The Seer
E x pa n d e d E d i t i o n
the corporate Body of Christ. Although prophecy comes through the mouth or pen of people, it comes from the mind of God. A prophet or prophetess then, is a spokesperson for God, one who hears the voice of the Holy Spirit and speaks or pens God’s mind or counsel through a “divinely anointed manner.” The word prophet appears more than 300 times in the Old Testament and more than 100 times in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word used most often for “prophet” is the word nabiy’ (nahbi). Here are a few examples. According to Genesis, Abraham was a prophet: Now therefore, restore the man’s [Abraham’s] wife, for he is a prophet [nabiy’], and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours (Genesis 20:7). The same was said about Moses: Since that time no prophet [nabiy’] has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10). As spokesman for his brother, Aaron was also a prophet: Then the Lord said to Moses,“See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet” [nabiy’] (Exodus 7:1). God called Jeremiah as a prophet even before he was born: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet [nabiy’] to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). Malachi spoke of a prophet who would appear in the last days: Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet [nabiy’] before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). 26
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