Bible Helps Dictionary

Bible Dictionary: O. 1840

OAK, the noblest of plants, and hence
called "king of the forest," Gen. 35:
4-8; Amos 2:9. It was so celebrated for
its age and strength, that the tree under
which Abraham entertained the angels
was believed to be an oak which, as
Josephus says, existed in his time near
the city of Hebron, Gen. 18:4-8. Idol-
atry in Canaan was practised under the
oak, Ezek. 6:13; as it was in Europe,
by the ancient Druids. That tree, how-
ever, which is frequently called oak in
the Scriptures, is thought to have been
the terebinth, or turpentine-tree, which
is as large as a small oak, and which
abounds in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Pa-
lestine, Isa. 6:13.
OAR, an instrument of sailing in a boat,
Ezek. 27:6, 29.
OATH, a solemn declaration, with an
appeal for its truth to the omniscience
of Almighty God, Gen. 24:3-8. Oaths
may be taken with pious solemnity, as
God has condescended to give us an
example, binding himself by an oath to
perform his gracious promises, thereby
to engage our joyful confidence in his
providence and grace, Heb. 6:16, 17:
but no kind of oath should be sworn in
a profane manner, or on a trivial occa-
sion, Matt. 5:33-37; Jam. 5:12.
OBADI'AH, [h] (labourer of the Lord),
a pious nobleman in the court of Ahab,
the wicked king of Israel: his character
is evident from his protection of the
prophets, and his interview with Elijah,
1 Kings 18:1-16.
OBADIAH, the prophet, flourished dur-
ing the latter part of the ministry of
Jeremiah, after the first siege of Jeru-
salem, and before its destruction by Ne-
buchadnezzar, 2 Kings 24.
OBADIAH, THE BOOK OF: this short
prophecy foretels chiefly the Divine
judgments upon the wicked Edomites,
and the blessings of evangelical prosper-
ity among the godly. List: Commentary.
OBADIAH, a valiant man in the army
of David, 1 Chron. 12:9.
OBADIAH, a prince and teacher of Judah,
2 Chron. 17:7.
OBADIAH, a nobleman of Judah after
the return from Babylon, Neh. 10:5.
O'BAL, [h] (trouble of old age), a son of
Joktan, who peopled part of Arabia,
Gen. 10:28.
O'BED, [h] (a servant), the son of Ruth
by Boaz, father of Jesse, and grandfather
of David, Ruth 4:17.
OBED-EDOM, [h] (labourer of Edom),
a distinguished Levite, noted for having
the ark of the Lord under his care, 2 Sam.
6:10-12; 1 Chron. 15:18-25.
OBEDIENCE, dutiful submission, 2 Cor.
10:5, 6. Christ, by His obedience, wrought
righteousness for the justification of all
believers, [Rom]. 5:19: believers are sanc-
tified to yield holy obedience, and thus
to glorify God, 1 Pet. 1:2.
OBEDIENT, dutiful, Exod. 24:7; Rom.
15:18.
OBEISANCE, an act of civil reverence,
as bowing the head, Gen. 37:7-9;
Exod. 18:7.
OBEY, to perform duty, Gen. 27:8;
Exod. 5:2: to serve, Jam. 3:3.
OBEYED, did obey, Gen. 22:18; Heb.
11:8.
OBEYING, performing, Judg. 2:17:
practising, 1 Pet. 1:22.
O'BIL, [h] (that weeps or is bewailed),
an Ishmaelite, master of the camels of
king David, 1 Chron. 27:30.
OBJECT, to oppose, Acts 24:19.
OBLATION, an offering, as for sacrifice,
Lev. 2:4-12. See OFFERING.
OBSCURE, dark or gloomy, Prov. 20:20.
OBSCURITY, darkness, Isa. 58:10:
calamity, 59:9.
OBSERVATION, worldly splendour, as
by this vain minds are chiefly attracted,
Luke 17:20.
OBSERVE, to watch or regard atten-
tively, 1 Kings 20:30: to practise, Exod.
12:17.
OBSERVED, did observe or consider,
Gen. 37:11; Mark 6:26.
OBSERVER of times, an astrologer, a
vain pretender to the knowledge of futu-
rity, Deut. 18:10-14.
OBSTINATE, stubborn in disobedience[,]
Deut. 2:30; Isa. 48:4.
OBTAIN, to procure, Gen. 16:12: to
possess, Dan. 11:21: to gain, as a favour,
Heb. 4:16.
OBTAINED, did obtain or procure, Neh.
13:6; Heb. 11:2.
OBTAINING, procuring, 2 Thess. 2:14.
OCCASION, cause of complaint, Gen.
43:18: opportunity, 2 Cor. 5:12.
OCCASIONED, did occasion or cause,
1 Sam. 22:22.
OCCUPATION, trade or business, Gen.
46:33; Acts 18:3.
OCCUPIED, used, Exod. 38:24;
Judg. 16:11.
OCCUPIERS, traders, Ezek. 27:27.
OCCUPY, to use, as in trade or business,
Ezek. 27:9; Luke 19:13.
OCCURRENT, happening, 1 Kings 5:4.
ODD, additional, as the number 273 of
the male Levites exceeded the number
of the firstborn of Israel, Num. 3:39,
46, 48.
O'DED, [h] (to sustain or to lift up), a
prophet in Samaria, who interposed
against the captivity of the vanquished
Jews, by Pekah, king of Israel, 2 Chron.
28:9.
ODED, father of the prophet Azariah,
2 Chron. 15:1.
ODIOUS, abhorred, 1 Chron. 19:6:
hateful, Prov. 30:23.
ODOUR, scent, as the fragrance of per-
fume, John 12:3: holy benevolence is
thus commended, Phil. 4:18.
OFFENCE, crime, Hos. 5:15; such is
human transgression against the law of
God, Rom. 5:15-20: an occasion of
offence, as Messiah's appearance in the
humblest condition without worldly splen-
dour was to the Jewish rulers, Isa. 8:
14; Rom. 11:33; as the doctrine of re-
demption by Christ crucified is to proud
men, Gal. 5:11.
OFFEND, to commit a fault, Jam. 2:
10; 3:2: to injure, Matt. 18:6: to
displease, John 6:61: to occasion error,
1 Cor. 8:13.
OFFENDED, transgressed, 2 Chron.
28:13: made angry, Matt. 15:12:
provoked, Prov. 18:19: surprised to
cowardice, Matt. 26:31-33: discou-
raged, John 16:1.
OFFENDER, a transgressor, 1 Kings 1:
21; Acts 25:11.
OFFER, to present, as a gift, Exod.
23:18; 29:36: to yield or permit,
Luke 6:29.
OFFERED, did offer or present, Gen.
31:54; Ezra 6:17; Heb. 11:4.
OFFERED, presented, Mal. 1:11: dedi-
cated, 1 Cor. 8:8: sacrificed, Heb. 9:
28: martyred, 2 Tim. 4:8.
OFFERING, a sacrifice or gift presented
in Divine worship, Gen. 4:3, 4; or for
the service of God, Exod. 25:2,3; 30:
13-15. Offerings of various kinds were
required by the law of Moses, as consti-
tuting the chief services of religion; and
they were highly significant, typical of
Christ. The whole tabernacle services
of Israel must be regarded, the apostle
declares, as "a figure for the time then
present, in which were offered both gifts
and sacrifices, that could not make him
that did the service perfect, as pertaining
to the conscience :--imposed on them
until the time of reformation, when
Christ, a high-priest of good things to
come, not by the blood of goats and
calves, but by his own blood, entered
once into the holy place, having ob-
tained eternal redemption for us," Heb.
9:9-12. Moses ordained the following
offerings:--
1. Burnt-offering: this was a bullock, a
he lamb, a kid, or a clean fowl, Lev 1:
2-17: this was the most ancient sacrifice,
as an atonement for sin, by the Divine
appointment to our first parents, and
offered in faith by Abel, Gen. 4:4; Heb.
11:4. Of this class was the daily sacri-
fice for Israel, Exod. 29:38-42, "a
whole burnt-offering," Psal. 51:19.
2. Sin-offering: this was a sacrifice of
an animal as an atonement for sin,
offered by the high-priest for himself,
Exod. 29:10-14; for the nation, 30:
10; Lev. 4:3; 16:9-15; for a ruler, Lev.
4:22-26; or for a private person, Lev.
4:27-33.
3. Trespass-offering: this was a sacrifice
of a sin-offering, presented by an indi-
vidual who had committed any trespass,
or contracted any ceremonial defilement,
Lev. 5:1-19.
4. Peace-offering: this was in the nature
of a thank-offering for mercies received:
it consisted of some animal, with various
appendages, similar to those with other
sacrifices, Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-21.
5. Meat-offering: this was a present of
fine flour, or cakes of unleavened bread
with oil, or first fruits, or green ears of
corn dried, Lev. 2:1-16. Meat-offerings
accompanied most of the animal sacri-
fices, Exod. 29:40, 41.
6. Drink-offering: this was also a pre-
sent of an appendage to a sacrifice,
Exod. 29:40, 41; Num. 28:7-31;
29:6-39.
7. Heave-offering: this was part of the
sacrifice, as the shoulder of the victim,
heaved up towards heaven as a token of
it being devoted to God, Exod. 29:27;
or bread, Lev. 7:12-14; or the first
produce of new corn, Num. 15:19-21;
or the tithes, 18:19-29; or the captives
in war, beasts and men, 31:28-41.
8. Wave-offering: this also was a part
of the sacrifice, and so called as it was
waved before the Lord by the priest, in
acknowledgment of the Divine gifts and
blessings, especially the first fruits of har-
vest, Exod. 29:22-27; Lev. 23:10-20.

Oral instruction from the priests,
doubtless, accompanied the sacrifices;
but of this we have not particular in-
formation, yet the form of acknowledg-
ment, on presenting the first fruits, is
given to us by Moses, Deut. 26:5-10.
Some Hebrew doctors have given the
following, as the form of confession by
the priest on the day of atonement :--
"O, Lord, thy people, the house of Israel,
have done wickedly; they have trans-
gressed before thee: I beseech thee now,
O Lord, pardon the sins, iniquities, and
transgressions, with which thy people,
the house of Israel, have sinned, done
wickedly, and transgressed before thee;
as it is written in the law of thy servant
Moses; that in that day he shall make
an atonement for you, that he might
cleanse you, and that you might be clean
from all your transgressions before the
Lord." Dr. Outram gives the following
form of confession, as being used by a
Jew at a private sacrifice :--"Now, O
Lord, I have sinned, I have committed
iniquity, I have rebelled; but I return
in repentance to thy presence, and be
this my expiation."
OFFICE, a place of trust or responsible
employment, Gen. 41:13; Exod. 28:
1: service, Exod. 1:16: the place of pub-
lic service, 2 Chron. 24:11.
OFFICER, a public servant, as of a
king, Gen. 37:36: as a magistrate,
Deut. 1:15: a constable, John 7:3;
Acts 5:22.
OFFSCOURING, the part rubbed away
in cleaning a floor; such were the apos-
tles of Christ esteemed by the wicked,
1 Cor. 4:13; and as such the conquered
and captive Jews were regarded by their
enemies, Lam. 3:45.
OFFSPRING, produce of the earth:
thus children are the offspring of their
parents, Job 21:7, 8: men are the off-
spring of God as his creatures, Acts 17:
22. Christ calls Himself "the root and
offspring of David," Rev. 22:15; the
root, as being God, who gave existence
to the king of Israel, and to all the
families of the earth; and the offspring,
as he took on him our nature of the
virgin Mary.
OFT, frequently, 2 Kings 4:8: many
times, Acts 26:11.
OFTEN, frequently, Mal. 3:16: repeat-
edly, 2 Cor. 11:26, 27.
OFTENER, more frequently, Acts 24:
26.
OFTENTIMES, many times, Rom. 1:13.
OG, [h] (rake, or bread baked on the ashes),
the famous giant king of Bashan con-
quered by the Israelites, Num. 21:33;
Deut. 3:1-13.
O'HAD, [h] (that praises), a son of
Simeon, who went with his father into
Egypt, Gen. 46:10.
OIL, the juice of olives, Exod. 27:
20; Deut. 8:8; 28:40. Oil was a
great delicacy as an article of food in
Canaan, Lev. 7:10; Deut. 12:17; 2
Chron. 2:10: it was used also for lamps,
Exod. 25:6; and especially for oint-
ment on festive and joyous occasions,
Psal. 23:5; 104:15.
OILED, moistened with oil, as a cake of
pastry, Exod. 29:23.
OIL-TREE, the olive, Isa. 41:19.
OINTMENT, perfumed oil, rendered
fragrant with various spices, Exod. 30:
23-32. Ointment was used from the
earliest period in the East, as a luxury
and for health, Deut. 28:40; Luke
7:38-46. The olive-tree was regarded
as an emblem of the Divine benignity;
and anointing to the prophetic and regal
offices denoted the necessity of the indi-
viduals possessing the gifts and grace of
the Holy Spirit, Psal. 45:7; Isa. 61:1.
See ANOINT and CHRIST.
OLD, advanced in age, Gen. 18:11-
13: decaying, Heb. 1:9: useless, 8:13:
pernicious, 1 Cor. 5:7, 8.
OLD MAN, an aged person, Gen. 25:8:
corrupt affections, Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9.
OLDNESS, ceremonial antiquity, Rom.
7:6.
OLD TESTAMENT, the dispensation of
Divine mercy to mankind, which was
taught by sacrifices, and established
among the people of Israel by the Levi-
tical priesthood; all of which were typi-
cal of the promised Messiah, and were
consummated in Christianity, 2 Cor. 3:
6-14; Heb. 9:15.
OLD TESTAMENT, the title given to
the volume of the inspired writings of
the prophets, and forming the first part
of the HOLY BIBLE. See the following
TABLE.
OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS,
HISTORICAL, MORAL, AND DEVOTIONAL.

Names. Authors. Dates in years B. C.

Genesis . . . . . . . Moses . . . . . . . . From 4004 to 1635

Job . . Do. . 2180 or 2130

Exodus . . Do. . From 1635 to 1490

Leviticus . . Do. . 1490

Numbers . . Do. . From 1490 to 1451

Deuteronomy . . Do. . 1451

Joshua . . Joshua . . From 1451 to 1425

Judges . . Samuel . . -- 1425 to 1120

Ruth . . Do. . -- 1241 to 1231

1 Samuel } . .
2 Samuel } . . { Samuel, Nathan, . . ..
{ Gad, and others . . . -- 1171 to 1055
-- 1055 to 1015

Psalms . . David and others . .. { At various times.--Those by
{ David from 1060 to 1015

Solomon's Song . . . .. Solomon . . About 1010

Proverbs . . Do.. -- 1000

Ecclesiastes . . . . .. Do. . -- 977

1 Kings } . . . . . . .
2 Kings } . . . . . . . { Nathan, Gad, . . . ..
{ Ahijah, Iddo, Isaiah, }
{ and others . . . . } 1 Kings from 1015 to 896
2 Kings from 896 to 562

1 Chronicles } . . . . .
2 Chronicles } . . . . . Ezra and others . . . .. From 4004 to 562

Ezra . . Ezra . . -- 536 to 456

Esther . . Do.. -- 521 to 495

Nehemiah . . . . . .. Nehemiah . . . . . . . -- 455 to 420

PROPHETICAL BOOKS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

Name. Between the years
B. C. Kings of Judah. Kings of Israel.

Jonah . . . 856 and 784 { Joash, Amaziah, . . .
{ or Azariah . . . .. Jehu and Jehoahaz,
or Joash and Jeroboam II.

Amos . . .. 810 and 725 Uzziah, ch. 1:1 . . . . . Jeroboam II.

Hosea . . . 810 and 725 { Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, }
{ Hezekiah . . . . . } Do.

Isaiah . .. 810 and 698 { Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, }
{ Hezekiah . . . .. }
{ and Manasseh . . .. Zechariah, Shallum, Me-
nahem, Pekaiah,
Pekah, and Hosea.

Joel . . . . { 810 and 660 }
{ or later . } Uzziah or Manasseh . . . Do.

Micah . . .. 758 and 699 { Jotham, Ahaz, and He- }
{ zekiah, ch. 1:1 . . . } Pekah and Hosea.

Nahum . . . 720 and 698 { Hezekiah, close of his
{ reign.

Zephaniah .. 640 and 609 Josiah ch. 1:1.

Jeremiah . . 628 and 586 Josiah and Captivity.

Lamentations. About 588 Captivity.

Habakkuk . . 612 and 598 Jehoiakim.

Daniel . . .. 606 and 534 Captivity.

Obadiah . . . 588 and 583 { After Nebuchadnezzar's
{ siege.

Ezekiel . .. 595 and 536 Captivity.

Haggai . . 520 and 518 { After the return from
{ Babylon.

Zechariah .. 520 and 510 Do.

Malachi . . . 436 and 397 Do.

OLD TESTAMENT, Hebrew Masoretic Text (1894).

OLIVE, the oil-tree abounding in Ca-
naan, Deut. 8:8; [28]:40: many spe-
cies are enumerated, but only the culti-
vated and the wild olive are mentioned
in the Scriptures. The cultivated olive
is of a moderate height; its trunk is
knotty, its bark is smooth, of an ash
colour, with oblong leaves, nearly resem-
bling those of the willow: in June it
bears white bunches of flowers, which
are succeeded by the fruit, oblong in
form and plump, first green, then pale,
and black when quite ripe, with a stone
full of seeds. The wild olive is smaller
than that which is cultivated, Rom. 11:
17-24. Olive branches, from very ancient
times, were commonly used as the sym-
bol of reconciliation and peace: olive
oil is now an important article of com-
merce in Europe, Deut. 28:40.
OLIVE-YARDS, plantations of olive-
trees, which were numerous in many parts
of Canaan, Exod. 23:11; Josh. 24:13;
Neh. 5:11.
OLIVES, THE MOUNT OF: this moun-
tain lay on the east of Jerusalem, from
which it was separated by a valley, and
at the distance of from one mile to about
two miles, on the sides of which were
situated Bethany and Bethphage. Mount
Olivet was infamous, as the seat of Solo-
mon's shameful idolatries; and therefore
called the Mount of Corruption, 2 Kings
23:13: but it is celebrated as the
place of our Saviour's frequent retire-
ment across the brook Cedron, John 8:
1; 18:2; and as the place from which
he ascended to heaven, Luke 24:50;
Acts 1:12.
OLYM'PAS, Όλυμπας (of mount Olympus),
a Roman Christian, Rom. 16:15.
O'MAR, [h] (he that speaks), a grandson
of Esau, Gen. 36:11-15.
OME'GA, Ω, ω, the last letter of the
Greek alphabet, and assumed as a signi-
ficant title by our Saviour, Rev. 1:8-11.
OMER, a Hebrew measure of about
three quarts, Exod. 16:32-36. See
MEASURES.
OMITTED, left out or neglected, Matt.
23:23.
OMNIPOTENT, almighty, Rev. 19:6.
See ALMIGHTY.
OM'RI, [h] (sheaf, or bundle of corn), a
king of Israel, and father of the wicked king
Ahab, 1 Kings 16:16-28.

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