Original Word: נְבִיאָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: nbiy'ah
Pronunciation: neh-bee-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (neb-ee-yaw')
KJV: prophetess
NASB: prophetess
Word Origin: [feminine of H5030 (נָבִיא - prophet)]

1. a prophetess
2. (generally) inspired woman
3. (by implication) a poetess
4. (by association) a prophet's wife

prophetess

Feminine of nabiy'; a prophetess or (generally) inspired woman; by implication, a poetess; by association a prophet's wife -- prophetess.

see HEBREW nabiy'

Word Origin
fem. of nabi
Definition
a prophetess
NASB Translation
prophetess (6).

נְבִיאָה noun masculine prophetess; —

1. a. of the ancient type endowed with gift of song, Miriam Exodus 15:20; Deborah Judges 4:4.

b. of the later type consulted for a word of ׳י, Huldah 2 Kings 22:14 2Chronicles 34:22.

2 false prophetess, Noadiah Nehemiah 6:14.

3 wife of Isaiah Isaiah 8:3.

Meaning and Scope

נְבִיאָה designates a woman endowed by God to proclaim His word, intercede for His people, and give authoritative guidance at decisive moments in Israel’s history. Each occurrence shows a public, Spirit-empowered ministry rather than a merely private insight.

Occurrences and Contexts

1. Exodus 15:20 – Miriam leads post-exodus worship.
2. Judges 4:4 – Deborah judges and delivers Israel during Canaanite oppression.
3. 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22 – Huldah authenticates the rediscovered Book of the Law and announces covenant blessings and judgments.
4. Nehemiah 6:14 – Noadiah participates in an attempted intimidation of Nehemiah.
5. Isaiah 8:3 – Isaiah’s wife bears a sign-child whose name confirms impending Assyrian invasion.

Representative Figures

Miriam

“Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.” (Exodus 15:20)
• Leads congregational praise that celebrates the LORD’s victory.
• Serves alongside Moses and Aaron (Micah 6:4).
• Her later failure at Kadesh (Numbers 12) underscores the accountability of every prophet to God’s holiness.

Deborah

“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.” (Judges 4:4)
• Combines judicial authority with prophetic revelation.
• Summons Barak to battle, confirms victory, and composes the victory hymn (Judges 5).
• Demonstrates God’s deliverance through unexpected instruments during the tribal period.

Huldah

“So Hilkiah the priest…went to Huldah the prophetess… and they spoke with her.” (2 Kings 22:14)
• Consulted by Hilkiah and royal delegates instead of Jeremiah or Zephaniah, evidencing recognized authority.
• Confirms the authenticity of the newly found scroll and announces judgment delayed for Josiah’s sake.
• Sparks nationwide reform (2 Kings 23).

Isaiah’s Wife

“And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son.” (Isaiah 8:3)
• Her motherhood becomes a living prophecy: Maher-shalal-hash-baz (“swift to the plunder”).
• Illustrates prophetic symbolism through family life.

Noadiah

“O my God, remember… the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who were trying to intimidate me.” (Nehemiah 6:14)
• A cautionary example of misuse of prophetic status for personal or political ends.
• Shows that the title alone does not guarantee fidelity; discernment is required (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

Nature of the Prophetic Ministry

• Revelation: Each prophetess receives direct communication from the LORD, whether a song, oracle, strategic directive, or symbolic act.
• Validation: Fulfillment of words (e.g., Sisera’s defeat, Assyrian advance) and acceptance by covenant authorities attest authenticity.
• Integration with Other Roles: Prophetesses may also judge (Deborah), lead worship (Miriam), or serve as wives of priests and prophets (Huldah, Isaiah’s wife), showing that prophetic gifting augments but does not eclipse ordinary vocations.
• Moral Responsibility: True and false expressions exist side by side; Scripture demands testing every claim (Jeremiah 23:16-32).

Canonical and Theological Themes

1. Divine Initiative – God raises spokespersons irrespective of gender to preserve covenant truth.
2. Critical Junctures – Each appearance aligns with transition: exodus, settlement, monarchy reform, post-exilic reconstruction, and impending exile.
3. Complementarity – Prophetesses minister alongside male leaders (Moses, Barak, Josiah, Nehemiah, Isaiah) without displacing God-ordained structures.
4. Worship and Word – The prophetic voice fuels both doxology (Exodus 15; Judges 5) and doctrinal clarity (2 Kings 22).

Continuity into the New Covenant

Joel 2:28 anticipates, and Acts 2:17 confirms, prophetic gifting poured out on “sons and daughters.” Anna (Luke 2:36-38) and Philip’s four daughters (Acts 21:9) reflect the same pattern, indicating the enduring place of Spirit-empowered women in proclaiming God’s redemptive purposes while remaining within the broader apostolic order (1 Corinthians 14:29-40; 1 Timothy 2:11-15).

Practical Reflections

• God sovereignly equips believers for specific tasks; faithfulness, not status, measures success.
• Public ministry must align with revealed Scripture; the Bereans’ model of testing (Acts 17:11) remains vital.
• Corporate worship thrives when prophetic insight ignites heartfelt praise rooted in historical salvation acts.
• Seasons of reform often begin with a renewed hearing of God’s word; attentive obedience can avert judgment and promote blessing, as in Josiah’s day.

Prophetesses, therefore, stand as testimonies to the LORD’s unchanging commitment to speak, guide, correct, and encourage His covenant people through vessels wholly devoted to His glory.

הַנְּבִיאָ֔ה הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה הַנְּבִיאָה֙ הנביאה נְבִיאָ֔ה נביאה han·nə·ḇî·’āh hannəḇî’āh hanneviAh nə·ḇî·’āh nəḇî’āh neviAhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts