prophet

Eugene Nida wrote the following about the translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are typically translated with “prophet” in English:

“The tendency in many translations is to use ‘to foretell the future’ for ‘prophesy,’ and ‘one who foretells the future’ for ‘prophet.’ This is not always a recommended usage, particularly if such expressions denote certain special native practices of spirit contact and control. It is true, of course, that prophets of the Bible did foretell the future, but this was not always their principal function. One essential significance of the Greek word prophētēs is ‘one who speaks forth,’ principally, of course, as a forth-teller of the Divine will. A translation such as ‘spokesman for God’ may often be employed profitably.” (1947, p. 234f.)

Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages (click or tap for details):

  • San Blas Kuna: “one who speaks the voice of God”
  • Central Pame and Vai: “interpreter for God”
  • Kaqchikel, Navajo (Dinė), Yaka: “one who speaks for God”
  • Northern Grebo: “God’s town crier” (see more about this below)
  • Sapo: “God’s sent-word person”
  • Shipibo-Conibo, Ngäbere: “one who speaks God’s word”
  • Copainalá Zoque: “one who speaks-opens” (a compound meaning “one who discloses or reveals”)
  • Sierra Totonac: “one who causes them to know” (in the sense of “revealer”)
  • Batak Toba: “foreteller” (this and all the above acc. to Nida 1961, p. 7)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “one who is inspired of God” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Alekano: “the true man who descended from heaven” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation June 1986, p. 36ff.)
  • Aguaruna: “teller of God’s word” (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125)
  • Ekari: “person who speaks under divine impulse”
  • Mandarin Chinese: 先知 xiānzhī — “one who foreknows” (or the 1946/1970 translation by Lü Zhenzhong: 神言人 shényánrén — “divine-word-man”)
  • Uab Meto: “holy spokesman” (source for this and two above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Kouya: Lagɔɔ gbʋgbanyɔ — “the one who seeks God’s affairs” (source: Saunders, p. 269)
  • Kafa: “decide for God only” (source: Loren Bliese)
  • Martu Wangka: “sit true to God’s talk” (source: Carl Gross)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “word passer” (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22)
  • Obolo: ebi nriran: “one with power of divine revelation” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Mairasi: nonondoai nyan: “message proclaimer” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Highland Totonac: “speaker on God’s behalf”
  • Central Tarahumara: “God’s preacher” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Coatlán Mixe: “God’s word-thrower”
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “one who talks as God’s representative”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “speaker for God” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Mezquital Otomi / Paasaal: “God’s messenger” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff. and Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
  • Noongar: Warda Marridjiny or “News Traveling” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Kutu: mtula ndagu or “one who gives the prediction of the past and the future” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ebira: ọnịsẹ, a neologism that combines the prefix ọn for “a person” with ịsẹ for “prediction” (source: Scholz /Scholz 2015, p. 49)
  • French 1985 translation by Chouraqui: inspiré or “inspired one” (“someone in whom God has breathed [Latin: in + spiro]) (source: Watson 2023, p. 45)
  • Cherokee: adolehosgi (ᎠᏙᎴᎰᏍᎩ) or “discoverer of things,” a “term that was was traditionally applied to Cherokee medicine men or women who used divining.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 49)

In Ixcatlán Mazatec a term is used that specifically includes women. (Source: Robert Bascom)

About the translation into Northern Grebo:

“In some instances these spiritual terms result from adaptations reflecting the native life and culture. Among the Northern Grebo people of Liberia, a missionary wanted some adequate term for ‘prophet,’ and she was fully aware that the native word for ‘soothsayer’ or ‘diviner’ was no equivalent for the Biblical prophet who spoke forth for God. Of course, much of what the prophets said referred to the future, and though this was an essential part of much of their ministry, it was by no means all. The right word for the Gbeapo people would have to include something which would not only mean the foretelling of important events but the proclamation of truth as God’s representative among the people. At last the right word came; it was ‘God’s town-crier.’ Every morning and evening the official representative of the chief goes through the village crying out the news, delivering the orders of the chief, and announcing important coming events. ‘God’s town-crier’ would be the official representative of God, announcing to the people God’s doings, His commands, and His pronouncements for their salvation and well-being. For the Northern Grebo people the prophet is no weird person from forgotten times; he is as real as the human, moving message of the plowman Amos, who became God’s town-crier to a calloused people.” (source: Nida 1952, p. 20)

In American Sign Language it is a person who sees into the future:


“Prophet” in American Sign Language (source )

In British Sign Language it is is translated with a sign that depicts a message coming from God to a person (the upright finger) and then being passed on to others. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Prophet” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

See also prophesy and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: How to Recognize a Biblical Prophet .

See also seer.

complete verse (1 Kings 18:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 18:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “So now, summon (sing.) all the people of Israel to come and we meet at mount Carmel. You (plur.) come along with four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal too, and four hundred prophets of Ashera, who are in good terms with Jezebel.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Now you are to call all the people from Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Then also bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashera who are eating at Jezebel’s table.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, cause-to-gather to me all the people of Israel there at Mount Carmel. And also cause-to-come the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashera, whom Jezebel feed.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So now, command all the Israeli people to come to Carmel Mountain, and be sure to bring all the 450 prophets who worship Baal and the 400 prophets who worship the goddess Asherah, the ones to whom your wife Jezebel brings food and water.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 18:19

Now therefore is literally “And now.” While the logical connector therefore may be implied, it is certainly not required by the Hebrew text.

Send and gather: The first of these two verbs probably implies the sending out of a message to accomplish the action described by the second verb. Several modern versions ignore the first verb, while others translate the two verbs by a single verb like “summon” (Revised English Bible, New International Version) or “have … assemble” (New Revised Standard Version). Some may, however, prefer to say “send a message to gather.”

All Israel may refer only to all the leaders of families and clans, but it is better not to be more specific here than the Hebrew itself. Israel here refers to the northern kingdom.

Mount Carmel rises more than 150 meters (over 500 feet) above sea level and protrudes into the Mediterranean Sea. It is near the modern-day city of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast. Mount Carmel is actually a mountain range that runs for about 21 kilometers (13 miles) from the northwest to the southeast. At its highest point this mountain range reaches over 500 meters (about 1,750 feet) near its southeastern end.

The four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah: See the comments on 1 Kgs 4.22 about writing numbers. For Asherah see 1 Kgs 14.15.

Who eat at Jezebel’s table probably does not mean that they actually ate at the same table where Jezebel usually ate, but rather that she provided for them from the royal court (see the comments on 1 Kgs 2.7, where David tells Solomon to let the sons of Barzillai eat at his table). Those “eating at Jezebel’s table” include both the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah. Revised English Bible translates “who are attached to Jezebel’s household.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 18:19

18:19a Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel,

Now call (sing) everyone in Israel to gather to me at Mount Carmel.
-or-
So send a message to all the people of Israel to come together and meet with me on Carmel mountain.

18:19b along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal

The four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal must come too,
-or-
Include (sing) the prophets of ⌊the false/pagan god⌋ Baal, all four hundred and fifty of them.

18:19c and the four hundred prophets of Asherah

and also the four hundred prophets of Asherah,
-or-
Also include (sing) the four hundred prophets of ⌊the false/pagan goddess⌋ Asherah.

18:19d who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

who eat food that Jezebel gives them.”
-or-
Jezebel ⌊the queen⌋ provides food for all of them.”

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