Navi נביא (Prophet)

Navi נביא (Prophet)

Navi נביא (Prophet) Digital Painting

Navi is simply an image to remind us that the messages of the prophets still stand valid today. They are calls to return to the worship of the one true G-d—to leave our comfort zones and complacency; to return to His original standards.

The Hebrew word for a prophet is navi (נביא) and comes from the term niv sefatayim. It means “fruit of the lips,” which emphasizes the prophet’s role as a speaker. The Hebrew root meaning for navi is “to bubble forth, as from a fountain,” thus “to utter”, as found in Psalm 45:1. Taken from the context of Deut. 18:18, where G-d said, “…and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him,” we can conclude that Navi further signifies the concept of “mouth” of G-d. Navi therefore signifies “G-d’s spokesman to the people” and is traditionally translated as “prophet”.

Prophets were writing and speaking messages from G-d. G-d used them for the communication of his mind and will to men. He chose males, females and even gentiles to convey his messages or teachings. Prophets also often acted out prophetic parables. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to G-d. They set the standards for the entire community. Their assignments were not always received well. They were targets of persecution and opposition. Yet their predictions and warnings always came true in the end.

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