Corinthians 14:4 προφητεύων present active participle participle 1 Corinthians 14:5 προφητεύητε present active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Corinthians 14:5 προφητεύων present active participle participle 1 Peter 1:10 προφητεύσαντες aorist active participle participle Jude 1:14 Προεφήτευσεν aorist active indicative completed Revelation 10:11 προφητεῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Revelation 11:3 προφητεύσουσιν future active indicative prospective

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 prophesy prophēteúō Participle · Present Active

Speaking forth divine truth for edification, exhortation, and comfort of believers

1 Corinthians 14:20-25 prophesy prophēteúō Subjunctive · Present Active

Revealing hidden thoughts and convicting unbelievers through declaration of divine counsel

1 Corinthians 11:2-6 prophesies prophēteúō Participle · Present Active

Speaking forth with divine authority in assembled worship, addressing community practices

1 Corinthians 14:36-40 prophesy prophēteúō Infinitive · Present Active

Exercising spiritual gift in orderly manner with ecclesiastical regulation and control

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 21 — Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus Luke 22 — The Passover Betrayal, the New Covenant Meal, and the Suffering Servant King Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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