Easton's Bible Dictionary

Oracle In the Old Testament used in every case, except Sa2 16:23, to denote the most holy place in the temple (Kg1 6:5, Kg1 6:19; Kg1 8:6). In Sa2 16:23 it means the Word of God. A man inquired "at the oracle of God" by means of the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate on the high priest's ephod. In the New Testament it is used only in the plural, and always denotes the Word of God (Rom 3:2; Heb 5:12, etc.). The Scriptures are called "living oracles" (Compare Heb 4:12) because of their quickening power (Act 7:38).

Oreb Raven, a prince of Midian, who, being defeated by Gideon and put to straits, was slain along with Zeeb (Jdg 7:20). Many of the Midianites perished along with him (Psa 83:9; Isa 10:26).

Oreb, The Rock of The place where Gideon slew Oreb after the defeat of the Midianites (Jdg 7:25; Isa 10:26). It was probably the place now called Orbo, on the east of Jordan, near Bethshean.

Oren Ash or pine, the son of Jerahmeel (Ch1 2:25).

Organ Some kind of wind instrument, probably a kind of Pan's pipes (Gen 4:21; Job 21:12; Psa 150:4), which consisted of seven or eight reeds of unequal length.

Orion Heb. Kesil ; i.e., "the fool", the name of a constellation (Job 9:9; Job 38:31; Amo 5:8) consisting of about eighty stars. The Vulgate renders thus, but the LXX. renders by Hesperus, i.e., "the evening-star," Venus. The Orientals "appear to have conceived of this constellation under the figure of an impious giant bound upon the sky." This giant was, according to tradition, Nimrod, the type of the folly that contends against God. In Isa 13:10 the plural form of the Hebrew word is rendered "constellations.

Ornan Ch1 21:15. (See ARAUNAH.)

Orpah Forelock or fawn, a Moabitess, the wife of Chilion (Rut 1:4; Rut 4:10). On the death of her husband she accompanied Naomi, her mother-in-law, part of the way to Bethlehem, and then returned to Moab.

Orphans (Lam 5:3), i.e., desolate and without protectors. The word occurs only here. In Joh 14:18 the word there rendered "comfortless" (R.V., "desolate;" marg., "orphans") properly means "orphans." The same Greek word is rendered "fatherless" in Jam 1:27.

Osprey Heb. 'ozniyyah , an unclean bird according to the Mosaic law (Lev 11:13; Deu 14:12); the fish-eating eagle (Pandion haliaetus); one of the lesser eagles. But the Hebrew word may be taken to denote the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus of Southern Europe), one of the most abundant of the eagle tribe found in Palestine.