Omen vs. Prophecy — What's the Difference?

An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change. It was commonly believed in ancient times, and still believed by some today, that omens bring divine messages from the gods.These omens include natural phenomena, for example an eclipse, abnormal births of animals (especially humans) and behaviour of the sacrificial lamb on its way to the slaughter.

A prophecy is a message that is claimed by a prophet to have been communicated to them by a deity. Such messages typically involve inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of divine will concerning the prophet's social world and events to come (compare divine knowledge).

An event regarded as a portent of good or evil

A prediction of what will happen in the future

A phenomenon supposed to portend good or evil; a prophetic sign.

An inspired utterance of a prophet, viewed as a revelation of divine will.

Prognostication; portent

A prediction of the future, made under divine inspiration.

To be a prophetic sign of; portend.

Such an inspired message or prediction transmitted orally or in writing.

Something which portends or is perceived to portend either a good or evil event or circumstance in the future, or which causes a foreboding; a portent or augury.

The vocation or condition of a prophet.

A thing of prophetic significance.

A prediction.

(transitive) To be an omen of.

A prediction, especially one made by a prophet or under divine inspiration.

(intransitive) To divine or predict from omens.

The public interpretation of Scripture.

An occurrence supposed to portend, or show the character of, some future event; any indication or action regarded as a foreshowing; a foreboding; a presage; an augury.

A declaration of something to come; a foretelling; a prediction; esp., an inspired foretelling.

To divine or to foreshow by signs or portents; to have omens or premonitions regarding; to predict; to augur; as, to omen ill of an enterprise.

A book of prophecies; a history; as, the prophecy of Ahijah.

A sign of something about to happen;

Public interpretation of Scripture; preaching; exhortation or instruction.

Indicate by signs;

Knowledge of the future (usually said to be obtained from a divine source)

A prediction uttered under divine inspiration