Sun is a prevalent theme in the Bible, emblematic of various concepts and used in multiple contexts to teach, explain and illustrate. It holds different symbolic meanings, including God’s glory, omnipotence, and life-giving capacity. This article aims to provide an insight into various perspectives on the sun as depicted in the Bible.
What Significance Does the Sun Hold in the Bible?
Sun is consistently presented in the Bible as an instrument of God’s creation, with the capacity to govern the day and bring light to the world. The fact that it rises daily is considered a testament to God’s unwavering faithfulness. The sun was placed in the sky by God on the fourth day of creation to rule the day and give light to the earth, displaying His magnificent, life-giving power. When the sun shines, it is seen as the reflection of God’s glory, vitality, and steadfast love.
Where is Sun Mentioned in the Bible?
The sun is mentioned in various parts of the Bible; from the book of Genesis, where its creation is documented, to Revelation, where it’s prophesied that there will be no need for the sun because God’s glory will be the only light needed. In Psalms, the sun consistently serves as a symbol of God’s divine protection and guidance. Its ceaseless course throughout the day, from one end of the heavens to the other, reflects God’s all-encompassing presence. In the book of Ecclesiastes, the sun is used metaphorically to reflect the temporality and repetitiveness of life.
Who Makes Reference to the Sun in the Bible?
Various Biblical characters and authors make reference to the sun. In Job’s case, the sun is part of his discourse on God’s power where he alludes to the sun’s rise and set as dictated by God. References to the sun are seen in Solomon’s writings, particularly in Ecclesiastes, where the sun serves as a metaphor for life’s fleeting nature. Jesus Himself referred to the sun in His teachings. He spoke of God’s indiscriminate kindness, extending to both the evil and the good, paralleling it with the sun that rises on both the evil and good.
When Does the Bible Use Sun as a Symbol?
The Bible uses the sun as a symbol in various contexts. In the book of Genesis, the sun’s creation symbolizes the establishment of time and order. The sun’s rising and setting are central themes symbolizing the rhythm of life, God’s faithfulness, and the inevitability of change. In more apocalyptic texts, descriptions of the sun being darkened symbolize great disaster or transformative events. It’s noteworthy that while the sun is used symbolically in many instances in the Bible, it is never presented as an object of worship, highlighting the monotheistic stance of biblical texts.
Why Does the Bible Use the Sun as an Illustration?
The Bible uses the sun as an illustration because of its universal presence and impact. Being an ever-present part of human life, the sun’s imagery is easily relatable and understandable, making it a prime candidate for parables, metaphors, and symbols in the Bible. The sun’s life-giving capacity, its role in dictating day and night, its warmth, and constancy are tangible experiences that all readers can connect with, making it a poignant and effective tool for illustrating spiritual truths about God’s nature and His interaction with His creation.
Below is our full list of bible verses on sun (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Sun
Deuteronomy 4:19
“19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 1:5
“5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.”
Related Themes: Earth
Isaiah 47:13-14
“13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.”
Related Themes: Fortune
Psalm 104:5
“5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.”
Related Themes: Earth
2 Peter 3:10
“10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Amos 5:8
“8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:”
Related Themes: Omnipotence
Job 26:10
“10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.”
Related Themes: Earth
Job 38:41
“41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”
Related Themes: Animals
Proverbs 8:27
“27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:”
Related Themes: Earth
Psalm 19:1
“1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Related Themes: Earth Greatness Creativity
Galatians 5:20-21
“20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Related Themes: Dating Indulgence Bitterness Strife Magic
Jeremiah 10:2
“2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”
Deuteronomy 17:2-5
“2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.”
Related Themes: Abomination Killing
Psalm 113:3
“3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.”
Related Themes: Earth
2 Kings 23:5
“5 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.”
Related Themes: Earth
Deuteronomy 22:6-7
“6 If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.”
Related Themes: Animals
Malachi 4:2
“2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
Related Themes: Healing New Beginnings Health Joy Righteousness
Psalm 93:1-5
“1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.”
Related Themes: Earth
