divine sanction
God's official endorsement
Divine sanction refers to approval, authority, or punishment believed to come from a god or gods.
When actions carry divine sanction, they are understood to have heavenly blessing or authorization: The king claimed divine sanction for his rule.
The phrase can also mean punishment ordained by deity, as when disasters are interpreted as divine sanction against wrongdoing.
In either sense, it invokes supernatural authority to legitimize or condemn human affairs.
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- deityWorshipped supernatural being
- God's willDivine intention or decree
- prayerAddress to deity
- providenceDivine protective care
act of God · ethics · scripture · omnipotence · imprimatur · holy orders · justice · mortal sin · righteousness · virtue · temple · prophet · offering · conscience · consecration · covenant · clergy · church
divine sanctionlegal sanction
Lawful punishment or approval
royal decree · social contract · civil authority · constitutional authority
divine sanctiondivine wrath
Sacred punishment from above
divine punishment · damnation · anathema · excommunication · divine judgment
divine sanctionblasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
sacrilege · profanation · desecration · sinfulness · abomination
divine, divinely, divinity, divinities, divination, diviner, diviners, sanction, sanctions