Prophetess

Holman Bible Dictionary

Exodus 15:20Judges 4:42 Kings 22:14Nehemiah 6:14Luke 2:36Revelation 2:20

Israel to celebrate God's deliverance. Deborah combined the offices of prophetess and judge, even accompanying Barak into battle. Huldah spoke God's words of judgment (2 Kings 22:16-17 ) and forgiveness (2 Kings 22:18-20 ) to King Josiah. Anna shared the good news of Jesus' birth with the Temple crowds. The false prophetess Noadiah sought to frighten Nehemiah. Jezebel attempted to involve the church of Thyatira in idolatry.

The prophet Joel anticipated a time when all God's people, “male servants and female servants,” would be filled with God's Spirit and prophesy (Joel 2:28-29 ). This prophetic hope was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18 ) and in the ongoing life of the early church (Acts 21:9 ). Paul encouraged all believers to desire to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1 ), that is, to offer speech which builds up the church (1 Corinthians 14:5 ). 1 Corinthians 11:5 presumes women were involved in prophesying and prayer in public worship. 2. The wife of a prophet ( Isaiah 8:3 ). See Prophet.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

PROPHETESS . 1. The courtesy title of a prophet’s wife ( Isaiah 8:3 ). 2. The OT title of women in whom the promise was fulfilled: ‘your daughters shall prophesy’ ( Joel 2:28; cf. Psalms 68:11 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ). ‘The term is of course not to be misunderstood, as if it referred merely to predictions relating to the future: the reference is in general to inspired instruction in moral and religious truth’ (Driver, Camb. Bible, in loc .) The title is given to Miriam ( Exodus 15:20 ), Deborah ( Judges 4:4 ), Huldah ( 2 Kings 22:14 , 2 Chronicles 34:22 ), and Noadiah ( Nehemiah 6:14 ). 3. The NT gift of prophecy was bestowed on women ( Acts 21:9 , 1 Corinthians 11:6 ). Anna ( Luke 2:35 ) is the only ‘prophetess’ mentioned by name, except Jezebel ( Revelation 2:20 ), who was probably not the wife of the angel of the church (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ), but a temptress of the Christians at Thyatira to whom was given the name of Israel’s wicked queen.

J. G. Tasker.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

PROPHETESS. —Among OT prophetesses may be named Miriam (Exodus 15:20), and esp. Deborah (Judges 4 f.) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:22). The prophetess Noadiah opposed Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:14). While it was the exception for women to be called to the prophetic office, they were by no means excluded from it, and it is manifest that Deborah and Huldah made a deep impress upon their contemporaries. The only mention of a prophetess in the Gospels is that of Anna, who recognized the infant Messiah when His parents presented Him in the Temple (Luke 2:36). She was of the tribe of Asher, and had lived to a great age, being probably a good deal over a hundred years old. She spoke to the pious worshippers in the Temple concerning the work of Jesus. See Anna.

John R. Sampey.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Προφῆτις (Strong'S #4398 — Noun Feminine — prophetis — prof-ay'-tis )

the feminine of prophetes (see above), is used of Anna, Luke 2:36; of the self-assumed title of "the woman Jezebel" in Revelation 2:20 .

King James Dictionary

PROPH'ETESS, n. A female prophet a woman who foretells future events, as Miriam, Huldah, Anna, &c. Exodus 15; Judges 4Luke 2 .

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A female prophet.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prof´et - es ( נביאה , nebhı̄'āh  ; προφῆτις , prophḗtis ): Women were not excluded from the prophetic office in the Old Testament, and were honored with the right of prophetic utterance in the New Testament. It should be noted, however, that women like Miriam ( Exodus 15:20 ), Deborah (Judges 4:4 ) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14 ) were not credited with the seer's insight into the future, but were called "prophetesses" because of the poetical inspiration of their speech. Among others mentioned as having the prophetic gift we find Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1 ), Anna (Luke 2:36 ) and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8 , Acts 21:9 ). See Prophet .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(נְבַיאָה, nebiah, προφῆτις, Exodus 15:20; Luke 2:36). Among the remarkable women who appear to have exercised the gift of prophecy, we find Miriam (Exodus 15:20); Deborah; Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1); Huldah (2 Kings 22:14); the wife of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3); Anna (Luke 2:36); and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9). Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and others were called prophetesses, not because they were supposed to be gifted with a knowledge of futurity, like the seers, but because they possessed a poetical inspiration; and inspired (especially sacred) poetry was always deemed of supernatural and divine origin. (See Prophet).