The Moon: Bright
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Topical Encyclopedia
The moon, as a celestial body created by God, holds significant symbolism and meaning throughout the Bible. Its brightness is often associated with God's creation, His divine order, and the reflection of His glory. The moon's role in the biblical narrative underscores its importance in the natural world and its symbolic representation of God's light and guidance.

Creation and Order

The moon is first mentioned in the creation account in Genesis. On the fourth day, God created the "two great lights" to govern the day and the night. Genesis 1:16 states, "God made two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars." Here, the moon is described as the "lesser light," yet it plays a crucial role in marking time and seasons, as well as providing light during the night.

Symbol of God's Faithfulness

The moon's consistent cycle and brightness serve as a symbol of God's faithfulness and unchanging nature. In Psalm 89:37 , the moon is used as a metaphor for God's enduring covenant: "It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." This verse highlights the moon as a testament to God's eternal promises and His steadfast presence.

Guidance and Light

The moon's brightness is also associated with guidance and illumination. In Isaiah 60:19 , the prophet speaks of a future time when the Lord will be the everlasting light: "No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor." While this passage ultimately points to the divine light of God surpassing all earthly lights, it acknowledges the moon's role in providing light and guidance during the night.

Symbol of Reflection

The moon's brightness is not its own but a reflection of the sun's light. This serves as a powerful metaphor for believers, who are called to reflect the light of Christ in the world. Just as the moon reflects the sun, Christians are to reflect the glory and love of God. Matthew 5:14-16 encourages believers to be the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, much like the moon's bright presence in the night sky.

Prophetic Imagery

In prophetic literature, the moon often appears in apocalyptic imagery, symbolizing significant changes or divine intervention. Joel 2:31 prophesies, "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD." This imagery underscores the moon's role in signaling important eschatological events and God's ultimate plan for humanity.

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, the moon's brightness is a multifaceted symbol of God's creation, faithfulness, guidance, and the reflection of His glory. Its presence in the biblical narrative serves as a reminder of the divine order and the call for believers to reflect God's light in a darkened world.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 31:26
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek
4582. selene -- the moon
... Definition: the moon. Word Origin from selas (a bright flame) Definition the
moon NASB Word Usage moon (9). moon. From selas (brilliancy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4582.htm - 6k
Library

Moon-Light.
... Affords a glorious light; Then fallen reason's boasted moon. Appears no longer bright.
And grace, not light alone, bestows,. But adds a quick'ing pow'r; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 86 moon-light.htm

Hymn for the Epiphany
... No courtier of the realms of night Nor monthly moon's bright acolyte, This star
directs the course of day, Sole sovereign of the heavenly way. ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/xii hymn for the epiphany.htm

Book I to Pleasant Songs My Work was Erstwhile Given, and Bright ...
... has it been to wander into the paths of the sky: his to watch the light of the bright
sun, his to inquire into the brightness of the chilly moon; he, like a ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book i to pleasant songs.htm

Christianity a Light.
... Whose heart has not been touched with a feeling of admiration as they beheld the
bright dawning of the round, red sun, or the beautiful rising of a full moon? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter i christianity a light.htm

What is Man?
... total eclipse of the sun, on the removal of the shade from any part of the earth,
the sun immediately shines bright upon it; whereas if the moon had atmosphere ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 103 what is man.htm

The Recall to Religion in the Hymns of Charles Wesley
... Sun and moon bright, night and moonlight,. Starry temples azure-floored; Cloud and
rain, and wild wind's madness,. Breeze that floats with genial gladness,. ...
/.../manning/the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/the recall to religion in.htm

No House of any Pretension to be Called a Palace is in the Least ...
... it, covered with grass. The moon shone very bright, and he thought he
had never seen a more lovely spot. Still it looked dreary ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 28 no house of.htm

On the Creation of the World
... made light, is called Wisdom; when it made the sky, Understanding; when it made
land and sea, Counsel; when it made sun and moon and other bright things, Power ...
/.../victorinus/on the creation of the world/on the creation of the.htm

The Desire of the Soul in Spiritual Darkness
... "Tis midnight on the mountains' brown,. The cold round moon shines deeply down; ... So
wildly, spiritually bright; Who ever gazed upon them shining,. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the desire of the soul.htm

The Testament of Naphtali Concerning Natural Goodness.
... And when Levi became as a sun, a certain young man gave to him twelve branches of
palm; and Judah was bright as the moon, and under his feet were twelve rays. ...
/.../viii the testament of naphtali concerning.htm

Resources
Why does the Bible describe the moon as a light? | GotQuestions.org

Is there any significance to a full moon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the new moon in Bible times? | GotQuestions.org

Moon: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Moon

Moon: Created by God

Moon: Darkening of

Moon: Feast of the New Moon

Moon: Feast of the New Moon: Traffic at the Time of, Prohibited

Moon: Its Influences

Moon: Its Light

Moon: Joseph's Dream Concerning

Moon: No Light of, in Heaven

Moon: Seasons of (Months)

Moon: Shining of

Moon: Stands Still

Moon: Symbolical

Moon: Worship of, Forbidden

Moon: Worshiped

The Moon of Changeableness of the World

The Moon of Fairness of the Church

The Moon of Glory of Christ in the Church

The Moon: (Becoming Blood) of Judgments

The Moon: (Withdrawing Her Light) Deep Calamities

The Moon: Appointed by an Ordinance for Ever

The Moon: Appointed for a Light in the Firmament

The Moon: Appointed for Signs and Seasons

The Moon: Appointed for the Benefit of All

The Moon: Appointed: To Divide Day from Night

The Moon: Appointed: To Light the Earth by Night

The Moon: Appointed: To Rule the Night

The Moon: Bright

The Moon: Called the Lesser Light

The Moon: Created by God

The Moon: Fair

The Moon: First Appearance of, a Time of Festivity

The Moon: Has a Glory of Its Own

The Moon: Influences Vegetation

The Moon: Lunacy Attributed to the Influence of

The Moon: Made to Glorify God

The Moon: Miracles Connected With: Signs In, Before the Destruction of Jerusalem

The Moon: Miracles Connected With: Standing Still in Ajalon

The Moon: Worshipped As the Queen of Heaven

The Moon: Worshipping of Condemned As Atheism

The Moon: Worshipping of Forbidden to the Jews

The Moon: Worshipping of Jews often Guilty of

The Moon: Worshipping of Jews Punished For

The Moon: Worshipping of To be Punished With Death

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Is'the (1 Occurrence)

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Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

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Zin (9 Occurrences)

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Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

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Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

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Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

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Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

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Home-born (14 Occurrences)

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Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

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Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

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Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

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Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

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The Moon: Appointed: To Rule the Night
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