Oracle vs. Priest — What's the Difference?

An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination.

A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities.

A priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.

An ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments

A response or message given by an oracle, especially an ambiguous one.

A mallet used to kill fish caught when angling.

A shrine consecrated to the worship and consultation of a prophetic deity, as that of Apollo at Delphi.

Ordain to the priesthood

A person, such as a priestess, through whom a deity is held to respond when consulted.

In many Christian churches, a member of the second grade of clergy ranking below a bishop but above a deacon and having authority to administer the sacraments.

The response given through such a medium, often in the form of an enigmatic statement or allegory.

A person having the authority to perform and administer religious rites.

A person considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions.

To ordain or admit to the priesthood.

An authoritative or wise statement or prediction.

A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple

A command or revelation from God.

A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish

In the Bible, the sanctuary of the Temple.

(Mormonism) the highest office in the Aaronic priesthood

A shrine dedicated to some prophetic deity.

(transitive) To ordain as a priest.

A person such as a priest through whom the deity is supposed to respond with prophecy or advice.

A presbyter elder; a minister

A prophetic response, often enigmatic or allegorical, so given.

One who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of sacrifice; one who acts as a mediator between men and the divinity or the gods in any form of religion; as, Buddhist priests.

Something said that must come true or cannot be countermanded; an inexorable command or declaration.

To ordain as priest.

A person considered to be a source of wisdom.

A clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

A wise sentence or decision of great authority.

A spiritual leader in a non-Christian religion

A fortune-teller.

One who communicates a divine command; an angel; a prophet.

(Jewish antiquity) The sanctuary, or most holy place in the temple; also, the temple itself.

(computing theory) A theoretical entity capable of answering some collection of questions.

(cryptocurrencies) A third-party service that provides smart contracts with information from the outside world.

(obsolete) To utter oracles or prophecies.

The answer of a god, or some person reputed to be a god, to an inquiry respecting some affair or future event, as the success of an enterprise or battle.

The deity who was supposed to give the answer; also, the place where it was given.

The communications, revelations, or messages delivered by God to the prophets; also, the entire sacred Scriptures - usually in the plural.

The sanctuary, or Most Holy place in the temple; also, the temple itself.

One who communicates an oracle{1} or divine command; an angel; a prophet.

Any person reputed uncommonly wise; one whose decisions are regarded as of great authority; as, a literary oracle.

A wise pronouncement or decision considered as of great authority.

To utter oracles.

An authoritative person who divines the future

A prophecy (usually obscure or allegorical) revealed by a priest or priestess; believed to be infallible

A shrine where an oracular god is consulted