ORDINANCE or'-di-nans: 1. Old Testament Use: This word generally represents chuqqah, something prescribed, enactment, usually with reference to matters of ritual. In the King James Version the same word is frequently translated by "statute" or "statutes," which is also the rendering of a similar Hebrew word, namely, choq. the Revised Version (Bri

ORDAIN; ORDINATION or-dan', or-di-na-shun (Latin ordinare, "to set in order" "to arrange"; in post-Augustan Latin "to appoint to office"; from ordo, gen. ordinis, "order," "arrangement"): In the King James Version the verb "to ordain" renders as many as 35 different words (11 Hebrew words in the Old Testament, 21 Greek words in Apocrypha and the N

ORCHARD or'-cherd: (1) pardec, from Old Persian, "a walled-in enclosure"; paradeisos, a word in classical Greek applied to the garden of Babylon (Diodorus Siculus xi.10) and to a game park (Xenophon, Anab. i.2, 7). See Nehemiah 2:8, "forest," margin "park"; Song of Solomon 4:13, "orchard," margin "paradise" (of pomegranates); Ecclesiastes 2:5, "pa

ORACLES, SIBYLLINE sib'-i-lin, -lin. See APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE, sec. V. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'ORACLES, SIBYLLINE'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

ORATOR; ORTION or'-a-ter, o-ra'-shun: The word "orator" occurs twice: (1) As the King James Version rendering of lachash; only Isaiah 3:3, "the eloquent orator," the King James Version margin "skilful of speech," where the Revised Version (British and American) rightly substitutes "the skillful enchanter." The word lachash is probably a mimetic w

ORACLE or'-a-k'-l: (1) A divine utterance delivered to man, usually in answer to a request for guidance. So in 2 Samuel 16:23 for dabhar ("word," as in the Revised Version margin). The use in this passage seems to indicate that at an early period oracular utterances were sought from Yahweh by the Israelites, but the practice certainly fell into di

OPOBALSAMUM op-o-bal'-sa-mum: the Revised Version margin in Exodus 30:34. See STACTE. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'OPOBALSAMUM'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

OPPRESSION o-presh'-un: Used in the King James Version to translate a variety of Hebrew words, all of which, however, agree in the general sense of wrong done by violence to others. There are a few cases where the reference is to the oppression of Israel by foreigners, as by their Egyptian masters (Exodus 3:9; Deuteronomy 26:7), or by Syria (2 Kin

OPHRAH of'-ra (`ophrah; Codex Vaticanus Aphra; Codex Alexandrinus Iephratha, etc.): (1) A town in the territory allotted to Benjamin named between Parah and Chephar-ammoni (Joshua 18:23). It is mentioned again in 1 Samuel 13:17. The Philistines who were encamped at Michmash sent out marauding bands, one of which went westward, another eastward, do

OPINION o-pin'-yun (dea`, ce`ippim): "Opinion" occurs only 5 times, thrice in Job (32:6,10,17) as the translation of dea`, "knowledge," "opinion" (in the address of Elihu), and once of ce`ippim, from ca`aph, "to divide or branch out," hence, division or party, unsettled opinion (in the memorable appeal of Elijah, "How long halt ye between two opin

OPHNI of'-ni (ha-`ophni; Aphne): A place in the territory of Benjamin (Joshua 18:24). The modern Jifneh, in a fine vale West of the road to Nablus and 2 1/2 miles Northwest of Bethel, might suit as to position; but the change in the initial letter from `ain to jim is not easy. This is the Gophna of the rabbis (compare Josephus, Jewish Wars, III, i

OPHIR o'-fer, o'-fir ('owphiyr (Genesis 10:29), 'owphir (1 Kings 10:11), 'ophir): 1. Scriptural References: The 11th in order of the sons of Joktan (Genesis 10:29 equals 1 Chronicles 1:23). There is a clear reference also to a tribe Ophir (Genesis 10:30). Ophir is the name of a land or city somewhere to the South or Southeast of Palestine for whi

OPERATION op-er-a'-shun (ma`ashe, "work"; energeia, energema, "energy"): Twice used in the Old Testament of God's creative work (Psalms 28:4,5; Isaiah 5:12). The Holy Spirit's inworking and power are manifest in the bestowal of spiritual gifts on individuals and on the church (1 Corinthians 12:6 the King James Version), and in the resurrection of

OPHEL o'-fel (ha-`ophel (2 Chronicles 27:3; 33:14; Nehemiah 3:26; 11:21; and without article, Isaiah 32:14 and Micah 4:8; also 2 Kings 5:24)): 1. Meaning of Name: There has been considerable divergence of opinion with regard to the meaning of this name. Thus, in all the references given above with the article, the Revised Version (British and Ame

OPEN PLACE (1) The "open place" of Genesis 38:14 the King James Version, in which Tamar sat, has come from a misunderstanding of the Hebrew, the translators having taken bephethach `enayim to mean "in an opening publicly," instead of "in an opening (i.e. a gate) of Enaim" (compare Proverbs 1:21 in the Hebrew). The Revised Version (British and Ameri

OPEN o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Numbers 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Psalms 119:18; Jeremiah 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A pe

ONYX on'-iks o'-niks. See STONES, PRECIOUS. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'ONYX'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

ONUS o'-nus. See ONO. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'ONUS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

ONYCHA on'i-ka (shecheleth; compare Arabic suchalat, "filings," "husks"): "Onycha" is a transliteration of the Septuagint onucha, accusative of onux, which means "nail," "claw," "hoof," and also "onyx," a precious stone. The form "onycha" was perhaps chosen to avoid confusion with "onyx," the stone. The Hebrew shecheleth occurs only in Exodus 30:3

ONIONS un'-yunz (betsalim; krommuon): One of the delicacies of Egypt for which the children of Israel pined in the wilderness (Numbers 11:5). The onion, alllium cepa (Natural Order Liliaceae), is known in Arabic as bucal and is cultivated all over Syria and Egypt; it appears to be as much a favorite in the Orient today as ever. Copyright Statement