Luminaries
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Definition and Significance:
In biblical terms, luminaries refer to the celestial bodies created by God to give light upon the earth. These include the sun, moon, and stars, which serve not only as sources of light but also as signs to mark sacred times, days, and years. The concept of luminaries is deeply rooted in the creation narrative and is significant in understanding the order and structure of the universe as ordained by God.

Biblical References:

1. Creation of Luminaries:
The creation of luminaries is described in Genesis 1:14-19. On the fourth day of creation, God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth." (Genesis 1:14-15). God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. These luminaries were set in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.

2. Purpose and Function:
The primary purpose of the luminaries is to provide light and to govern the cycles of time. They are also intended to serve as signs. Psalm 104:19 states, "He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set." . The regularity and predictability of the luminaries underscore God's sovereignty and the orderliness of His creation.

3. Symbolism and Imagery:
Throughout the Bible, luminaries are often used symbolically. The sun, moon, and stars are sometimes depicted as witnesses to God's covenant and faithfulness. For example, in Jeremiah 31:35-36, God declares, "Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel's descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me." . The enduring nature of the luminaries is a testament to the enduring nature of God's promises.

4. Prophetic and Eschatological Contexts:
In prophetic literature, changes in the behavior of luminaries often signify divine intervention or judgment. For instance, in Joel 2:31, it is prophesied, "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD." . Such imagery is used to convey the magnitude and seriousness of God's actions in history and the end times.

5. New Testament References:
The New Testament also references luminaries, particularly in the context of the end times. In Matthew 24:29, Jesus speaks of the signs of His coming, saying, "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.'" . This apocalyptic imagery underscores the cosmic scale of the events surrounding the return of Christ.

Theological Implications:
The creation and function of luminaries reflect God's power, wisdom, and intentionality in the design of the universe. They serve as a constant reminder of His provision and the order He established. The luminaries also play a role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, marking significant events and pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) Plural of Luminary.
Greek
4756. stratia -- an army
... of stratos (an army; from the base of stronnumi, as encamped); camp-likeness, ie
An army, ie (figuratively) the angels, the celestial luminaries -- host. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4756.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
3368. yaqar -- precious, rare, splendid, weighty
... Word Origin from yaqar Definition precious, rare, splendid, weighty NASB Word Usage
costly (6), glory (1), luminaries (1), noble (1), precious (23), rare (1 ...
/hebrew/3368.htm - 6k
Library

Concerning Light, Fire, the Luminaries, Sun, Moon and Stars.
... Book II. Chapter VII."Concerning light, fire, the luminaries, sun, moon
and stars. Fire is one of the four elements, light and ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter vii concerning light fire the.htm

Whether the Lights Ought to have Been Produced on the Fourth Day?
... day. For the heavenly luminaries are by nature incorruptible bodies: wherefore
their matter cannot exist without their form. But ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the lights ought to.htm

This is He who Took a Bodily Form in the virgin
... The Lord was exposed with naked body: He was not deemed worthy even of covering;
and, in order that He might not be seen, the luminaries turned away, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/v this is he who.htm

Whether These Days are Sufficiently Enumerated?
... these days are superfluous. Light, for instance, stands to the luminaries
in the relation of accident to subject. But the subject ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether these days are sufficiently.htm

The Apology of Aristides as it is Preserved in the History of ...
... certain shapes and styled them a representation of the heaven and the earth and
the sea, of the sun too and the moon and the other primal bodies or luminaries. ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/the apology of aristides as.htm

All Association with Idols is to be Avoided.
... XII. Nor do the legislators give us only prohibitions concerning idols, but also
warn us concerning the luminaries, not to swear by them, nor to serve them. ...
/.../constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii all association with idols.htm

Holds Also that God Has no Part with the World Itself...
... Wherefore He sends and takes away from them day by day the soul belonging to Him,
through the medium of these luminaries, the sun and the moon, by which the ...
/.../the acts of the disputation with the heresiarch manes/11 he holds also that.htm

Of the Fourth Day.
... On the fourth day the luminaries were made; because God, who possesses foreknowledge,
knew the follies of the vain philosophers, that they were going to say ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xv of the fourth day.htm

Glory to Him who came and Restored It!
... the air;"when He was baptized light flashed from the water;"at His Death the sun
was darkened in the firmament;"at His Passion the luminaries set along ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn x glory to him.htm

Doctrines of Various Other Gnostic Sects, and Especially of the ...
... But they declare that from the Light, which is Christ, and from Aphtharsia, four
luminaries were sent forth to surround Autogenes; and again from Thelema and ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxix doctrines of various other.htm

Thesaurus
Luminaries (7 Occurrences)
...Luminaries (7 Occurrences). ... Genesis 1:15 and they have been for luminaries in the
expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth:' and it is so. (YLT). ...
/l/luminaries.htm - 8k

Luminary (2 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:16 And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the
rule of the day, and the small luminary -- and the stars -- for the rule of ...
/l/luminary.htm - 7k

Unblemished (11 Occurrences)
... may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of
a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the ...
/u/unblemished.htm - 9k

Lumberjack (1 Occurrence)

/l/lumberjack.htm - 6k

Darken (3 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 32:8 All luminaries of light in the heavens, I make black over thee, And
I have given darkness over thy land, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, (See ...
/d/darken.htm - 7k

Sun (1708 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews shemesh), first mentioned along with the
moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Genesis 1:14-18). ...
/s/sun.htm - 14k

Separation (50 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:14 And God saith, 'Let luminaries be in the expanse of the heavens, to
make a separation between the day and the night, then they have been for signs ...
/s/separation.htm - 23k

Maketh (399 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:16 And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the
rule of the day, and the small luminary -- and the stars -- for the rule of ...
/m/maketh.htm - 34k

Apocalyptic
... The Book of the Courses of the Luminaries occupies the next eleven chapters, and
subjoined to these are two visions (chapters 83-90), in the latter of which is ...
/a/apocalyptic.htm - 42k

Literature (2 Occurrences)
... The Book of the Courses of the Luminaries occupies the next eleven chapters, and
subjoined to these are two visions (chapters 83-90), in the latter of which is ...
/l/literature.htm - 82k

Resources
What is the Day-Age Theory? | GotQuestions.org

Luminaries: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Concordance
Luminaries (7 Occurrences)

Philippians 2:15
that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the world,
(YLT)

Genesis 1:14
And God saith, 'Let luminaries be in the expanse of the heavens, to make a separation between the day and the night, then they have been for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years,
(YLT)

Genesis 1:15
and they have been for luminaries in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth:' and it is so.
(YLT)

Genesis 1:16
And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the rule of the day, and the small luminary -- and the stars -- for the rule of the night;
(YLT)

Psalms 74:16
Thine is the day, Thine also the night; Thou hast established luminary and sun.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 32:8
All luminaries of light in the heavens, I make black over thee, And I have given darkness over thy land, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah,
(YLT)

Zechariah 14:6
It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Luminaries

Related Terms

Luminaries (7 Occurrences)

Maketh (399 Occurrences)

Luminous (1 Occurrence)

Torch (6 Occurrences)

Candle (16 Occurrences)

Apparition (3 Occurrences)

Lumberjack
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