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נְבוּאָה

𐤍𐤁𐤅𐤀𐤄

nᵉbûwʼâh

H5016 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נבא to prophesy, to speak as a prophet, to declare under inspiration

Definition

An inspired declaration or message attributed to divine origin, particularly as delivered through an individual recognized as a nabi ('prophet'). While commonly referring to a spoken or written communication claiming to reveal divine will or foretell future events, the term encompasses both proclamation of divine instruction and prediction of future occurrences. The semantic range includes individual prophetic utterances, collections or bodies of such speech, and the practice or activity associated with delivering prophetic messages.

Semantic Range

prophecy (inspired message), prophetic utterance, proclamation of divine will, prediction, written record of prophecy, the activity or practice of prophesying

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root נבא (n-b-ʼ), meaning 'to prophesy, declare as a prophet, speak under divine inspiration.' The form נְבוּאָה (nebûʼâh) is a feminine noun formation based on this verb, designating the act or result of prophesying—i.e., prophecy or inspired message. The root itself does not inherently specify prediction, but rather the act of speaking as a prophet.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite society, נְבוּאָה referred not merely to prediction of future events but also to proclamation of divine instruction, guidance, or admonition. While English translations typically render the term as 'prophecy,' this often narrows its meaning to foretelling the future, whereas the Hebrew conception includes both foretelling and forth-telling (i.e., exhortation or rebuke by divine mandate). During the monarchic and later periods, the concept of נְבוּאָה expanded to include written collections (such as those attributed to Isaiah, Jeremiah) as well as individual spoken utterances. In pre-exilic texts, it often refers to specific oracles delivered in crisis; in later periods, it may designate ongoing spiritual discourse. This term differs from רוּחַ (rûaḥ, 'spirit, inspiration'), which focuses on the source or agent of inspiration, and from חָזוֹן (ḥāzôn, 'vision'), which emphasizes the visual or revelatory mode of the experience. The Greek Septuagint usually renders נְבוּאָה as προφητεία (prophēteia), matching the broader semantic range. In Second Temple and post-biblical texts, the term is sometimes associated with written prophecy as a category of authoritative literature. Later English translations, especially those influenced by theological traditions, may unintentionally limit the scope of meaning to prognostication, underrepresenting its instructional and ethical dimensions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָבָא; a prediction (spoken or written); prophecy.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נבא (n-b-ʾ) — to prophesy, to speak as a prophet, to declare under inspiration

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5012 נָבָא in his prophesying
H5013 נְבָא and he proclaimed as inspired spokesman
H5017 נְבוּאָה in prophetic utterance of
H5029 נְבִיא the divine proclaimer
H5030 נָבִיא in the proclaiming-spokesmen

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5016-03 וְ/הַ/נְּבוּאָה֮ vehanevuah HC/Td/Ncfsa and-the-prophecy and the prophetic declaration 1
H5016-01 הַ/נְּבוּאָה֙ hanevuah HTd/Ncfsa the prophecy the prophetic utterance 1
H5016-02 נְבוּאַ֞ת nevuat HNcfsc the prophecy prophecy of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5016-01 Nehemiah 6:12 הַ/נְּבוּאָה֙ hanevuah HTd/Ncfsa the prophecy the prophetic utterance
H5016-02 2 Chronicles 9:29 נְבוּאַ֞ת nevuat HNcfsc the prophecy prophecy of
H5016-03 2 Chronicles 15:8 וְ/הַ/נְּבוּאָה֮ vehanevuah HC/Td/Ncfsa and-the-prophecy and the prophetic declaration
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