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προφῆτις

prophētis

G4398 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A woman who functions as a spokesperson or intermediary for a deity, delivering oracles, inspired utterances, or declarations regarded as divinely sourced; most often, a female figure recognized as receiving and communicating divine messages. In different contexts, may refer to women who interpret dreams, proclaim divine will, admonish, or play a recognized role in religious ritual through inspired speech.

Semantic Range

female spokesperson for a deity, woman inspired to declare divine messages, female interpreter of dreams or oracles, priestess with prophetic role, inspired teacher or proclaimer

Root / Etymology

From the root προφητ- (prophēt-), meaning to speak before or on behalf of (from πρό 'before' + φημί 'to speak'), with the feminine suffix -ις. Formed as the grammatical feminine of προφήτης (prophetēs).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature, προφῆτις describes any woman acknowledged as a mouthpiece for the gods, such as the Pythia at Delphi or priestesses at religious centers. In Hellenistic and Greco-Roman contexts, it retains this broad function, sometimes overlapping with seeress or inspired interpreter. In the Septuagint, it represents Hebrew נְבִיאָה (nəvî’āh), female prophet, notably applied to Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah — women recognized as bearers of divine speech or instruction among Israelites. In the New Testament, the term is applied to Anna (Luke 2:36) and to women in the early Christ-movement acknowledged for inspired speaking (e.g., Acts 21:9). The English 'prophetess' tradition reflects only part of the semantic range, as προφῆτις could denote not merely foretelling but also inspired proclamation, instruction, or leadership. Distinct from μάντις (mantis, 'seer'), which emphasizes divinatory vision rather than inspired speech; in cultic settings, functions sometimes overlap but titles often designate social roles as much as method. The term's nuance may shift depending on whether cultural focus is on ecstatic trance, wisdom, or official religious function.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of προφήτης; a female foreteller or an inspired woman:--prophetess.

Root Family

προφῆτις (prophētis) — to speak forth, to proclaim, to declare on behalf of a deity

Root προφητ- to speak forth, to proclaim, to declare on behalf of (someone, often a deity)

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4398-02 προφῆτις prophetis N NOM F SG a prophetess female divine spokesperson female divine spokesperson 1
G4398-01 προφῆτιν prophetin N ACC F SG a prophetess a female divine spokesperson a female prophet 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4398-02 Luke 2:36 προφῆτις prophetis N NOM F SG a prophetess female divine spokesperson female divine spokesperson
G4398-01 Revelation 2:20 προφῆτιν prophetin N ACC F SG a prophetess a female divine spokesperson a female prophet
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