נָבִיא
navímasculine
The English phrase prophet is translated into Hebrew as נָבִיא (naví). If unsure, use נָבִיא. Wiktionary also lists איש האלוהים (ish ha'elohim).
Meaning: one who speaks by divine inspiration (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| נָבִיא | naví | masculine |
| איש האלוהים | ish ha'elohim | masculine |
The term refers to one who speaks by divine inspiration.
Which one should you use?
While נָבִיא is the standard word for prophet, the phrase איש האלוהים (man of God) is used in biblical contexts to denote a prophet with high status or divine authority.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the masculine noun נָבִיא is נְבִיאִים. The feminine singular form is נְבִיאָה.
How do you pronounce it?
naví
Did you know?
- The word נָבִיא is related to the root meaning 'to bubble up' or 'to flow', suggesting that divine prophecy is like a spring of water bursting forth.
- In ancient Israel, groups of people known as נְבִיאִים would sometimes enter a state of ecstatic frenzy or trance to receive divine messages.
- In some biblical contexts, the term נָבִיא could be applied to someone who spoke for a foreign deity, not just the God of Israel.
Examples in context
- אֵין נָבִיא בְּעִירוֹ.No man is a prophet in his own land.This sentence is useful for expressing the proverb that no man is a prophet in his own land using נָבִיא.Tatoeba #1425931 by MrShoval, translation #616173 by darinmex
Example conversation
Maya and Daniel are discussing a historical text.
- מאיה Mayaמי הדמות הזו בספר?Mi ha'dmut ha'zo ba'sefer?Who is this figure in the book?
- דניאל Danielהוא נָבִיא מהתקופה העתיקה.Hu navi me'hatkufa ha'atikha.He is a prophet from the ancient period.
- מאיה Mayaמה הוא חזה?Ma hu chaze?What did he foresee?
- דניאל Danielהוא דיבר על העתיד.Hu diber al ha'atid.He spoke about the future.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prophet” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
