STARS
Stars
The eleven stars (Gen. 37:9); the seven (Amos 5:8); wandering (Jude 1:13); See n in the east at the birth of Christ, probably some luminous meteors miraculously formed for this specific purpose (Matt. 2:2-10); stars worshipped (Deut. 4:19; 2 Kings 17:16; 21:3; Jer. 19:13); spoken of symbolically (Num. 24:17; Rev. 1:16, 20; 12:1). (See ASTROLOGERS)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
STARS
People in ancient times did not have the same knowledge of astronomy as people of today have. Nevertheless, they knew that the stars were beyond number and that they were an indication of the greatness of God who created them (Gen 1:16; Gen 15:5; Job 9:7-10; Psa 8:3; Psa 136:7-9; Amo 5:8). The Bible condemns the worship of stars and all forms of astrology (Deu 4:19; 2Ki 21:3; 2Ki 23:5; Isa 47:13; Act 7:43).
The writers of the Bible repeatedly picture Gods great interventions in judgment as being accompanied by spectacular irregularities among the sun, moon and stars (Isa 13:9-11; Eze 32:7; Joe 2:31; Joe 3:15; Mat 24:29-31; Rev 6:12-14).
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Stars
STARS.The stars form part of the Divine creation in Gen 1:1-31. They are invisible in the sunlight, but begin to appear about sunset (Neh 4:21). In poetical passages hyperbolical expressions are used concerning them. At the creation the morning stars sang together (Job 38:7); at the battle between Barak and Sisera the stars in their courses fought against Sisera (Jdg 5:20): in the former passage it may be that the angels are described as stars (cf. Rev 1:20 the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches). The difference of magnitude in the stars is recognized by St. Paul: one star differeth from another star in glory (1Co 15:41). The stars were looked upon as innumerable: tell the stars, if thou be able to tell them (Gen 15:5). The appearance of a bright particular star was supposed to portend some great event. Thus Balaam prophesied There shall come forth a star out of Jacob (Num 24:17), and this was afterwards interpreted as applying to the Epiphany star (Mat 2:2; see Star of the Magi); and so in 2Pe 1:19 we read of the day-star arising in mens hearts. Caution is given against the worship of the stars, in the legislation of Deuteronomy (Deu 4:19), and the punishment of death assigned for the convicted worshipper (see Host of Heaven). In Apocalyptic literature (Rev 22:16) our Lord describes Himself as the bright, the morning star; whilst they that turn many to righteousness are to shine as the stars for ever and ever (Dan 12:3). The day of the Lord is to be heralded by signs in the stars as well as in the sun and moon (Luk 21:25). The appearance of shooting stars, which come out of the darkness and go back into it, is alluded to in Jud 1:13 wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever. Special numbers of stars are mentioned; in Rev (Rev 1:16; Rev 12:1), the seven stars and twelve stars illustrate a conventional use of those numbers common in apocalyptic literature. In the OT the seven stars of the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] of Amo 5:8 are the Pleiades; and the eleven stars which made obeisance to Joseph in his dream are simply a conventional number to correspond with that of his brethren.
Of individual stars or constellations, the Bear (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] Arcturus), Orion, and the Pleiades occur; all three in Job 9:9; Job 38:31-32, the last two also in Amo 5:8. The mazzaroth (Job 38:32) are most probably the signs of the Zodiac (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ; cf. 2Ki 23:5. margin). In 2Ki 23:5 the Heb. form of the word mazzaloth is different, and RV [Note: Revised Version.] (text) renders it the planets. The chambers of the south (Job 9:9) are probably the stars of the southern hemisphere.
Of worship connected with the stars we have two notable instances. That of the queen of heaven was popular in Jerusalem (Jer 7:18) immediately before the Captivity, and to the neglect of it the captives in Egypt ascribed their disasters, in an address to Jeremiah (Jer 44:15-23) at Pathros. This worship consisted of the offering of incense and drink-offerings, and the making of cakes, with her figure, apparently, upon them. This Queen of Heaven seems to have been without doubt Venus, or Istar, whose star was considered the most beautiful in the heavens. This goddess is identical with Ashtoreth or Astarte. The second instance of star-worship is one that presents some difficulty. In Amos (Amo 5:26) we meet with an image of Chiun, if the word be a proper name, who is called the star of your god. This passage is quoted by St. Stephen (Act 7:43), where the expression is rendered the star of the god Rephan. There seems little reason to doubt that Chiun is the same as the Assyrian Kaiwn, identical with the planet Saturn, to whom divine worship was paid. The form of name Rephan seems to have arisen from a corrupt reading of the Hebrew, which is as old as the Septuagint. There are very few allusions to astrology in the OT, but in Isaiah (Isa 47:13) we have mention of the astrologers (Heb. dividers of the heavens) the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators; all these persons drew their utterances and professed knowledge of the future from the heavens. The magicians and soothsayers of the Book of Daniel were a similar class, to which belonged the Magi or wise men who had seen the star which heralded the birth of the King of the Jews (Mat 2:1-2). See next article.
H. A. Redpath.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Stars
Created by God
Gen 1:16; Job 26:13; Psa 8:3; Psa 33:6; Psa 136:7; Psa 136:9; Amo 5:8
Differ in splendor
1Co 15:41
Worship of, forbidden
Deu 4:19
Worshiped
2Ki 17:16; 2Ki 21:3; 2Ki 23:5; Jer 19:13; Amo 5:26; Zep 1:5; Act 7:42-43
Constellations of
Isa 13:10
Orion
Job 9:9; Amo 5:8
Serpent
Job 26:13
Planets
2Ki 23:5
The morning star
Job 38:7; Rev 2:28; Rev 22:16 Moon
Darkening of
Job 9:7; Ecc 12:2; Isa 13:10; Isa 34:4; Joe 2:10; Joe 3:15; Rev 8:11-12
Comets
Jud 1:13
Falling of
Dan 8:10; Mat 24:29; Mar 13:25; Rev 6:13; Rev 8:10; Rev 9:1; Rev 12:4
Figurative:
– Of the deliverer
Num 24:17
– Seven stars of the seven churches
Rev 1:16; Rev 1:20
– Crown of twelve stars
Rev 12:1
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
STARS
general references to
Gen 1:16; Jdg 5:20; Job 38:7; Psa 8:3; Psa 147:4; 1Co 15:41; Rev 22:16