Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, constellations are mentioned as part of the created order, reflecting the majesty and sovereignty of God over the universe. The Bible references constellations to illustrate God's power and wisdom in creation, as well as to demonstrate His control over the cosmos.
Biblical References:1.
Job 9:9 : "He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south." This verse highlights God's role as the Creator of the stars and constellations, emphasizing His authority over the natural world. The mention of specific constellations like the Bear (Ursa Major), Orion, and the Pleiades indicates the recognition of these star formations in ancient times.
2.
Job 38:31-32 : "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs?" Here, God challenges Job, underscoring His unmatched power and wisdom. The rhetorical questions serve to remind Job of human limitations compared to God's omnipotence, as only God can control the celestial bodies and their movements.
3.
Amos 5:8 : "He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name." This passage attributes the creation and maintenance of the constellations to the LORD, reinforcing His identity as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Theological Significance:In the biblical worldview, constellations are not merely astronomical phenomena but are part of God's purposeful design. They serve as a testament to His creative power and are used in Scripture to draw attention to His divine attributes. The constellations, like all of creation, are under God's sovereign control, and their regular patterns and movements reflect His order and precision.
Cultural Context:In ancient Near Eastern cultures, constellations often held mythological significance and were associated with various deities. However, the biblical text distinguishes itself by attributing the creation and governance of the stars solely to the one true God, rejecting any notion of astrological determinism or polytheistic influence. The biblical authors use constellations to point to God's supremacy over any celestial beings or forces.
Interpretation and Application:For believers, the mention of constellations in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's grandeur and the intricate beauty of His creation. It encourages a posture of humility and awe before the Creator, recognizing that the vastness of the universe is a reflection of His infinite power and wisdom. The constellations, as part of the heavens, declare the glory of God (
Psalm 19:1), inviting worship and reverence from those who observe them.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CONSTELLATIONSkon-ste-la'-shuns (kecilim, literally, "Orions").
SeeASTRONOMY, sec. II, 11.
CHERUBIC, FORMS IN THE CONSTELLATIONS
che-roo'-bik.
SeeASTRONOMY.
Greek
4756. stratia -- an army... stars). Cognate: 4756 (from 4754 , "to fight as a soldier") -- properly,
an army, or any (eg of angels,
constellations, etc.). Word
...Strong's Hebrew
4208. mazzaloth --constellations, perhaps signs of the zodiac... mazzaloth. 4209 .
constellations, perhaps signs of the zodiac. Transliteration:
mazzaloth Phonetic Spelling: (maz-zaw-law') Short Definition:
constellations.
...3685. Kesil -- a heavenly constellation
... Word Origin probably from kasal Definition a heavenly constellation NASB Word
Usageconstellations (1), Orion (3). constellation, Orion....
Library
TheConstellations.
... Homily V. Chapter XVII."TheConstellations. "For reckon to me how many
mistresses they have rewarded, some of whom they have placed...
TheConstellations and the Genii Very Indifferent Gods the Roman...
... Book II. Chapter XV."TheConstellations and the Genii Very Indifferent Gods
The Roman Monopoly of Gods Unsatisfactory. Other Nations...
He Refutes the Divinations of the Astrologers, Deduced from the...
... Book VII. Chapter VI."He Refutes the Divinations of the Astrologers, Deduced
from theConstellations. 8. Now also had I repudiated...
Evil by no Means Found in the Stars andConstellations; all the...
... Chapter XIII."Evil by No Means Found in the Stars andConstellations; All the Evils
of Life Vain in the Manich??an Opinion, Which Bring on the Extinction of...
But this Time Also had I Rejected the Lying Divinations and...
... having had a liberal education, and well taught in Rhetoric, consulted me, as one
very dear to him, what, according to his socalledconstellations, I thought...
Concerning the Choosing of a Day for Marriage, or for Planting, or...
... If it be said that certain chosen days have an influence on these things, because
theconstellations rule over all terrestrial bodies, animate and inanimate...
The Folly of Observing the Stars in Order to Predict the Events of...
... For the observation is of the position of the stars, which they callconstellations,
at the time when the person was born about whom these wretched men are...
In what Manner the Mathematicians are Convicted of Professing a...
... other things be said to be attached to the time of birth, they ought not to predict
anything concerning health from examination of theconstellations of birth...
Whether Heavenly Bodies Can Act on the Demons?
... Therefore the demons are subject to them. Objection 2: Further, necromancers
observe certainconstellations in order to invoke the demons....
Appendix
... Further evidence is forthcoming to show that there was design in the figuration
of theConstellations.... (See PrimitiveConstellations, Robert Brown, Junr., vol....
Thesaurus
Constellations (4 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CONSTELLATIONS. kon-ste-la'-shuns (kecilim, literally,
"Orions").
... II, 11. CHERUBIC, FORMS IN THE
CONSTELLATIONS. che-roo'-bik.
...Astrology
... of Soothsaying 2. Divination 3. Looking in the Liver 4. The Astrologers, or Dividers
of the Heavens 5. The Stargazers, or See rs of theConstellations 6. The...
Astronomy
... 19). In the Book of Job, which is the oldest book of the Bible in all
probability, theconstellations are distinguished and named....
Constellation (1 Occurrence)
... Constellation (1 Occurrence). Job 38:32 Can you lead forth theconstellations
in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?...
Consternation (8 Occurrences)
Cosmological
... The 5th tablet narrates the appointing of theconstellations. The 6th seems
to have recorded the creation of man from the blood of Marduk....
Orion (3 Occurrences)
... contends against God. In Isaiah 13:10 the plural form of the Hebrew word is
rendered "constellations.". Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A...
Lyre (32 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A stringed instrument of music; a kind of harp much used by the ancients,
as an accompaniment to poetry. 2. (n.) One of theconstellations; Lyra....
Forms (24 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CHERUBIC, FORMS IN THECONSTELLATIONS.
che-roo'-bik. See ASTRONOMY. Multi-Version Concordance Forms (24 Occurrences)....
Environs (7 Occurrences)
... in the cities of Judah, and the environs of Jerusalem; and them that burned incense
to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to theconstellations, and to all...
Resources
What does the Bible say about astrology and the zodiac? Is astrology something a Christian should study? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of high places in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the second heaven? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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