What is the Hebrew term "nabi" and what is its origin? Most modern authors consider it to be derived from the Akkadian root "nabu", which means "to call". In this case, the etymological interpretation of "nabu" can be considered the expression "the one who was called" or "the one who heeded the call". Such an explanation is quite suitable for the biblical prophet as a person who heeded the call of the Lord, who called him to fulfill the prophetic mission. Other researchers believe that this word comes from the archaic root "naba", meaning "to mumble", "to pronounce indistinctly". In this way, a state of ecstasy could be described, when a person who has been spiritually enlightened, like a stormy sea, cannot restrain himself, constantly talks, mutters.

Finally, there are those who see similarities between the word "nabi" and Semitic roots, for example, the Arabic "nabo," which means "to proclaim." Thus, we get the meaning – "a person through whose mouth the Divinity speaks". Let us compare with the text of the prophet (Jeremiah 15:19) —

«… thou shalt be as my mouth..."

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Thus, as a result of a comparison of these different words for prophet, it seems quite plausible that some lost Hebrew root should be associated with related Akcat and Arabic words. Basically, the meaning of these words is "to know" or "to proclaim". The Greek root is "prophetos" or "prophetiz," as we call it in the Bible, and the Greek Bible uses this term when translating the word "nabis." In the Latin, Hellenic world, this word combined several meanings; It denoted a person who speaks in public or on behalf of someone else, as well as predicting the future.

The predominant meaning in the Bible is not so much the time as the substitution of speaking for someone else, or for someone else, or for a place in front of someone. Thus, the original prophets of the Bible are not people who predict the future, but speak in the name of God or straighten the ways of the Lord, bringing them to the hearts of men. Were there prophets in the Old Testament before Israel? Yes, there were such people. We must say a few words about them. Prophecy did not begin with the prophets of the Old Testament.

As a phenomenon, prophecy also existed outside of Israel, in Mesopotamia, in Canaan, and in Egypt. In Egypt, since the 11th millennium, there have been cases when men and women, usually in a state of ecstasy, spoke in the name of the Deity who sent them. In Egypt, quite a lot of texts have been found containing the predictions of certain prophets. This is also the warning of a certain Egyptian sage, where a political orator describes the figure of an ideal ruler, the prophetic story of Nefertiti. However, a sober assessment of these records leads to the conclusion that they were all made much later, and indicate that they were not written in the time of these prophets, but by later thinkers and interpreters. There are famous predictions of Egyptian oracles, for example, Omonovsivi and a number of others.

In Mesopotamia, we also encounter a civilization of the magical type, where divination takes place by divination by the entrails of animals, by the stars. Apparently, these predictions were the reality of Mesopotamian life. The Sumerians had the same custom of divination by the entrails of animals; there was also the god of dreams, Dmamu, and dreams were widely commented on, certain prophecies were based on them. Inspiration was also obtained from communication with various oracles.

In addition, there were other people in Mesopotamia who were called "esseby" (a man into whom God entered). There were also special priestesses, or mourners, who also uttered prophecies. There is also evidence of ancient prophets, the so-called "Texts of Mari". We are talking about the area located on the western bank in the middle reaches of the Euphrates River. In Mari, quite a few texts have been found that have the character of prophecies: the revelations of the god Dagon in Tegri. A certain official receives a revelation from God, which begins as follows: "I send you to speak."