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Job and Greek Constellation, How does it fit?

mcowles

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In Job 9:9 Job says, "He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south."

I'm trying to understand how Job knew the name of the constellations since he is one of the oldest books in the bible and Greek mythology took place way after him. I don't doubt the Bible is the true word of God, I would just like clarification. When man tried to translate the original text of Job did Greek influences get added to it?

Please help
 

Radagast

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In Job 9:9 Job says, "He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south."

I'm trying to understand how Job knew the name of the constellations since he is one of the oldest books in the bible and Greek mythology took place way after him. I don't doubt the Bible is the true word of God, I would just like clarification. When man tried to translate the original text of Job did Greek influences get added to it?

Job 9:9 has several Hebrew constellation/star names, and translators have guessed what exactly was meant, and then used the modern names (which, of course, we got from the Greeks).

Some translators are influenced by the LXX, the Greek translation of the OT done by the Jews around 200 BC, which has "Who makes Pleiades, and Hesperus, and Arcturus, and the chambers of the south." The translation "Pleiades" is also influenced by other Middle-Eastern languages having a name for those stars with a similar sound to the Hebrew name.

The 1984 NIV has "He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south," while the KJV has "Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south."

Basically, we can't be 100% sure which modern constellation/star names correspond to the Hebrew ones, although "Pleiades" seems almost certain.
 
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Fireinfolding

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Pleiades also is just a name for a specific grouping of the seven stars isnt it?

I know it says here....

Amos 5:8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion

Whereas it says here also...

Psalm 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

In that sense I wonder if its for understanding the invisible things of him as it speaks of here....

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Which, if the things visible speak to his eternal power, a grouping of seven stars are found here as well

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

even his eternal power and Godhead

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Amos 5:8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion

I would probrobly approach it differently maybe, or wonder about their signification (as made) to show something of the invisible things, but I havent really searched it out, but at least its speaks of their names

Psalm 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

And yet at the same time, it speaks of God bringing the living creatures to Adam to see what he would call them and whatever Adam called them that was their name,

Gen 2:19 and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof


So maybe what is adopted is just the name of what the grouping is called? Which doesnt change anything in the sense of what God has made but in respects to how these are specifically referred to.

Not sure really, interesting post though:thumbsup:
 
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Clare73

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In Job 9:9 Job says, "He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south."

I'm trying to understand how Job knew the name of the constellations since he is one of the oldest books in the bible and Greek mythology took place way after him. I don't doubt the Bible is the true word of God, I would just like clarification. When man tried to translate the original text of Job did Greek influences get added to it?

Please help
I suggest that God gave the names to Adam.

When viewed in relation to one another, the constellations tell the story of the gospel.
 
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ebedmelech

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I've heard of "The Gospel In The Stars"...I didn't look into it much though.

What I will say is should we really wonder that Job said such things? When God put the stars in the heavens He gave the purpose for them saying "let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years". That's what the stars are for.

The OP wonders how was what Job said correlated to the Greek constellations? I don't think this is really an issue as the point Job is making is that no matter what the names are...God put the stars in the heavens. That's the point He's making.

Anyhow, here's some insight from Adam Clarkes Commentary on it:

Clarke's Commentary on Job 9:9

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south - For this translation the original words are עשה עש כסיל וכימה והדרי תמן oseh ash, kesil, vechimah vehadrey theman, which are thus rendered by the Septuagint: Ὁ ποιων Πλειαδα, και Ἑσπερον, και Αρκτουρον, και ταμεια νοτου; "Who makes the Pleiades, and Hesperus, and Arcturus, and Orion, and the chambers of the south."

The Vulgate, Qui facit Arcturum, et Oriona, et Hyadas, et interiora Austri; "Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and the Hyades, and the innermost chambers of the south."

The Targum follows the Hebrew, but paraphrases the latter clause thus: "and the chambers or houses of the planetary domination in the southern hemisphere."

The Syrian and Arabic, "Who maketh the Pleiades, and Arcturus, and the giant, (Orion or Hercules), and the boundaries of the south."

Coverdale has, He maketh the waynes of heaven, the Orions, the vii starres and the secrete places of the south. And on the vii starres he has this marginal note: some call these seven starres, the clock henne with hir chickens. See below.

Edmund Becke, in his edition, 1549, follows Coverdale, but puts Vaynes of heaven for waynes, which Carmarden, in his Bible, Rouen, 1566, mistaking, changes into Waves of heaven.

Barker's Bible, 1615, reads, "He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the south." On which he has this note, "These are the names of certain starres, whereby he meaneth that all starres, both knowen and unknowen, are at His appointment."

Our early translators seem to agree much with the German and Dutch: Er machet, den wagen am himmel, und Orion, und die Gluken, und die Sterne gegen mittag; "He maketh the wagon of heaven, (Charles's wain), and Orion, and the clucking hen, (the Pleiades), and the stars of the mid-day region." See above, under Coverdale.

The Dutch version is not much unlike the German, from which it is taken: Die den wagen maecht, den Orion, ende het sevengesternte, end de binnenkameren ban't Zuyden.

The European versions, in general, copy one or other of the above, or make a compound translation from the whole; but all are derived ultimately from the Septuagint and Vulgate.

As to the Hebrew words, they might as well have been applied to any of the other constellations of heaven: indeed, it does not appear that constellations are at all meant. Parkhurst and Bate have given, perhaps, the best interpretation of the words, which is as follows: -

"כימה kimah, from כמה camah, to be hot or warm, denotes genial heat or warmth, as opposed to עש ash, a parching, biting air, on the one side; and כסיל kesil, the rigid, contracting cold, on the other; and the chambers (thick clouds) of the south." See more in Parkhurst, under כמה.

I need scarcely add that these words have been variously translated by critics and commentators. Dr. Hales translates kimah and kesil by Taurus and Scorpio; and, if this translation were indubitably correct, we might follow him to his conclusions, viz., that Job 54ed 2337 years before Christ! See at the end of this chapter, Job 9:35 (note).

I hope this helps you. :cool:
 
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