God’s Celestial Word: The Zodiac in Job 38:31–39:30

God establishing the heavens (38:31-36)

Can the adversary hold together the lacings that unite Kiymah, God’s beautiful jewel of the seven stars (Pleiades)? Or can he carve the strong belt that girds Keciyl, that mighty giant (Orion)?

Can he bring forth the Mazzoroth, His twelve appointed and sacred signs of the Messiah, at their precise and accurate times? Or can he lead and guide Ayish (Ursa Major, the Big Dipper), the one that hurries across the sky, toward the heights with his followers in train (The Great Flock)?

Does he understand in full measure My great ordinances and writings which engrave the heavens? Or can he establish and bring to pass My great writings that are displayed over the earth?

Can he rise above my proclamation that sits over the darkness, by an overflowing of waters that will hide them?

Can he send out my gleaming messengers to cause them to go forth and proclaim: “Behold!”

Who has arrayed skillful wisdom as an overlay across the heavens? Or who has set forth brilliant and perfect understanding for those that observe the heavens?

The twelve signs of the Mazzoroth (38:37–39:30)

Who can mark and tally the firmament with godly wisdom? Who can lay forth the water bottles displayed in the heavens (Aquarius)?

That pour forth their particles (stars) so that they fuse together into a coherent unit.

Who can lay alongside and provide the fragments (stars) that produce the lion (Leo)? Or fully describe the life of the Great Lion (The Messiah)?

That remains at rest in his (celestial) dwelling, and remains ready in his pavilion until that time of ambush.

Who has erected the darkly braided ones (Pisces) that lie alongside one another? Those which are begotten (upper fish – believers) shout for joy unto God, but those that vacillate (lower fish – unbelievers) are seduced out of the way so that they are without reward.

Who has full and precise knowledge of the exact time when the goat set in the high places (Capricorn) will be born? Or who can protect and prepare the lamb (Aries) that is to come forth?

Who can enumerate the months they signify until the Messiah’s birth? Or who knows the exact time that he will be delivered?

They bow down to show the breaking forth of the promised one, the Son who will break every band of the enemy!

Yes, the very Son who will be bound firmly to the truth, who will grow abundantly in wisdom and selecting the light; the one who will go forth and not retreat until his mission is accomplished.

Who has set forth the coming branch that brings liberty to those enslaved? The one who will open wide for the wanderers a place of safety by teaching right paths (Cancer).

A home that I have set as a pledge in the evening sky, and a permanent place of safety that is salted in the heavens!

Those within it will joyfully laugh with the shout of a multitude within their city, for they will no longer obey the tumultuously destructive and stormy shouts of that great tyrant that has harassed them as a taskmaster.

He provides the most excellent of the high places for their pasture and haven where they are fed and shepherded, and he seeks out diligently to provide them with every green herb.

Will the mighty bull (Taurus–the coming, ruling Messiah) rest content to serve another, or to wait patiently beside the stall (celestial location) of another?

Can any other bind the mighty bull with the entwined ones (Pleiades) along their accumulated line? Or dig out a place for the other broad ones (Hyades)?

To whom else beside the coming, ruling Messiah can we run for refuge since his power and strength are abundant? Or to whom else can we entrust and relinquish the great toil (of salvation) that is unto exhaustion?

To whom else can we entrust the bringing home safely of God’s posterity, and who else can gather them together unto that future threshing floor of the harvest?

Who else will shout in triumph and joy as the “tailed” Prince (Gemini) who is to come? Or who else will be protected beneath the wings of the mother (Virgo)?

Who holds her eggs in her earthly body, and incubates the young  in her womb.

Who can lightly dismiss that the Messiah’s foot (regel in Hebrew, referring to the star Rigel in the constellation Orion) will crush his adversary, or that new life will sprout forth in the land?

She gives no worry for her offspring, in nothing is she afraid: for her bringing forth (empty of man’s help) is free from terror and alarm at the adversary’s attack.

For God has hidden the skillful knowledge of her bringing forth the Messiah, neither has He given perfect understanding of the details of the Messiah’s birth.

To that rebellious one who lifts himself on high and mocks at the great horseman who rides (Sagittarius).

Can the adversary match the mighty strength and power of the great horseman (gbra), the Messiah? Who is wrapped about and bound with thunder?

Will his adversaries not shake and quake in fear as a flying locust? For the grandeur and excellency of his thundering voice fills his enemies with dread.

For the Messiah digs deeply and explores the deep things of God so that he cheerfully rejoices in his might and power from the Lord: he goes forth to (confidently) take on the battle!

The Messiah will stand boldly against the sudden attacks of the enemy, and will never prostrate himself before the adversary, nor ever retreat from the vicious, piercing attacks of the enemy.

The Messiah’s arrows whiz out against the adversary, his flaming javelins and lances!

He absorbs the earth with his quaking and wrath (just judgment): surely he is steadfast and faithful to the loud call of the trumpet (shophar in Hebrew, a ram’s horn)!

He shouts boldly among the trumpets (shophar) and cries, “Aha, Aha!”; he joyously anticipates the great battle that is a great while to come, and the thunderous shouts of his mighty lords with their joyous battle cry!

Is this not the brilliant one (Libra) who will rise to the heights of perfect wisdom, and stretch forth to the extremity of (God’s) right hand?

Against the lacerating destroyer (Scorpio) who mounts up in pride and haughtiness beyond the appointed commands and ordinances of God, the adversary who nourishes his nestlings in the heights of haughty pride.

The wicked one who remains steadfast in folly and obstinately stays in his stronghold of pride, upon his piercing and sharp-toothed, lofty stronghold; his haunt of those he has captured and entrapped.

From that position he seeks out and hunts for those he may devour, his evil eyes scanning and intently regarding (whom he may devour) until that time a great while to come!

His brood of nestlings suck up and sip upon blood: and where the pierced, slain, and broken are – there is he!

The Order of Zodiac Signs as Seen in the Heavens

The sun “resides” in the 12 signs of the zodiac, for it passes through them on the ecliptic. Of the 48 constellations visible with the naked eye, these 12 are the main topics of the Messiah’s mission and story. They each have three constellations arranged with them to add further detail, made of the 36 remaining constellations. They are set in the chronological order in which they occur: from the conception of Christ by a woman, to his coming in glory as the Lion of the tribe of Juda.

The ancient star names and their meanings line up with truths in scripture about the Messiah. These ancient meanings are used in identifying the purpose of each constellation in the story of the Messiah. The celestial order of the zodiac signs, relating to the Messiah:

Verse 34 – Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that the abundance of waters may cover (envelope, cover, thicket) you (fill up like an urn of water).

Verse 35 – Can you send lightnings that they may go and say to you, Here we are.

Verse 36 – Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding (the Hebrew word sekuw – as an observatory) to the meteor?

Verse 37 – Who can number the clouds (Hebrew means to “score” the heavens skillfully) or pour out the bottles (lay down the vase of heaven) or skinbags of the heavens?

Verse 38 – When heat has caused the dust to run into a mass and the clods of clay to cleave into one?

2. Leo – Job 38:39,40: The established Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus has fulfilled all he was to do in his first coming to earth. He will carry out all future deeds as the Lion as well.

Note that this section of Job 38 shows the “judgment” associated with a lion.

Verse 39 – Can you hunt the prey for the lion? Or satisfy the appetites of the young lions?

Verse 40 – When they couch (sit as a judge) in their dens (his pavilion) or lay in wait in their hiding place (the Hebrew word kaphar meaning to cover, as the atoned ones)?

3. Pisces – Job 38:41: Blessings completely poured out by the Messiah. He is life to those who believe and judgment to those who reject him (II Corinthians 2:16).

Note that this section of Job 38 shows complete justice for those who believe and those who do not.

Verse 41 – Who sets up the “braided one” (mingled together) (the Hebrew word oreb, from arab, meaning dusky) when that which is begotten [Pisces is represented by a fish above – a faithful remnant] shouts to God (is freed – shavah) and they [Pisces is represented by a fish below – unbelievers] err for failure to eat (God’s Word)?

4. Capricorn – Job 39:1: The goat that atones for all of the world’s sins. Like the goat of atonement, Jesus Christ offered himself. Yet his sacrifice was for all the world’s sins, for all time. Hebrews 9:12: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Note that this section of Job 39 shows Jesus Christ rising from the grave in the world unto newness of life.

Verse 1 – Do you know the proper season (the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 18:10 about Sarah’s time to give birth) when the wild goats (ascending, valuable ones) of the loftiness (the Hebrew word cela – used of a dead one rising to the heights of loftiness) bring forth?

5. Aries – Job 39:1-4: The lamb is slain to show forth God’s grace to mankind. I Peter 1:18,19: “Redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Verse 1 – Do you observe when the hinds are giving birth?

Verse 2 – Can you number or  mark (the Hebrew word shamar meaning to hedge about or to keep, as in Genesis 2:15; 30:31) the months they carry their offspring? Or do you know the time when they deliver?

Verse 3 – When they bow themselves, bring forth their young ones, and cast out their pains (waits patiently to suffer and endure)?

Verse 4 – Their young ones become strong (the Hebrew word ayalah from ayil meaning a strong ram as in Genesis 15:9), they grow up in the open field: they go forth and return not to them.

6. Cancer – Job 39:5–8: The redeemed of the Messiah from all of mankind. Jesus Christ is the open door for the sheep (John 10:9) that provides access to God (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; 3:12). The “crab” symbol comes from the open pinchers that were originally the open ends of sheep fold. Jesus Christ provides freedom and a dwelling place to all those in the wilderness of life.

Verse 5 – Who has sent out the wild ass giving him his freedom? Or has loosed the bands of the swift ass?

Verse 6 – Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?

Verse 7 – He scorns the tumult of the city and hears not the shoutings of his taskmaster.

Verse 8 – The range of the mountains is his pasture and he searches after every green thing.

7. Taurus – Job 39:9–12: The coming ruling one in all of God’s spiritual perfection. We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Born-again believers have the “spirit of Christ” within (Romans 8:9). Jesus Christ is a perfect savior.

Verse 9 – Will the wild ox (the Hebrew word re’em meaning a wild bull, used specifically of the Messiah in Psalms 92:10) be willing (the Hebrew word abah meaning to breathe after or rest content) to serve (the Hebrew word abad meaning to work, to be in bondage to) you or remain beside (the Hebrew word luwn meaning to abide, to stay permanently) beside your crib (the Hebrew word ebuwc meaning to fodder or to stall)?

Verse 10 – Can you bind (the same Hebrew word translated as “Pleiades” in Job 38:31. This celestial grouping is found in the constellation Taurus) the wild ox with a harness (this Hebrew word means a string or twined cord, as in Psalms 118:27 where they “bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar”) to the plow in the furrow (this Hebrew word means a bank or ridge, as in Hosea 12:11 where they sacrifice bullocks)? Or will he break the clods in the valley (the Hebrew word means a deep place) in the hind part of you?

Verse 11 – Will you trust (the Hebrew word batach meaning to go to for refuge) him because his strength (the Hebrew word koach meaning force or power) is great (the Hebrew word pachad meaning against the fear of alarm), or to him will you leave (the Hebrew word azab meaning to loosen or go away from) your labor (the Hebrew word yeyiya meaning toil, from yaba meaning to gasp, exhaust, or tire).

Verse 12 – Will you depend (the Hebrew word aman meaning to believe, keep faithful, foster and care) upon him to bring home (the Hebrew word shuwb meaning to return home, as the circuit of the heavens) your seed (the Hebrew word means that which was sown) and gather (the Hebrew word asaph as in Genesis 6:21 with the food on Noah’s ark) the grain of your threshing floor (the Hebrew word goren meaning a smooth or open place)?

8. Gemini – Job 39:13: The Prince who brings regeneration and life. Jesus Christ is the “Prince of life” (Acts 3:15) and “a Prince and a Saviour” (Acts 5:31).

Verse 13 – The wings (the Hebrew word kanaph meaning a border, or tail) of the peacock (the Hebrew word renen from ranan meaning to cry for joy – a shout of triumph as in Leviticus 9:24; Deuteronomy 32:43; Job 38:7; the constellation Gemini is a “tailed figure” representing the place of him who comes) wave proudly.

9. Virgo – Job 39:13-18: The woman who conceives bringing the finality of God’s plan of the ages–the birth of the Messiah.

Verse 13 – The feathers (the Hebrew word chaciydah meaning stork, as in Jeremiah 8:7 where she knows her appointed times) of love.

Verse 14 – She leaves her eggs to warm in the dust (nurtures in her womb)

Verse 15 – Forgetting (the Hebrew word shakach meaning to discover, disclose a covered thing, as the promised seed was revealed) that the foot (the Hebrew word regel used of a star in the constellation Orion) will crush (Messiah will bruise the serpent’s heel as in Genesis 3:15) or that the wild (the Hebrew word means to spread out, of field or land) beast (the Hebrew word chay meaning life, or a living thing) may break forth (the Hebrew word duwsh from deshe meaning to sprout)

Verse 16 – She is unfeeling of the young son as though not hers; her labor (producing fruit unto birth) is empty (without support) because she is without sudden alarm (the Hebrew word pachad meaning to bear)

Verse 17 – Because God has hidden (the Hebrew word means to be made to forget, as in Genesis 41:51) her wisdom (skillful knowledge), nor imparted (the Hebrew word cavaq meaning to smooth; similar to the Hebrew word chalats meaning loins; or divide an inheritance) understanding.

Verse 18 – When she goes up on high to the heights she will rejoice with the “horse and rider” (Sagittarius in triumph).

10. Sagittarius – Job 39:19–25: the victorious one in battle who brings numerical order to God’s forces.

Verse 19 – Have you given the horse (the Hebrew word cuwc as in the Hebrew word pacash meaning a horseman) his might (the Hebrew word gbra meaning a mighty man) or clothed the back of his neck with thunder (power)?

Verse 20 – Can you make him tremble (as in Psalms 22:1,15; Ezekiel 26:10; Haggai 2:6,7,21) like a locust at the excellency of his snorting that is terrible (to the adversary)?

Verse 21 – He searches out the deep things and rejoices in his vigor; he goes out to enjoin the battle.

Verse 22 – He laughs at terror and is not afraid nor does he retreat from the slayer.

Verse 23 – His quiver (the Hebrew word ashpah as in Lamentations 2:22; 3:12,13) rattles (the Hebrew word ranah meaning that it whizzes) from his flashing javelin and shield (the Hebrew word kiydown from kiyd meaning striking or crushing, as in Jeremiah 6:23; 50:42).

Verse 24 – He absorbs (the Hebrew word means to drink up) the earth (as in Genesis 24:17) with his quaking and wrath (just judgment); verily he is steadfast and faithful (the Hebrew word aman) at the voice (the Hebrew word qowl) of the trumpet (the Hebrew word shophar, as in Isaiah 27:13; Zephaniah 1:13–16).

Verse 25 – He calls (the Hebrew word amar) with the fullness (the Hebrew word means day) of the trumpets; Aha, behold; Aha, behold (the Hebrew word means joy, dread); He smells (the Hebrew word means spirit) or awaits the warfare that is remotely in the future (the Hebrew word means a great while to come); the thunder of his captains (compare those judging with the Lord in II Thessalonians 1:7-10 and I Corinthians 6:3) at the battle cry.

11. Libra – Job 39:26: the price paid for Lucifer and Adam’s rebellion and the disorder that followed.

Verse 26 – By wisdom the hawk (the Hebrew word nets from natsats meaning to be brightly colored, to sparkle as brass, as in Ezekiel 1:7) flies (the Hebrew word means to soar) to heights and by understanding spreads to the edge of the right hand (the Hebrew word teyman from yamiyn meaning right hand).

12. Scorpio – Job 39:27-30: the enemy’s attack by evil spirits in their organizational perfection under the Devil. This leads into the next section of scripture where God shows Job the organization of the Adversary’s Devices and Kingdom in Job 40:1–41:34.

Verse 27 – Does the lacerating one (the Hebrew word nesher) rise up (proud and haughty) to the command (the Hebrew word peh from pa’ah meaning to blow into corners, as in Deuteronomy 25:19 “blot out the remembrance of” and Deuteronomy 32:26 “cease from”); he makes his nest (the Hebrew word pen meaning to nestle, a chamber or dwelling) on high (the Hebrew word ruwm meaning to rise up) in pride.

Verse 28 – He dwells and stays on the stronghold (the Hebrew word cela meaning rock) upon the crag [tooth] (the Hebrew word shen meaning tooth) of the stronghold and the strong (the Hebrew word matsuwd meaning a bulwark, net, or snare).

Verse 29 – from which he searches for prey (the Hebrew word means that he would consume); his eyes behold (the Hebrew word nabat meaning to scan, or look intently, as in Genesis 15:5) afar (the Hebrew word rachowq meaning the future, a great while to come).

Verse 30 – Her young ones (the Hebrew word ephroach meaning young birds as in Deuteronomy 22:6; compare ranking of evil spirits; and in Psalms 84:3 meaning a nest for the young) suck blood (causing death) [the serpent’s seed shed blood as in Genesis 4:10; Judges 9:24; Proverbs 6:17]; and where the pierced ones are, she is there!

What a magnificent unveiling of the great story of the Messiah, as seen in the twelve constellations of the zodiac. Here God tells Job, with numerical significance in the order, great details of what the Messiah will do and accomplish for mankind. Next time we will see the adversary’s wicked devices and truths of his evil kingdom, as God revealed them to his faithful servant Job (Job 40:1–41:34).

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