WG: False Prophets
Overview
The false prophets concept in the NT clusters around the compound ψευδοπροφήτης and its cognates — a pseudo- prefix attached to the base prophet/Christ roles. Three distinct ideas converge: the counterfeit identity (pseudo-), the legitimate role being imitated (prophetes/christos), and the deceptive mechanism (planao). The Hebrew background lacks a single-word equivalent; the LXX coined the Greek compound to translate Jeremiah's extended warnings.
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| G5578 |
ψευδοπροφήτης |
pseudoprophḗtēs |
masculine noun |
11 |
The counterfeit: false prophet |
G5578-pseudoprophetes.md |
| G5580 |
ψευδόχριστος |
pseudóchristos |
masculine noun |
2 |
The parallel counterfeit: false Christ |
TODO(need G5580 study) |
| G4396 |
προφήτης |
prophētēs |
masculine noun |
143 |
The legitimate role being imitated |
G4396-prophetes.md |
| G4105 |
πλανάω |
planáō |
verb |
37 |
The mechanism: to deceive, lead astray |
TODO(need G4105 study) |
| G5571 |
ψευδής |
pseudēs |
adjective |
3 |
The root qualifier: false, spurious |
TODO(need G5571 study) |
Relationships
Shared Roots
- G5578 (pseudoprophetes), G5580 (pseudochristos), G5571 (pseudes) — all from root ψεῦδος (pseudos, falsehood)
- G5578 (pseudoprophetes), G4396 (prophetes) — share the prophetes base; G5578 = G5571 + G4396 as a compound
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| G5578 pseudoprophetes |
G4105 planao |
4 |
"shall rise and deceive many" — false prophets and the act of deception paired |
| G5578 pseudoprophetes |
G5580 pseudochristos |
2 |
"false Christs and false prophets" — paired as eschatological dangers |
| G5580 pseudochristos |
G4105 planao |
1 |
Mat 24:24 — the triad of false claimants, signs, and deception |
Shared Hebrew Sources
| Hebrew Word |
Strong's |
Bridges |
| נָבִיא (nābîyʼ) |
H5030 |
→ G4396 (236 co-occ), G5578 (10 co-occ) — the "prophet" concept shared by both genuine and counterfeit |
| נָבָא (nābāʼ) |
H5012 |
→ G4396 (31 co-occ), G5571 (9 co-occ) — prophesying as the activity |
Roles in the Concept
- Counterfeit office: pseudoprophetes (G5578) — the false prophet claiming prophetic authority
- Parallel counterfeit: pseudochristos (G5580) — the false messiah; always paired with G5578 in the Synoptic warnings
- Legitimate archetype: prophetes (G4396) — the role being imitated; gives G5578 its deceptive plausibility
- Root qualifier: pseudes (G5571) — the adjective of falseness that forms the compound prefix
- Mechanism: planao (G4105) — to wander/lead astray; the verb that describes what false prophets do
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together
- Mat 24:24 — [G5578 + G5580 + G4105] "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect"
- Mat 24:11 — [G5578 + G4105] "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many"
- Mark 13:22 — [G5578 + G5580] "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect"
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py, gather_word_data.py
Last updated: 2026-04-02