Is it "Prophesy" or "Prophecy?"

[Dennis1209]

This morning, I caught something I never noticed while labeling one of my electronic notes for easy retrieval. I have always labeled some things associated with eschatology as "prophecy."  

In my study this morning of 1 Cor. 14:1, the spelling of the word caught my eye, "prophesy." Spelling and recording it with two different words will not pull everything I am searching for.

Prophesy is found in 78 biblical verses, and prophecy is found in 21 verses, both in the New and Old Testament. Immediately I thought, is there a different meaning, so I did a word study.

To me, it appears the two related but different meanings, according to the experts below. However, Webster's 1828 dictionary maintains both; all renderings should be spelled "prophesy."

They are two different words with the same root word. What is your takeaway?

Prophecy ~ προφητικός, ή, όν (προφήτης; Lucian, Alex. 60; Philo, Migr. Abr. 84 al.; Just., Mel., Ath.; PGM 1, 278; 4, 933)

             pert. to inspired interpretation of the divine will, prophetic γραφαὶ πρ.

            •           the writings of the prophets=the OT Ro 16:26 (cp. AcPh 77 [Aa II/2, 30, 6]). ὁ πρ.

            •           λόγος (Philo, Plant. 117; TestSol 1:12 D ἡ-κὴ ῥῆσις) 2 Pt 1:19 (on the true prophetic word vs. the false [s. 2 Pt 2:1] cp. Pind., P. 10, 65f); 2 Cl 11:2 (the origin of the prophetic word that follows is unknown); ^[1]

4738 προφητικός (prophētikos), ή (ē), όν (on): adj.; ≡ Str 4397; TDNT 6.781—LN 33.462 prophetic (Ro 16:26; 2Pe 1:19+)^[2]

Prophesy ~ προφητεύω (προφήτης)

            impf. ἐπροφήτευον;

            •           fut. προφητεύσω;

            •           1 aor. ἐπροφήτευσα (also προεφήτ. [1 Km 18:10; Just.] v.l.; on the augment s. B-D-F §69, 4; W-S. §12, 6; Mlt-H. 192). Pass.:

            •           aor. 3 sg. προεφητεύθη;

            •           pf. 3 sg. πεπροφήτευται;

            •           plpf. 3 sg. ἐπεπροφήτευτο (all Just.) (Pind., Hdt.+; Diod S 17, 51, 1; Ps.-Aristot., De Mundo 1, 391a, 16 ἡ ψυχὴ θείῳ ψυχῆς ὄμματι τὰ θεῖα καταλαβοῦσα τοῖς τε ἀνθρώποις προφητεύουσα=the soul comprehending divine things with its divine eye and interpreting them to humans; Plut., Mor. 412b; Lucian, VH 2, 33; Herodian 5, 5, 10; OGI 473, 2; 530, 9; Gnomon [= BGU V] 93; LXX; pseudepigr., Philo, Joseph., Just. Prim.: 'to serve as interpreter of divine will or purpose'; futurity may or may not be indicated)

            ①       to proclaim an inspired revelation, prophesy abs. (Diod S 17, 51, 1; Jos., Ant. 5, 348) οὐ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι ἐπροφητεύσαμεν; Mt 7:22 (s. Jer 34:15).

            •           —Ac 2:17f (Jo 3:1); 19:6; 21:9; 1 Cor 11:4f (w. προσεύχεσθαι); 13:9; 14:1, 3–5, 24, 31, 39; Rv 11:3; B 16:9; Hm 11:12.

            •           Of sayings fr. scripture B 9:2; Hv 2, 3, 4 (the quot. here fr. the book of Eldad and Modat has no bearing on the future; naturally that does not exclude the possibility that these 'prophets' practiced their art in the sense of mng. 3 below^[3]

PROPH'ESȲ, v. t. To foretell future events; to predict.

I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. 1 Kings 22.

2. To foreshow. [Little used.]          Shak.

PROPH'ESȲ, v. i. To utter predictions; to make declaration of events to come. Jer. 11.

2. In Scripture, to preach; to instruct in religious doctrines; to interpret or explain Scripture or religious subjects; to exhort.1 Cor. 13. Ezek. 37.^[4]

PROPH'ECY, n. [Gr. προφητεια, from προφημι, to foretell; προ, before, and φημι, to tell. This ought to be written prophesy.]

1. A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come. As God only knows future events with certainty, no being but God or some person informed by him, can utter a real prophecy. The prophecies recorded in Scripture, when fulfilled, afford most convincing evidence of the divine original of the Scriptures, as those who uttered the prophecies could not have foreknown the events αpredicted without supernatural instruction. 2 Pet. 1.

2. In Scripture, a book of prophecies; a history; as the prophecy of Ahijah. 2 Chron. 9.

3. Preaching; public interpretation of Scripture; exhortation or instruction. Prov. 31.

 

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^[1] Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 891. Print.

^[2] Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1997: n. pag. Print.

^[3] Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 890. Print.

^[4] Webster, Noah. Noah Webster’s first edition of An American dictionary of the English language. 2006: n. pag. Print.

[Alive]

Isn't it a simple thing?

Prophecy is a thing and Prophesy is an action?

[Mr. M]

7 minutes ago, Alive said:

Isn't it a simple thing?

Prophecy is a thing and Prophesy is an action?

 

10 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

They are two different words with the same root word. What is your takeaway?

Matthew 26:

67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him 

with the palms of their hands, 

68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Thus fulfilling the words of prophecy. (Isaiah 53)

Edited March 22, 2023 by Mr. M
cosmetic

[Dennis1209]

8 minutes ago, Alive said:

Isn't it a simple thing?

Prophecy is a thing and Prophesy is an action?

As I am a simpleton, please elaborate.

[Alive]

1 minute ago, Dennis1209 said:

As I am a simpleton, please elaborate.

I do not think you are a simpleton, brother.

These are either a noun or a verb.