1.
oracle; divine message; revelation from a god
A message believed to come from a deity, delivered through a medium, priest, or other intermediary. Refers both to the message itself and to the act of receiving such a message.
神託を受ける。
To receive a divine oracle.
古代ギリシャでは神託が政治にも影響を与えた。
In ancient Greece, oracles influenced politics as well.
王は戦を始める前に神託を求め、神官の言葉に従った。
The king sought a divine oracle before starting the war and followed the words of the priest.
Composed of 神 (god, deity) and 託 (to entrust, to commission). Frequently encountered in discussions of ancient Greek religion (the Oracle at Delphi), the Bible, and Japanese mythology.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 神託を受ける: to receive an oracle
- 神託を求める: to seek a divine message
- 神託を下す: to deliver an oracle (from a god's perspective)
- 神託に従う: to follow a divine oracle
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 託宣: oracle; divine proclamation — close synonym, slightly more formal
- お{告げ}: divine revelation; message from heaven — more colloquial, used in everyday Japanese
- 啓示: revelation; divine disclosure — specifically the Christian concept
- 予言: prophecy; prediction — broader, not necessarily from a deity
Do not confuse with 信託 (trust, as in financial trust), which is a homophone with different kanji.