Laur, 'Die Prophetennamen des A.T.', Fribourg, 1903, 14-38). Judging from a comparative examination of the cognate words in Hebrew and the other Semitic tongues, it is at least equally probable that the original meaning was merely: to speak, to utter words (cf. According to many recent critics, the root nabî, not employed in Hebrew, signified to speak enthusiastically, 'to utter cries, and make more or less wild gestures', like the pagan mantics. (2) The Hebrew Names The ordinary Hebrew for prophet is nabî'.

Prophecy, in general, signifies the supernatural message of the Prophet, and more especially, from custom, the predictive element of the prophetic message. He had to maintain and develop the knowledge of the Old Law among the Chosen People, lead them back when they strayed, and gradually prepare the way for the new kingdom of God, which the messias was to establish on earth. His mission consisted in preaching as well as in foretelling. (1) General Idea The Hebrew Prophet was not merely, as the word commonly implies, a man enlightened by God to foretell events he was the interpreter and supernaturally enlightened herald sent by Yahweh to communicate His will and designs to Israel. For the absence of other oracles, the Chosen People were indeed more than compensated by a gift unique in the annals of mankind, to wit, the gift of prophecy and the prophetic office. In their times it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath wrought' ( Numbers 23:23). Speaking of orthodox Yahweism, Balaam could truthfully say 'There is no soothsaying in Jacob, nor divination in Israel. If, for a time, he consented to reply by Urim and Thummim (apparently a species of sacred lots which the high-priest carried in the cincture of his ephod, and consulted at the request of the public authorities in matters of graver moment), yet He always abominated those who had recourse to divination and magic, practiced augury and enchantment, trusted in charms, consulted soothsayers or wizards, or interrogate the spirits of the dead ( Deuteronomy 18:9 sqq.). Yahweh had forbidden Israel all kinds of oracles in vogue among the pagans. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more all for only $19.99. Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download.

Prophets in the bible timeline