An orator, in biblical terms, refers to a person skilled in public speaking, often with the ability to persuade or move an audience through eloquence and rhetoric. The role of an orator is significant in both secular and religious contexts within the Bible, as effective communication was essential for leaders, prophets, and apostles to convey their messages.

Biblical References:

1. Tertullus: One of the most direct references to an orator in the Bible is Tertullus, who is described as a skilled speaker. In Acts 24:1-2 , Tertullus is hired by the Jewish leaders to present their case against the Apostle Paul before the Roman governor Felix. The passage states, "Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: 'We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.'"

2. Moses: Although not explicitly called an orator, Moses is a central figure in the Bible who initially expressed concern about his speaking abilities. In Exodus 4:10 , Moses says to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant—for I am slow of speech and tongue." Despite his self-doubt, Moses became a powerful leader and communicator, delivering God's laws and guiding the Israelites.

3. Paul the Apostle: The Apostle Paul, though not always considered a traditional orator, was a profound communicator of the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 , Paul reflects on his approach to preaching: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power."

Characteristics of a Biblical Orator:

· Eloquence and Persuasion: A biblical orator is often characterized by their ability to speak persuasively and eloquently, as seen in the example of Tertullus. This skill is used to influence and sway audiences, whether in legal settings or public discourse.

· Divine Empowerment: Many biblical figures who served as orators or communicators were empowered by God to deliver their messages. Despite personal limitations, such as Moses' self-professed lack of eloquence, God's empowerment enabled them to fulfill their roles effectively.

· Focus on Truth: Unlike secular orators who may prioritize rhetoric over substance, biblical orators are often depicted as prioritizing the truth of God's message. Paul emphasizes this in his letters, focusing on the power of the Spirit rather than human wisdom.

· Moral and Spiritual Authority: Biblical orators often speak with a sense of moral and spiritual authority, derived from their relationship with God. This authority lends weight to their words and commands respect from their audiences.

In summary, the role of an orator in the Bible encompasses both the art of persuasive speech and the divine calling to communicate God's truth. Whether through formal rhetoric or simple proclamation, biblical orators are instrumental in advancing God's purposes and guiding His people.Orator

1. The Authorized Version rendering in (Isaiah 3:3) for what is literally "skillful in whisper or incantation."
2. The title applied to Tertullus, who appeared as the advocate of the Jewish accusers of St. Paul before Felix, (Acts 24:1)

1. (n.) A public speaker; one who delivers an oration; especially, one distinguished for his skill and power as a public speaker; one who is eloquent.

2. (n.) In equity proceedings, one who prays for relief; a petitioner.

3. (n.) A plaintiff, or complainant, in a bill in chancery.

4. (n.) An officer who is the voice of the university upon all public occasions, who writes, reads, and records all letters of a public nature, presents, with an appropriate address, those persons on whom honorary degrees are to be conferred, and performs other like duties; -- called also public orator.

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 word meaning "a hiss," "a whisper" and is used in the sense of "incantation" "charm." Hence, nebhon lachash means "skillful in incantation," "expert in magic." See DIVINATION; ENCHANTMENT.

(2) As the rendering of rhetor, the title applied to Tertullus, who appeared as the advocate of the Jewish accusers of Paul before Felix (Acts 24:1). The proceedings, as was generally the case in the provincial Roman courts, would probably be conducted in Latin, and under Roman modes of procedure, in which the parties would not be well versed; hence, the need of a professional advocate. Rhetor is here the equivalent of the older Greek sunegoros, "the prosecuting counsel," as opposed to the sundikos, "the defendant's advocate."

Oration occurs only in Acts 12:21: "Herod.... made an oration unto them" (edemegorei pros autous). The verb demegoreo, "to speak in an assembly" (from demos, "people," agoreuo, "to harangue"), is often found in classical Greek, generally in a bad sense (Latin concionari); here only in the New Testament.

D. Miall Edwards

4489. rhetor -- a public speaker
... a public speaker. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: rhetor Phonetic
Spelling: (hray'-tore) Short Definition: an orator Definition: an orator ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4489.htm - 6k

3052. logios -- learned, eloquent
... Word Origin from logos Definition learned, eloquent NASB Word Usage eloquent (1).
eloquent. From logos; fluent, ie An orator -- eloquent. see GREEK logos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3052.htm - 6k

1215. demegoreo -- to deliver a public address
... Word Origin from demegoros (popular orator); from demos and agoreuo (to speak in
the assembly, harangue) Definition to deliver a public address NASB Word Usage ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1215.htm - 6k

2916. krithinos -- of barley
... Suetonius speaks of a turgid rhetorician as a 'barley orator,' inflated like barley
in moisture: and Livy relates how cohorts which had lost their standards ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2916.htm - 7k

3908. lachash -- a whispering, charming
... prayer (1). charmed, earring, enchantment, orator, prayer. From lachash;
properly, a whisper, ie By implication, (in a good sense ...
/hebrew/3908.htm - 6k

Accordingly a Great Orator Has Truly Said that "An Eloquent Man ...
... Book 4 Chapter 27. Accordingly a great orator has truly said that "an eloquent
man must speak so? 27. Accordingly a great orator ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 27 accordingly a great.htm

And So Our Christian Orator, While He Says what is Just...
... Book 4 Chapter 32. And so our Christian orator, while he says what is
just? 32. And so our Christian orator, while he says what ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 32 and so our.htm

The Aim of the Orator, According to Cicero, is to Teach, to ...
... Book IV. Chapter 12."The Aim of the Orator, According to Cicero, is to Teach,
to Delight, and to Move. ... Footnotes: [1951] Cicero, Orator. ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 12 the aim of the.htm

Letter Lxx. To Magnus an Orator of Rome.
... Jerome. Letter LXX. To Magnus an Orator of Rome. ... [2185] Bishop of Amasea in Pontus,
a constant student of Demosthenes and himself no mean orator. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxx to magnus an.htm

In Every Style the Orator Should Aim at Perspicuity, Beauty, and ...
... Book IV. Chapter 26."In Every Style the Orator Should Aim at Perspicuity,
Beauty, and Persuasiveness. 55. Now in regard to the ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 26 in every style the.htm

The Christian Orator is Constantly Dealing with Great Matters.
... Book IV. Chapter 18."The Christian Orator is Constantly Dealing with Great
Matters. 35. Now the author I have quoted could have ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 18 the christian orator is.htm

Eloquence of the Temperate Style, Also, Must, in the Case of the ...
... Book 4 Chapter 57. Eloquence of the temperate style, also, must, in the case
of the Christian orator? 57. Eloquence of the temperate ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 57 eloquence of the.htm

Passion and Persuasion
... disposition of mind, of inflaming them with anger, of softening them to pity, so
as to draw tears from them, all this is rare, tho by it the orator is made ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/passion and persuasion.htm

Mr. Bernard Shaw
... action; his opponents depict him as a coarse man of business; when, as a fact, he
is neither one nor the other, but an admirable romantic orator and romantic ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/iv mr bernard shaw.htm

Whether Theologians Should Take Note of the Circumstances of Human ...
... circumstances. Objection 3: Further, the consideration of circumstances belongs
to the orator. But oratory is not a part of theology. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether theologians should take note.htm

Orator (3 Occurrences)
... presents, with an appropriate address, those persons on whom honorary degrees are
to be conferred, and performs other like duties; -- called also public orator...
/o/orator.htm - 9k

Ortion
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ORATOR; ORTION. or'-a-ter, o-ra'-shun: The
word "orator" occurs twice: (1) As the King James Version ...
/o/ortion.htm - 8k

Tertullus (2 Occurrences)
... ter-tul'-us, ter- (Tertullos, diminutive of Latin tertius, "third"):, An orator
who descended with Ananias the high priest and elders from Jerusalem to ...
/t/tertullus.htm - 9k

Eloquent (4 Occurrences)
... 3:3 the Revised Version (British and American) bin, "intelligent," is rendered
"skilful (enchanter)," the King James Version "eloquent (orator)." Apollos was ...
/e/eloquent.htm - 8k

Pulpit (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) A desk, or platform, for an orator or public speaker. 4. (a.) of or pertaining
to the pulpit, or preaching; as, a pulpit orator; pulpit eloquence. Int. ...
/p/pulpit.htm - 7k

Orchard (3 Occurrences)

/o/orchard.htm - 8k

Oration (1 Occurrence)

/o/oration.htm - 7k

Live (3203 Occurrences)
... live embers. 14. (a.) Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing;
as, a live man, or orator. 15. (a.) Vivid; bright. 16. (a ...
/l/live.htm - 8k

Informations (3 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:1 And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders,
and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against ...
/i/informations.htm - 7k

Informed (39 Occurrences)
... Farewell." (See NAS NIV). Acts 24:1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias,
came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. ...
/i/informed.htm - 17k

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