Topical Encyclopedia An eclipse of the sun, a natural astronomical event where the moon passes between the earth and the sun, temporarily obscuring the sun's light, is a phenomenon that has intrigued humanity for millennia. In the context of the Bible, solar eclipses are not explicitly mentioned, but they are often associated with signs and wonders in the heavens, which are seen as manifestations of God's power and sovereignty.Biblical Context and Symbolism In the Bible, celestial events, including the darkening of the sun, are frequently depicted as signs of divine intervention or judgment. While the Bible does not specifically mention solar eclipses, it does refer to the darkening of the sun in several passages, often in apocalyptic or prophetic contexts. One of the most notable references is found in the Book of Joel, where the prophet speaks of cosmic disturbances as part of the "Day of the LORD": "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD" (Joel 2:31). This imagery suggests a time of significant upheaval and divine action, where natural phenomena serve as harbingers of God's impending judgment or deliverance. Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens as part of the end times. In the Olivet Discourse, He states: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken’" (Matthew 24:29). This passage underscores the belief that cosmic events, including the darkening of the sun, are integral to the unfolding of God's eschatological plan. Historical and Theological Interpretations Throughout history, solar eclipses have been interpreted by various cultures as omens or divine messages. In the biblical worldview, such events are often seen as reminders of God's control over creation and His ability to use natural phenomena to communicate with humanity. Theologically, the darkening of the sun can symbolize God's judgment, as seen in the plagues of Egypt, where "there was darkness over all the land of Egypt for three days" (Exodus 10:22). Although this event is not described as an eclipse, it reflects the theme of darkness as a tool of divine retribution. In the crucifixion narrative, the Gospel of Luke records a period of darkness during Jesus' crucifixion: "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining" (Luke 23:44-45). This supernatural darkness is often interpreted as a sign of God's judgment on sin and the gravity of the moment when Christ bore the sins of the world. Conclusion While the Bible does not explicitly mention solar eclipses, the darkening of the sun is a recurring motif that signifies divine intervention, judgment, and the fulfillment of prophetic events. These occurrences serve as powerful reminders of God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His redemptive plan for humanity. Smith's Bible Dictionary Eclipse of the SunNo historical notice of an eclipse occurs in the Bible, but there are passages in the prophets which contain manifest allusion to this phenomenon. (Joel 2:10,31; 3:15; Amos 8:9; Micah 3:6; Zechariah 14:6) Some of these notices probably refer to eclipses that occurred about the time of the respective compositions: thus the date of Amos coincides with a total eclipse which occurred Feb. 9, B.C. 784, and was visible at Jerusalem shortly after noon; that of Micah with the eclipse of June 5, B.C. 716. A passing notice in (Jeremiah 15:9) coincides in date with the eclipse of Sept. 30, B.C. 610, so well known from Herodotus' account (i. 74, 103). The darkness that overspread the world at the crucifixion cannot with reason be attributed to an eclipse, as the moon was at the full at the time of the passover. Library Eclipse of the Sun. Fragment xviii. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviour's ... Whether it was Fitting that Christ Should Work Miracles in the ... What Manner of Life and Death the Roman Kings Had. And it was About the Sixth Hour, and There was Darkness Over the ... Chronological Recapitulation of the Whole Work: Also Concerning ... The Solar Eclipse Concerning Light, Fire, the Luminaries, Sun, Moon and Stars. The Death of Jesus Letter xi. Dionysius to Apollophanes, Philosopher. Resources Why didn't Jesus return during the blood-red moon of 2015? | GotQuestions.orgKeep Watch ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org Who was Shamgar? | GotQuestions.org Eclipse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
    |