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Names beginning with O

This guide is intended for visitors who want to learn more about the Bible. Please use the hyperlinks in the table above to navigate this page. If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this guide, please e-mail me by clicking on this link.

 

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Obil was an Ishmaelite, the overseer of the camels of the royal household in David's administration, according to the Chronicler. 1 Chronicles 27.30

Oded was a prophet who criticised the soldiers of the Israelite king, Pekah, for their intended subjugation of the prisoners taken in battle against Ahaz of Judah. These criticisms led to the release of the prisoners. 2 Chronicles 28.9-11

Og was the king of Bashan, whom the Israelites under Moses defeated during the conquest of Canaan. 0g was very large and owned a bed famed for its great size. After his death this was kept as an exhibit in Rabbah. Numbers 21.33-35; 32.33; Deuteronomy 1.4; 3.1-13; 4.47; 29.7; 31.4; Joshua 2.10; 9.10; 12.4; 13.12,31; Psalms 135.11; 136.20

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Ohad was the third son of Simeon. Genesis 46.10; Exodus 6.15

Oholah was one of a pair of imaginary sisters (the other being Oholibah) who figure in an allegory of the prophet Ezekiel. 0holah (whose name means “she who has a tent”) seems to represent Samaria, whose faithlessness is expressed in the parable by 0holah's lewd conduct. Ezekiel 23.4-49

Oholiab was the son of Ahisamach, an associate of Bezalel and a Danite craftsman, responsible for part of the work on the tent of worship and its fittings. Exodus 31.6; 35.34-36.2; 38.23

Oholibah was one of a pair of imaginary sisters (the other being Oholah) who figure in an allegory of the prophet Ezekiel. 0holibah (whose name means “my tent is in her”) seems to stand for Jerusalem whose faithlessness towards God is represented in the allegory by 0holibah's lewd behaviour. Ezekiel 23.4-49

Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and sister of Dishon, a descendant of Seir the Horite. She became wife of Esau and mother of Jeush, Jalam and Korah. Genesis 36.2, 5, 14, 25

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Olympas was a Christian greeted by Paul in the closing paragraphs of his letter to the church at Rome. Romans 16.15

Omar was the second son of Eliphaz, a grandson of Esau. Genesis 36.11; 1 Chronicles 1.36

Omri (1) was the father of Ahab, a king of Israel (reigned 876-869 B.C.). Originally a general in the army of Elah, whom the usurper Zimri killed, 0mri ousted the pretender from the throne, killing him at Tirzah. Omri subsequently defeated Tibni, a fresh claimant to the throne. The first six years of 0mri's reign were spent at Tirzah, the second six at the new capital established by him at Samaria. Omri was evidently an able and successful ruler, but the author of 1 Kings condemned him for his idolatry and for the marriage of his heir to Jezebel. 1 Kings 16.16-30; Micah 6.16

Omri (2) was the son of Michael, the leader of the tribe of Issachar in David's administration, according to the Chronicler. 1 Chronicles 27.18

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On was a son of Peleth, a conspirator with Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses. He was killed when an earth fissure swallowed him. Numbers 16.1-34

Onam was the fifth son of Shobal, a descendant of Seir the Horite. Genesis 36.23; 1 Chronicles 1.40

Onan was the second son of Judah. After his elder brother, Er, had died an unnatural premature death, Onan married Er's widow, Tamar. Onan failed to carry out his obligation of siring children in his brother's name, and died suddenly, his death being attributed to God's action. Genesis 38.4, 8-10; 46.12; Numbers 26.19; 1 Chronicles 2.3

Onesimus was a slave of Philemon, who ran away from his master and became a Christian under the influence of Paul. The apostle wrote to Philemon, who was both a Christian and a friend of Paul, to effect a reconciliation between master and slave. Colossians 4.9; Philemon 10-19

Onesiphorus was a Christian, commended for his faithfulness, to whom Paul sends greetings in his second letter to Timothy. 2 Timothy 1.16-18; 4.19

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Ophir was the eleventh son of Joktan, a descendant of Shem. Genesis 10.29

Oreb was one of the two princes of Midian defeated by Gideon. After his surprise attack on the Midianite camp, Gideon pursued and captured Oreb and his fellow Zeeb, killing Oreb near a rock, which later was named after him. Judges 7.25; 8.3; Psalms 83.11

Ornan is an alternative form, used by the Chronicler, of the name of Araunah the Jebusite (whose house became the site of the altar in Solomon's temple). 1 Chronicles 21.15-28; 2 Chronicles 3.1

Orpah was the wife of Chilion, and one of the two daughters-in-law of Elimelech and Naomi. After the death of Chilion, Naomi persuaded Orpah to return to her homeland in Moab. Ruth 1.4-14

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Osnappar (perhaps identical with Assurbanipal) was a Persian ruler (reigned ca. 668-630 B.C.). He was responsible for settling various Hebrew peoples in Samaria. Ezra 4.10

Othniel was the son of Kenaz, nephew of Caleb and father of Hathath and Meonothai, who became one of the first of the “judges” of Israel. During the conquest of Judah, Caleb promised his daughter Achshah in marriage to whoever should be first to capture Kiriath-sepher. Othniel did so and became son-in-law to his uncle. In a later narrative 0thniel appears as liberator of the Israelites from servitude to Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia. After this 0thniel was “judge” of the Israelites for forty years. Joshua 15.17; Judges 1.13, 14; 3.9-11; 1 Chronicles 4.13

Ozem was the sixth son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 2.15

Ozni was the fourth son of Gad, the ancestor of the Oznites. Numbers 26.16

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