PROPHECY

in religion, a divinely inspired revelation or interpretation. Although prophecy is perhaps most commonly associated with Judaism and Christianity, it is found throughout the religions of the world, both ancient and modern. In its narrower sense, the term prophet (Greek prophetes, forthteller) refers to an inspired person who believes that he has been sent by his god with a message to tell. He is, in this sense, the mouthpiece of his god. In a broader sense, the word can refer to anybody who utters the will of a deity, often ascertained through visions, dreams, or the casting of lots; the will of the deity also may be spoken in a liturgical setting. The prophet, thus, is often associated with the priest, the shaman (a religious figure in primitive societies who functions as a healer, diviner, and possessor of psychic powers), the diviner (foreteller), and the mystic. In a much broader sense, the term prophet has been used in connection with social and religio-political reformers and leaders. Additional reading General works G. Holscher, Die Propheten (1914), a classic; A.J. Heschel, The Prophets (1962), a theological comparison between Israelite and non-Israelite prophets; J. Lindblom, Prophecy in Ancient Israel (1962), a good introduction to the phenomenological, psychological, and theological problems of prophecy; R.B.Y. Scott, The Relevance of the Prophets, 2nd ed. (1968). Prophecy in the ancient Middle East and Israel A. Guillaume, Prophecy and Divination Among the Hebrews and Other Semites (1938), a standard work; D.R. Hillers, Treaty-Curses and Old Testament Prophets (1964); A.L. Oppenheim, Ancient Mesopotamia: Portrait of a Dead Civilization (1964); R.E. Clements, Prophecy and Covenant (1965), a valuable study of the available prophetical texts from Mari thus far; N.K. Gottwald, All the Kingdoms of the Earth (1964), on prophets and politics; E. Hammershaimb, Some Aspects of Old Testament Prophecy from Isaiah to Malachi (1966), dealing with the Canaanite, cultic, and historical background; A.R. Johnson, The Cultic Prophet in Ancient Israel, 2nd ed. (1962); J. Pedersen, Israel, 4 vol. (192640), a classic on religious life and institutions; H. Ringgren, Israelite Religion (1966). Prophecy in Christianity L. Hartman, Prophecy Interpreted (1966); H.A. Guy, New Testament Prophecy (1947); G. Friedrich, Prophets and Prophecies in the New Testament, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 6, pp. 828861 (1968); S. Umen, Pharisaism and Jesus (1963). Prophecy in Islam T. Andrae, Mohammed: The Man and His Faith (Eng. trans. 1956); S. Fuchs, Rebellious Prophets (1965); A. Guillaume, Islam, new ed. (1963); P.K. Hitti, Islam: A Way of Life (1970); W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad, The Cambridge History of Islam, vol. 1, pp. 3056 (1970). Prophetic movements and figures in Eastern and primitive religions I. Hori, Folk Religion in Japan: Continuity and Change, ed. by J.M. Kitagawa and A.L. Miller (1968); E.R. and K. Hughes, Religion in China (1950); B.G.M. Sundkler, Bantu Prophets in South Africa, 2nd ed. (1961); M. Weber, The Religion of China, trans. by H.H. Gerth (1968).