I've asked this question many times in the past but I'd like to see what the Y!A community comes up with.
"Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:" -King James Bible
2007-12-06 01:58:23 · 15 answers · asked by ♪ 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers who speak to you, saying, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon.' -New American Standard Bible (©1995)
2007-12-06 01:59:23 · update #1
And here is a whole slew of parallel translations and cross-references in Christian and Judaism holy books Jeremiah 27:9
http://bible.cc/jeremiah/27-9.htm
2007-12-06 02:02:03 · update #2
Prophets are from God but soothsayers are not!
2007-12-06 02:01:56 · answer #1 · answered by Thumbs down me now 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In general a prophet is someone who says how things are and what will happen IF nothing changes. Therefore a false prophet is one who is wrong on one or other of these. A prophet is trying to get people to change - good example is John the Baptist. In the case of the first quotation the writer is saying that it would be foolish at that time to take on the king of Babylon. A soothsayer is one who tries to predict the future.
2007-12-06 10:08:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
when quoting form the Bible you should always give the chapter and verse. but as for what you have showed there these were false prophets the prophets of God only speak as moved by the holy spirit, and these people that do not believe in the holy spirit are mocking and calling God a liar. a sootsayer as a psychicof today get there power from satan that is why God says this.leviticus 19:31 do not turn to mediums in mattew 24 it say as it was in the days noa(noah) so shall it be until the coming of the son of man (Christ). Noah old testiment. Christ new testiment. which means the old test as well as the new test in binding even for us today. yes the mosaic laws were done away with at the cross. but God tem commandments are still live and well.
2007-12-06 10:09:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Prophets foretold the future. Midwives and healers were there to help people. Soothsayers, and sorcerers, were destructive and out to hurt people. Some how people lost the distinction and took action by burning everyone. I don't think it was ever intended to "kill" psychics or kind people like Wiccans. It was only against evil forces. Too bad the evil got into the church and killed innocent women and children. They used the Bible to justify their atrocities. And that was EVIL.
2007-12-06 10:07:58 · answer #4 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your difference is in the Hebrew word. In English we have just one or two and they are not very fully descriptive. One word means A Prophet Of God. The other means a one that has declared from self. If you read Deuteronomy chpa 13 you will find a better explanation for your Prophet Of God and a soothsayer or just a plain prophet. Besides, if you break the word itself down in the English you have your answer. Sooth-Sayer, someone that says soothing words. They do not care if it is true or not. Just to make you "feel" good.
God Bless
2007-12-06 10:15:34 · answer #5 · answered by xgarmstrong 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In that context, the difference is the source of inspiration.
A genuine prophet gets his messages from God.
A soothsayer makes it up for himself, possibly for material gain.
As the name would imply, a soothsayer most likely would have a nice calming message, whereas God's message may have been the exact opposite. You find similar ideas in the book of Jeremiah, where the false prophets were proclaiming messages of peace when God was in fact planning destruction.
2007-12-06 10:07:43 · answer #6 · answered by Dr D 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The methodology. A soothsayer uses some sort of device to determine the will of a god, a prophet generally claims direct revelation.
2007-12-06 10:02:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
a prophet is a messenger strenghtened in the holy spirit who is sent down by GOD to set an accurate example for everyone to go off of. A sooth sayer is a regular person thats supposed to be following that example of a prophet.
2007-12-06 10:06:51 · answer #8 · answered by layn da smckdwn 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The difference is the amount of followers and notoriety. Prophets generally have a larger following.
2007-12-06 10:04:32 · answer #9 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A prophet (in the passage specifically "false" prophet)
Is someone who supposedly is speaking for G-d.
(ex: G-d says: "Who diddy what not")
A soothsayer is someone who just says whatever he's feeling.
(ex: I say: "Beware the ides of march!")
2007-12-06 10:02:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe a prophet is a type of soothsayer.
2007-12-06 10:01:38 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋