Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4200 Places  »  4212 astronomy

The study of the stars and planets, with a view to understanding their movements and their use in fixing the time of significant events.

Astronomy as a study

It demonstrates the greatness of God and his creation

Job 9:7-9; Isaiah 40:26 See also Genesis 2:1; Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Chronicles 16:26; Nehemiah 9:6 Nehemiah's prayer reviews God's grace and power in creation; Job 22:12; Job 25:5; Job 26:9; Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 33:6; Psalm 74:16; Psalm 89:5,11; Psalm 96:5; Psalm 104:2; Psalm 136:5,7-9; Psalm 148:3; Proverbs 3:19 Divine wisdom permeates the whole creation; Isaiah 38:8 the LORD's sign to Hezekiah; Isaiah 45:12; Jeremiah 31:35; Matthew 5:45; Hebrews 1:10 credited to Jesus Christ

It demonstrates the humility of the human race

Psalm 8:3-4

The use of astronomy to determine dates

Genesis 1:3-5; Psalm 81:3; 104:19:00

The mysteries of astronomy are beyond human understanding

Job 38:31-33

God's judgment and astronomical disturbances

Joel 2:31; Matthew 24:29 pp Mark 13:25 pp Luke 21:25 See also Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 30:26; Isaiah 34:4; Isaiah 51:6; Isaiah 60:9-20 the glory of Zion; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 2:10; Joel 3:15; Amos 8:9; Acts 2:20; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 8:12

Lessons from astronomy

The stars as symbols of plenty

Genesis 15:5

The regularity of the heavens as a symbol of the bleakness of life

Ecclesiastes 1:5

The differing splendour within the creation

1 Corinthians 15:41

Wandering stars as a symbol of lostness

Jude 13

See also

1448  signs
4055  heaven and earth
4170  host of heaven
4251  moon
4281  stars
4284  sun
8662  meditation
8709  astrology
9105  last things
9210  judgment, God's
9220  day of the LORD