Editing Prophet (section)

== Etymology ==
The English word ''[[wiktionary:prophet|prophet]]'' is the [[transliteration]] of a compound [[Greek language|Greek]] word derived from ''pro'' (before/toward) and ''phesein'' (to tell); thus, a [[wiktionary:προφήτης|προφήτης]] (''prophḗtēs'') is someone who conveys messages from the divine to humans, including occasionally foretelling future events. In a different interpretation, it means [[advocacy|advocate]] or [[public speaking|speaker]].  It is used to translate the Hebrew word נָבִיא (''nāvî'') in the Septuagint and the Arabic word نبي (''nabī''). [[W.F. Albright]] points to the Akkadian [[Nabu]] for the origin of these Hebrew (נָבִיא (''nāvî'') and the Arabic نبي (''nabī'') words.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43721226 | jstor=43721226 | title=The Etymological Origins of the Hebrew nābîʾ: The One Who Invokes God | last1=Fleming | first1=Daniel E. | journal=The Catholic Biblical Quarterly | date=1993 | volume=55 | issue=2 | pages=217–224 }}</ref>

The Akkadian ''nabû'' means "announcer" or "authorised person",<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Richter |first=Thomas |title=Nabû |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/nabu-e815710 |encyclopedia=Brill’s New Pauly |publisher=Brill |year=2006 |access-date=2022-10-14}}</ref> derived from the [[Semitic root]] {{smallcaps|n-b-y}} or {{smallcaps|nbʾ}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Semitic Roots Appendix |url=https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/semitic.html |website=The American Heritage Dictionary |access-date=6 December 2019 |quote=nbʾ To name, proclaim, summon."}}</ref> It is cognate with {{langx|syc|[[:Wiktionary:ܢܒܝܐ|ܢܒܝܐ]]|nəḇiyyā}}, {{langx|ar|[[:Wiktionary:نبي|نبي]]|nabiyy}}, and {{langx|he|[[:Wiktionary:נביא|נביא]]|nāḇī}},<ref>p.1571, Alcalay. An alternative translation of this Hebrew word is derived from an Akkadian word "Nabu," meaning to call. The Hebrew "Navi" has a passive sense and means "the one who has been called" (see HALOT, p.661).</ref> all meaning 'prophet'.

In [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], the word נָבִיא (''nāvî''), "spokesperson", traditionally translates as "prophet". The second subdivision of the [[Tanakh]], [[Nevi'im]], is devoted to the Hebrew prophets. The meaning of ''navi'' is perhaps described in [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] 18:18,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|18:18|105}}</ref> where [[God]] said, "...and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Thus, a ''navi'' was thought to be the "mouth" of God. A Jewish tradition was that the root [[Nun (letter)|nun]]-[[Bet (letter)|bet]]-[[Aleph|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".<ref>[[Rashbam]]'s comment to [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 20:7.{{Bibleverse||Genesis|20:7|105}}</ref>