Overview
The Bible addresses astronomy across 50 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Revelation, Psalms and Job. Closely related themes include Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena, God, Sun, the and Moon. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Joshua and David.
Key Bible verses about astronomy
Old Testament
Joshua
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. stand: Heb. be silent
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. Jasher: or, the upright?
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.
Job
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. waves: Heb. heights
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Arcturus: Heb. Ash, Cesil, and Cimah
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Pleiades: or, the seven stars: Heb. Cimah Orion: Heb. Cesil?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Mazzaroth: or, the twelve signs guide: Heb. guide them
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Psalms
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. where: or, without these their voice is heard: Heb. without their voice heard
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, line: or, rule, or, direction
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: to rule: Heb. for the rulings by day
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Jeremiah
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
Ezekiel
And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. put: or, extinguish thee
All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD. bright: Heb. lights of the light in heaven dark: Heb. them dark
New Testament
Mark
Luke
Acts
Revelation
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. untimely figs: or, green figs
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. wonder: or, sign
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. scorched: or, burned
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
People in the Bible and astronomy
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying astronomy for yourself
- Begin with Joshua 10:12, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Revelation, Psalms and Job each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Joshua and David and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena, God, Sun, the and Moon.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about astronomy?
The Bible addresses astronomy across 50 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Revelation, Psalms and Job. Closely related themes include Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena, God, Sun, the and Moon. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Joshua and David.
How many Bible verses are about astronomy?
The Bible references astronomy in 50 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention astronomy?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Joshua 10:12: “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. stand: Heb. be silent”
Which people in the Bible are associated with astronomy?
Joshua and David.
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