Prophet

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Not to be confused with Profit.
For other senses of this word, see Prophet (disambiguation).
Prophetic inspiration: Isaiah's Lips Anointed with Fire, by Benjamin West
In religion, a prophet is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by
the supernatural or the divine, and to speak for them, serving as an intermedia
ry with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entit
y to other people.[1][2] The message that the prophet conveys is called a prophe
cy.
Claims of prophethood have existed in many cultures through history, including J
udaism, Christianity, Islam, in Ancient Greece, Zoroastrianism, and many others.
Traditionally, prophets are regarded as having a role in society that promotes
change due to their messages and actions.
The English word prophet comes from the Greek word p??f?t?? (profts) meaning advoc
ate. In the late 20th century the appellation of prophet has been used to refer
to individuals particularly successful at analysis in the field of economics, su
ch as in the derogatory prophet of greed. Alternatively, social commentators who
suggest escalating crisis are often called prophets of doom.[3][4]
Contents
1 Abrahamic religions
1.1 Judaism
1.2 Christianity
1.3 Islam
1.4 Bah'
2 Modern prophetic claims
2.1 Latter Day Saint movement
2.2 Jehovah's Witnesses
2.3 Seventh-day Adventist
2.4 Ahmadiyya Islam
3 Other religions
3.1 Hinduism
3.2 Ifa and other African traditional religions
3.3 Tenrikyo
3.4 Other
4 Other individuals
5 See also
6 Further reading
7 Notes
8 External links
Abrahamic religions
Judaism
See also: Nevi'im
In Hebrew, the word ?????? (navi), "spokesperson", traditionally translates as "
prophet".[5] The second subdivision of the Hebrew Bible, TaNaKh (for "Torah, Nev
i'im, Ketuvim"), is devoted to the Hebrew prophets. The meaning of navi is perha
ps described in Deuteronomy 18:18,[6] where God said, "...and I will put My word
s in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Thus
, the navi was thought to be the "mouth" of God. The root nun-bet-alef ("navi")
is based on the two-letter root nun-bet which denotes hollowness or openness; to
receive transcendental wisdom, one must make oneself "open". Cf. Rashbam's comm
ent to Genesis 20:7.[7]
The Prophet Malachi, painting by Duccio di Buoninsegna, c. 1310 (Museo dell'Oper

a del Duomo, Siena Cathedral).

In addition to writing and speaking messages from God, Hebrew prophets often act
ed out prophetic parables.[8] For example, in order to contrast the people s disob
edience with the obedience of the Rechabites, God has Jeremiah invite the Rechab
ites to drink wine, in disobedience to their ancestor s command. The Rechabites re
fuse, wherefore God commends them.[9][10] Other prophetic parables acted out by
Jeremiah include burying a linen belt so that it gets ruined to illustrate how G
od intends to ruin Judah's pride.[11][12][12][13] Likewise, Jeremiah buys a clay
jar and smashes it in the Valley of Ben Hinnom in front of elders and priests t
o illustrate that God will smash the nation of Judah and the city of Judah beyon
d repair.[14] God instructs Jeremiah to make a yoke from wood and leather straps
and to put it on his own neck to demonstrate how God will put the nation under
the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.[15] In a similar way, the prophet I
saiah had to walk stripped and barefoot for three years to illustrate the coming
captivity,[16] and the prophet Ezekiel had to lie on his side for 390 days and
eat measured food to illustrate the coming siege.[17]
The prophetic assignment is not always portrayed as positive in the Hebrew Bible
,[18][19][20] and prophets were often the target of persecution and opposition.[
21] God s personal prediction to Jeremiah, "Attack you they will, overcome you the
y can't,"[22] was fulfilled many times in the biblical narrative as Jeremiah war
ned of destruction of those who continued to refuse repentance and accept more m
oderate consequences.[21][23] In return for his adherence to God s discipline and
speaking God s words, Jeremiah was attacked by his own brothers,[24] beaten and pu
t into the stocks by a priest and false prophet,[25][26] imprisoned by the king,
[27] threatened with death,[28] thrown into a cistern by Judah s officials,[29] an
d opposed by a false prophet.[30] Likewise, Isaiah was told by his hearers who r
ejected his message, "Leave the way! Get off the path! Let us hear no more about
the Holy One of Israel!"[19][31] The life of Moses being threatened by Pharaoh
is another example.[32]
According to I Samuel 9:9,[33] the old name for navi is ro'eh, ?????, which lite
rally means "Seer". That could document an ancient shift, from viewing prophets
as seers for hire to viewing them as moral teachers. Allen (1971) comments that
in the First Temple Era, there were essentially seer-priests, who formed a guild
, divined, performed rituals and sacrifices, and were scribes, and then there we
re canonical prophets, who did none of these (and were against divination) and h
ad instead a message to deliver.[citation needed] The seer-priests were usually
attached to a local shrine or temple, such as Shiloh, and initiated others as pr
iests in that priesthood: it was a mystical craft-guild with apprentices and rec
ruitment. Canonical prophets were not organised this way. The similar term ben-n
avi ("son of the prophet") means "member of a seer-priest guild".[citation neede
d]
Some examples of prophets in the Tanakh include Abraham, Moses, Miriam, Isaiah,
Samuel, Ezekiel, Malachi, and Job. In Jewish tradition Daniel is not counted in
the list of prophets.
A Jewish tradition suggests that there were twice as many prophets as the number
which left Egypt, which would make 1,200,000 prophets.[34] The Talmud recognize
s the existence of 48 male prophets who bequeathed permanent messages to mankind
.[34] According to the Talmud there were also seven women who are counted as pro
phets whose message bears relevance for all generations: Sarah, Miriam, Devorah,
Hannah (mother of the prophet Samuel), Abigail (a wife of King David), Huldah (
from the time of Jeremiah), and Esther.[34] Rashi points out that Rebecca, Rache
l and Leah were also prophets.[35]
Prophets in Judaism are not always Jews.[34] The story of Balaam in Numbers 22 d
escribes a non-Jewish prophet who honors God and refuses to curse Israel and who

is generally presented favorably.[36] According to the Talmud, Obadiah is said

to have been a convert to Judaism.
The last prophets mentioned in the Hebrew Bible are Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, a
nd Malachi, all of whom lived at the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile. The Ta
lmud (Sanhedrin 11a) states that Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi were the last pr
ophets, and nowadays only the "Bat Kol" (?? ???) exists.
Christianity
Main article: Prophets of Christianity
In Christianity a prophet (or seer)[37] is one inspired by God through the Holy
Spirit to deliver a message for a specific purpose. God's calling as a prophet i
s not to elevate an individual for their own glory, but for the glory of God and
to turn people to him. Some Christian denominations would limit that and exclud
e those who receive a personal message not intended for the body of believers, b
ut in the Bible on a number of occasions prophets were called to deliver persona
l messages.[38] The reception of a message is termed revelation and the delivery
of the message is termed prophecy.
James Jordan argues that the office of prophet involves more than delivering the
direct revelations of God. He writes, "The full meaning of prophet is council m
ember, a member of God's Divine Council . . . Moses, who is an exemplary prophet
of the Old Covenant (Numbers 12:6-8) . . . not only received information from t
he Counsel and passed its decisions onto the people . . . he also actively argue
d before the Council when he felt it necessary, even 'changing God's mind' on oc
casion (Exodus 32:7-14, 30-35; Numbers 14:13-19)." [39] In this way, Christ is e
xecuting a prophetic office when he intercedes for Christians and ordinary Chris
tians are executing a prophetic office when they reason with God on the behalf o
f others in prayer, just as Moses interceded and persuaded God on behalf of Isra
el as part of his prophetic function.
The term prophet is applied to those who receive public or private revelation. P
ublic Revelation, in Catholicism, is part of the Deposit of faith, the revelatio
n of which was completed by Jesus; whereas Private Revelation does not add to th
e Deposit. The term "deposit of faith" refers to the entirety of Jesus Christ's
revelation, and is passed to successive generations in two different forms, sacr
ed scripture (the Bible) and sacred tradition.
Anyone who claims to speak God's words or teach in his name and is not a prophet
the Bible terms a false prophet. One test given in the Old Testament in Deutero
nomy[40] contains a warning of those who prophecy events which do not come to pa
ss and said they should be put to death. Elsewhere a false prophet may be someon
e who is purposely trying to deceive, is delusional, under the influence of Sata
n or is speaking from his own spirit.[41]
A 1542 painting of John the Baptist by Titian
Some Christians who believe in dispensationalism believe prophecy ended along wi
th the rest of the sign gifts shortly after the coming of Jesus, who delivered t
he "fullness of the law." Within this group, many Protestants believe that proph
ecy ended with the last of the Hebrew prophets of the Torah of the Hebrew Bible,
leaving a gap of about 400 years between then and the life of Jesus. The majori
ty, including the Eastern Orthodox, allow an exception for John the Baptist as a
prophet contemporary with Jesus.
New Testament passages that explicitly discuss prophets existing after the death
and resurrection of Christ include Revelation 11:10,[42] Matthew 10:40-41 and 2
3:34,[43] John 13:20 and 15:20[44] and Acts 11:25-30, 13:1 and 15:32.[45] Christ
ians believe that the Holy Spirit leads people to faith in Jesus and gives them
the ability to lead a Christian life and to give gifts (i.e. abilities) to Chris
tians. These may include the charismatic gifts such as prophecy, tongues, healin

g, and knowledge. Christians holding a view known as cessationism believe these

gifts were given only in New Testament times and ceased after the last apostle d
ied.
The Didache gives extensive instruction in how to distinguish between true and f
alse prophets, as well as commands regarding tithes to prophets in the church.[4
6] Irenaeus, wrote of 2nd-century believers with the gift of prophecy,[47] while
Justin Martyr argued in his Dialogue with Trypho that prophets were not found a
mong the Jews in his time, but that the church had prophets.[48] The Shepherd of
Hermas describes revelation in a vision regarding the proper operation of proph
ecy in the church.[49] Eusebius mentions that Quadratus and Ammia of Philadelphi
a were both prominent prophets following the age of the Twelve Apostles.[50][51]
Tertullian, writing of the church meetings of the Montanists (to whom he belong
ed), described in detail the practice of prophecy in the 2nd-century church.[52]
Prophetic movements in particular can be traced throughout the Christian Church'
s history, in expressions such as Montanism, Novatianism, Donatism, Franciscanis
m, Anabaptism, Camisard enthusiasm, Puritanism, Quakerism, Quietism and Pietism.
Some Christians also believe that the title "prophet" encompasses others than th
ose who receive visions from God. A more modern definition of prophet is someone
who spreads God's truths. These can be revealed in a number of ways not only vi
sions.
Some Christian sects recognize the existence of a "modern-day" prophet, one such
denomination is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), w
hich teaches that God still communicates with mankind through prophecy.[53]
Islam
Islamic Prophets
Anbiya (??????)
Anbiya
Prophets in the Quran[show]
Main events[show]
Attributed miracles[show]
Views[show]
Category
Portal
v
t
e
Main article: Prophets of Islam
The Qur'an identifies a number of men as "Prophets of Islam" (Arabic: nabiyy ???
?; pl. anbiyaa' ??????). Muslims believe such individuals were assigned a specia
l mission by God (Arabic: Allah) to guide humanity. Besides Muhammad, this inclu
des prophets such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus).
A depiction of Muhammad receiving his first revelation from the angel Gabriel. F
rom the manuscript Jami' al-tawarikh by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, 1307, Ilkhanate
period.
Although only twenty-five prophets[54] are mentioned by name in the Qur'an, a ha
dith (no. 21257 in Musnad Ibn Hanbal)[55] mentions that there were 124,000 proph
ets in total throughout history. Other traditions place the number of prophets a
t 224,000. Some scholars hold that there are an even greater number in the histo
ry of mankind, and only God knows. The Qur'an says that God has sent a prophet t
o every group of people throughout time, and that Muhammad is the last of the pr
ophets, sent for the whole of humankind.[56] The message of all the prophets is

believed to be the same. In Islam, all prophetic messengers are prophets (such a
s Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad) though not all prophets are p
rophetic messengers. The primary distinction is that a prophet is required to de
monstrate God's law through his actions, character, and behavior without necessa
rily calling people to follow him, while a prophetic messenger is required to pr
onounce God's law (i.e. revelation) and call his people to submit and follow him
. Muhammad is distinguished from the rest of the prophetic messengers and prophe
ts in that he was commissioned by God to be the prophetic messenger to all of ma
nkind. Many of these prophets are also found in the texts of Judaism (The Torah,
the Prophets, and the Writings; collectively known as the Old Testament to Chri
stians) and Christianity.[57]
While Islam shares the Jewish tradition that the first prophet is Adem (Adam), i
t differs in that the last prophet is Muhammad, who in Islam is called Seal of t
he prophets or Khatim an-Nabuwwah. Muslims often refer to Muhammad as the prophe
t, in the form of a noun.[58][59][60][61] Isa (Jesus) is the result of a virgin
birth in Islam as in Christianity, and is regarded as a prophet.[62]
Traditionally, four prophets are believed to have been sent holy books: the Tawr
at (Torah) to Moses, the Zabur (Psalms) to David, the Injil (Gospel) to Jesus, a
nd the Qur'an to Muhammad; those prophets are considered "messengers" or rasul (
Ule al A'zm men al Rusul ???? ????? ?? ?????). Other main prophets are considere
d messengers or Nabi, even if they didn't receive a Book from God. Examples incl
ude the messenger-prophet Aaron (Haroon), the messenger-prophet Ishmael (Isma'ee
l) and the messenger-prophet Yusuf (Joseph).
Although it offers many incidents from the lives of many prophets, the Qur'an fo
cuses with special narrative and rhetorical emphasis on the careers of the first
four of these five major prophets. Of all the figures before Muhammad, Moses is
referred to most frequently in the Qur'an. As for the fifth, the Qur'an is freq
uently addressed directly to Muhammad, and it often discusses situations encount
ered by him. Direct use of his name in the text, however, is rare. Rarer still i
s the mention of Muhammad's contemporaries.
Besides the four Holy Books sent by God to the four messengers, Muslims believe
that God also had granted scrolls (Suhuf) to Abraham (Suhuf-e-Ibrahim) and Moses
(Books of Moses).
Unlike the majority of Muslims, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community does not believe
that messengers and prophets are different individuals. They interpret the Quran
ic terms of "warner," (Nadhir) "prophet," and "messenger" as referring to differ
ent roles that the same divinely-appointed individuals perform. Ahmadiyya Muslim
s distinguish only between law-bearing prophets and non law-bearing ones. They a
re the only Muslim group who believe that although law bearing prophet-hood ende
d with Muhammad, non law-bearing prophet-hood continues. In this capacity, the A
hmadiyya Muslim Community recognizes Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835 1908) as a prophet o
f God, and also believes him to be the promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of the la
tter days.[63]