<strong>ORACLE</strong> (ŏr'a-k'l, Heb. <em>dāvar</em>, Gr. <em> logion</em>)<br /><br />

An utterance supposedly coming from a deity and generally through an inspired medium. This is the classical usage (cf. “<span class="auto-link">[[Sibylline Oracles]]</span>”).In the Bible, an utterance from God. In the KJV of <bibleref ref="2Sam.16.23">2Sam.16.23</bibleref> we read that Ahithophel was so highly regarded before he turned traitor to David that his words were considered oracles from God.The OT was referred to as “living [<span class="small-caps">kjv</span> “lively”] oracles” or “words” (<bibleref ref="Acts.7.38">Acts.7.38</bibleref>). NIV has “elementary truths” in <bibleref ref="Heb.5.12">Heb.5.12</bibleref> and “the very words of God” in <bibleref ref="1Pet.4.11">1Pet.4.11</bibleref>.<br /><br />

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<strong>ORACLE</strong> (<span class="hebrew">מַשָּׂא</span>, <span class="gknumber">H5362</span>, <em>burden</em>). 1. A divinely inspired communication conveying God’s will to man (<bibleref ref="2Sam.16.23">2 Sam 16:23</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Rom.3.2">Rom 3:2</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Heb.5.12">Heb 5:12</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Pet.4.11">1 Pet 4:11</bibleref>).<br /><br />

2. A wise utterance like those taught King Lemuel by his mother (<bibleref ref="Prov.31.1">Prov 31:1</bibleref>).<br /><br />

3. The <span class="auto-link">[[Holy of Holies]]</span> in the Temple in Jerusalem (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.6.5">1 Kings 6:5</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Kgs.7.49">7:49</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Kgs.8.6">8:6</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="1Kgs.8.8">8</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Ps.28.2">Ps 28:2</bibleref>).<br /><br />

4. An utterance by a priest or priestess at the shrine of a god.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

or’-a-k’-l:<br /><br />

(1) A divine utterance delivered to man, usually in answer to a request for guidance. So in <bibleref ref="2Sam.16.23">2Sa 16:23</bibleref> for dabhar ("word," as in the <span class="auto-link">[[Revised Version]]</span> 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 disuse at the rise of prophecy, and there are no illustrations of the means employed (<bibleref ref="1Sam.14.18">1Sa 14:18</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="1Sam.14.19">19</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="1Sam.14.36-1Sam.14.42">36-42</bibleref>, etc., belong rather to DIVINATION (which see)). In. the Revised Version margin of such passages as <bibleref ref="Isa.13.1">Isa 13:1</bibleref>, "oracle" is used in the titles of certain special prophecies as a substitute for BURDEN (which see) (massa’), with considerable advantage (especially in <bibleref ref="Lam.2.14">La 2:14</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(2) In heathen temples "oracle" was used for the chamber in which the utterances were delivered (naturally a most sacred part of the structure). This usage, coupled with a mistake in Hebrew philology (connecting debhir, "hinder part," with dibber, "speak"), caused <span class="auto-link">[[English Versions]]</span> of the Bible to give the title "oracle" to the <span class="auto-link">[[Most Holy Place]]</span> of the Temple, in <bibleref ref="1Kgs.6.5">1Ki 6:5</bibleref>, etc., following the example of Aquila, Symmachus and the Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) But the title is very unfortunate, as the Most <span class="auto-link">[[Holy Place]]</span> had nothing to do with the delivery of oracles, and the Revised Version (British and American) should have corrected (compare <bibleref ref="Ps.28.2">Ps 28:2</bibleref> margin).<br /><br />

(3) In the <span class="auto-link">[[New Testament]]</span> English Versions of the Bible employs "oracle" as the translation of logion, "saying," in four places. In all, divine utterances are meant, specialized in <bibleref ref="Acts.7.38">Ac 7:38</bibleref> as the Mosaic Law ("living oracles" equals "commandments enforced by the living God"), in <bibleref ref="Rom.3.2">Ro 3:2</bibleref> as the <span class="auto-link">[[Old Testament]]</span> in general, and in <bibleref ref="Heb.5.12">Heb 5:12</bibleref> as the revelations of Christianity (<bibleref ref="Heb.6.2">Heb 6:2</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Heb.6.3">3</bibleref>). In <bibleref ref="1Pet.4.11">1Pe 4:11</bibleref> the meaning is debated, but probably the command is addressed to those favored by a supernatural "gift of speech." Such men must keep their own personality in the background, adding nothing of their own to the inspired message as it comes to them.<br /><br />