What does the Bible say about astrology or the Zodiac? Is astrology something a Christian should study?
What does the Bible say about astrology or the Zodiac?
Is astrology something a Christian should study?
The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1). He has all the stars numbered and named (Psalm 147:4).
The Bible also teaches that God arranged the stars into recognizable groups that we call constellations. The Bible mentions three of these: Orion, the Bear (Ursa Major), and “the crooked serpent” (most likely Draco) in Job 9:9; 26:13; 38:31-32; and Amos 5:8. The same passages also reference the star group Pleiades (the Seven Stars). God is the One Who “fastens the bands” of these constellations; He is the One who brings them forth, “each in its season.” In Job 38:32, God also points to the “Mazzaroth,” usually translated “constellations.” This is thought by many to be a reference to the twelve constellations of the zodiac.
The constellations have been tracked and studied for millennia. The Egyptians and Greeks knew of the zodiac and used it to measure the beginning of spring centuries before Christ. Much has been written of the meaning of the zodiacal constellations, including theories that they comprise an ancient display of God’s redemptive plan. For example, the constellation Leo can be seen as a celestial depiction of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), and Virgo could be a reminder of the virgin who bore Christ. However, the Bible does not indicate any “hidden meaning” for these or other constellations.
The Bible says that stars, along with the sun and moon, were given for “signs” and “seasons” (Genesis 1:14); that is, they were meant to mark time for us. They are also “signs” in the sense of navigational “indicators,” and all through history men have used the stars to chart their courses around the globe.
God used the stars as an illustration of His promise to give Abraham an innumerable seed (Genesis 15:5). Thus, every time Abraham looked up at the night sky, he had a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness. The final judgment of the earth will be accompanied by astronomical events relating to the stars (Isaiah 13:9-10; Joel 3:15; Matthew 26:29).
Astrology is the “interpretation” of an assumed influence the stars (and planets) exert on human destiny. This is a false belief. The royal astrologers of the Babylonian court were put to shame by God’s prophet Daniel (Daniel 1:20) and were powerless to interpret the king’s dream (Daniel 2:27). God specifies astrologers as among those who will be burned as stubble in God’s judgment (Isaiah 47:13-14). Astrology as a form of divination is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). God forbade the children of Israel to worship or serve the “host of heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19). Several times in their history, however, Israel fell into that very sin (2 Kings 17:16 is one example). Their worship of the stars brought God’s judgment each time.
The stars should awaken wonder at God’s power, wisdom, and infinitude. We should use the stars to keep track of time and place and to remind us of God’s faithful, covenant-keeping nature. All the while, we acknowledge the Creator of the heavens. Our wisdom comes from God, not the stars (James 1:5). The Word of God, the Bible, is our guide through life (Psalm 119:105).
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November 28 2009 04:41 am | Bible
pyjamatop on 28 Nov 2009 at 10:01 am #
Yes.Its always a good idea to check out what star sign Jesus was.
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Helen on 28 Nov 2009 at 10:25 am #
Stay away from it, that is the Bible message about it
I found quickly Isaiah 47:13, Daniel 2:2, Jeremiah 10:2
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J. on 28 Nov 2009 at 10:30 am #
The bible forbids it as in the case of King Saul.
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Bible
misslabeled on 28 Nov 2009 at 11:14 am #
There is a conflict in that area. Depending on who you ask, astrology is fortune-telling and/or witchcraft, both of which are condemned in the bible. On the other hand, the Book of Revelation is nothing but fortune-telling, seemingly under the influence of psychotropic drugs, and the magi that foretold the birth of Christ were astrologers. You’d have to wade through a lot of contradiction to find your answer, and would only have to choose which one you like best. That’s the way Yahoo! Answers works, and that’s the way Christianity works as well.
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curtiss b on 28 Nov 2009 at 11:51 am #
Christians trust God and not the Zodiac or astrology. It is forbidden by God.
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Snotalie on 28 Nov 2009 at 12:37 pm #
The bible states that chrsitians should not consult " the keepers of the hours" /astrologists.
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The Stainless Steel Rat on 28 Nov 2009 at 1:16 pm #
back in those bronze age days astrology was a "science". even Jesus is greeted by them-the three magi. It is the church that turns against them. They felt that them was infringing on the church’s turf. Basically explaining the unexplainable. A lot of the early astrologers were also "scientists" e.g Tito Brahe was an astrologer for the royal court of Denmark.
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Seint on 28 Nov 2009 at 1:50 pm #
Astrology is mainly pagan mystical mumbo-jumbo. Why waste time studying zodiacs when you could use you time more fruitfully (studying the bible, helping people, ect.)
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Joemartin on 28 Nov 2009 at 2:16 pm #
The bible doesn’t have much on Astrology but as a christian it is clear to not cosult it. In Daniel king Nebuchadnezzar consulted his magicians, conjurers and sorcerers to tell him the reason behind his dream, but it was Daniel A MAN OF GOD who interpreted the kings dream. There is also a similar instance with Joseph and the pharoah. In both instances the men prayed to God and the meaning behind the dreams were revealed. God is the only one who knows what will happen so trying to make predictions without him is not very wise.
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Dekay on 28 Nov 2009 at 2:51 pm #
No astrology is nothing for a Christian to ascertain let alone study, it is not of God….though many Religious persons make excuses in doing such practices or condoning it. The bible lets us know how God feels about Astrology in the bible….they are often spoken of as works of the devil. It deals with fortune telling…and the telling of events with the horoscopes…relating to birthdays…by reading the stars…or numerology are all combine into the same works. Person who puts their trust into the stars or those who are readers of them are not putting their trust in God, but SATAN. In turn they will not fare well (they will lose God spirit and blessings) due to their need to go to those who perform spiritistic powers that comes from demons.
(Acts 16:16-18) 16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction. 17 This [girl] kept following Paul and us and crying out with the words: “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are publishing to YOU the way of salvation.” 18 This she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
(Isaiah 47:13) . . .. 13 You have grown weary with the multitude of your counselors. Let them stand up, now, and save you, the worshipers of the heavens, the lookers at the stars, those giving out knowledge at the new moons concerning the things that will come upon you.
(Deuteronomy 18:9-13) . . .. 10 There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, 11 or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. 12 For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable things Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you. 13 You should prove yourself faultless with Jehovah your God.
No one who is God fearing should be turning to the demonic influence for answers about life and their future, God in prayer and his word the bible can provide all the answers to life problems and help guide us through life successfully. That is why it was written for our benefit.
(Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.
Best Regards D
References :
Bible NWT
Jas on 28 Nov 2009 at 3:28 pm #
I don’t agree that all of it is demonic. It depends on who is practicing it and how. There are plenty of demons even in the church and demonic practices that are passed off as acceptable Christian beliefs.
Astrology was a practiced by the wise men who located Jesus at his birth by following the north star which signified that a savior had been born. Astrology also aided in navigation by ancient sailors before modern instruments. Modernism has cheapened it and the Bible does warn of those that claim to see the furture (including christians who claim it as wel even in the name of Christianity).
However the problem with relying on Zodiacs or Astrology or too much religous advice to make decisions is that you can become dependent and not know how to use your own instincts to make decisions. You become reliant on humans instead of learning how to tune into Gods voice. The same thing can happen from becoming too dependent on anything including the church. Becoming dependent upon someone else’s leadership or opinions is what lead to the Jim Jones Massacre (look it up). Some of the most dangerous and harmful demons call themselves Christians and the Bible does warn of wolves in sheeps clothing. I wold be far more concerned about those demons because they are mascarading as normal every day people that you trust.
So no matter what you do weather its Christianity or Astrology or whatever remember to always perfect your own judgment and trust your own instincts to make decisions and never rely too much on outside sources including the church (the human side of it). Pray to God and when you get in tuned to God he can give you most of the answers you are looking for if you keep your eyes and ears open and ready to receive the messages and signals he will send through your instincts.
God has a much broader view through which to guide you by than any religious leader, psychic or fortune teller although any one of them can be used by God if he so chooses.
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full gospel shirley on 28 Nov 2009 at 3:57 pm #
No, a Christian should have no interest in studying about astrology and letting the stars decide their fate.
Only God knows our fate and is in control. NOt the stars.
But He made the stars, and He made the entire universe.
Its ok to know where planets are, etc, but when it gets to the teachings of horoscopes and all that, that is pure evil. If you note, it was begun in the occult beliefs, and is still in their teachings today. Letting the stars and planets decdie their personaly, their furture.
Nope, we are to give all of that only to God, who created the universe.
Only He knows best.
Full Gospel Shirley
References :
YHWH< God, The Holy Bible, Rauch HaKodesh, The Holy Spirit
Remember: Yeshua, Jesus is Lord and He is coming soon.
Susan S on 28 Nov 2009 at 4:36 pm #
There’s a lot about astrology in the Bible. There’s a lot of sensible stuff in the Bible, which we can relate quite directly to life here and now, and there is also a lot of gobbledigook, which is simply not relevant to our society as it is now. I’m not dissing Jesus, or people who follow Christianity.
I would class myself as a Christian and I have studied it since I was 18. I have read from the Bible and seen for myself the astrology that is in there.
You have to make up your own mind what you want to study and when you have studied it, whether to take it on board. I do not see how studying ANYTHING can be ‘wrong’. If I start reading about murderers does that mean I’m going to go to Hell? Astrology can give an increased awareness and understanding of the self and human nature in general and therefore, I believe, can help us come closer to any God that exists in our life.
References :
Alexander Leenus on 28 Nov 2009 at 5:24 pm #
The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1). He has all the stars numbered and named (Psalm 147:4).
The Bible also teaches that God arranged the stars into recognizable groups that we call constellations. The Bible mentions three of these: Orion, the Bear (Ursa Major), and “the crooked serpent” (most likely Draco) in Job 9:9; 26:13; 38:31-32; and Amos 5:8. The same passages also reference the star group Pleiades (the Seven Stars). God is the One Who “fastens the bands” of these constellations; He is the One who brings them forth, “each in its season.” In Job 38:32, God also points to the “Mazzaroth,” usually translated “constellations.” This is thought by many to be a reference to the twelve constellations of the zodiac.
The constellations have been tracked and studied for millennia. The Egyptians and Greeks knew of the zodiac and used it to measure the beginning of spring centuries before Christ. Much has been written of the meaning of the zodiacal constellations, including theories that they comprise an ancient display of God’s redemptive plan. For example, the constellation Leo can be seen as a celestial depiction of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), and Virgo could be a reminder of the virgin who bore Christ. However, the Bible does not indicate any “hidden meaning” for these or other constellations.
The Bible says that stars, along with the sun and moon, were given for “signs” and “seasons” (Genesis 1:14); that is, they were meant to mark time for us. They are also “signs” in the sense of navigational “indicators,” and all through history men have used the stars to chart their courses around the globe.
God used the stars as an illustration of His promise to give Abraham an innumerable seed (Genesis 15:5). Thus, every time Abraham looked up at the night sky, he had a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness. The final judgment of the earth will be accompanied by astronomical events relating to the stars (Isaiah 13:9-10; Joel 3:15; Matthew 26:29).
Astrology is the “interpretation” of an assumed influence the stars (and planets) exert on human destiny. This is a false belief. The royal astrologers of the Babylonian court were put to shame by God’s prophet Daniel (Daniel 1:20) and were powerless to interpret the king’s dream (Daniel 2:27). God specifies astrologers as among those who will be burned as stubble in God’s judgment (Isaiah 47:13-14). Astrology as a form of divination is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). God forbade the children of Israel to worship or serve the “host of heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19). Several times in their history, however, Israel fell into that very sin (2 Kings 17:16 is one example). Their worship of the stars brought God’s judgment each time.
The stars should awaken wonder at God’s power, wisdom, and infinitude. We should use the stars to keep track of time and place and to remind us of God’s faithful, covenant-keeping nature. All the while, we acknowledge the Creator of the heavens. Our wisdom comes from God, not the stars (James 1:5). The Word of God, the Bible, is our guide through life (Psalm 119:105).
References :