Stars and the Zodiac

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The Greek root for star is «αστρα» (astra) or «αστερ» (aster) has proto Indo-European roots.

English: star
German: Stern
The Latin word "stella" ≈ "star".
Greek: αστρα (astra) or αστερ (aster)
Hindi: तारा (stara)

Note: In the 1800's, the Grimm Brothers (e.g., Little Red Riding Hood) collected many folk tales and noticed that many similar word meanings had similar word spellings/pronunciations. This kicked off the modern study of linguistics.

An "asterisk" is a "little star" from the Greek word «αστήρ» for "star" and the Greek suffix «ισκος» for "little" (Matt 19:20, 22, Mark 14:51). First used over 2,000 years ago to mark text.

An "asteroid" is, literally, a "kind" or "variety" of "star".

The modern Greek word "είδος" (EE-thos) ≈ "kind, variety". Many English words that end in "oid" are based on this Greek word.
The modern Greek word "αστεροειδής" (a-steh-ro-ee-THEES) ≈ "asteroid".

Other English words that end in "oid" include the following.

meteorite (discussed later)
spheroid (discussed later)
humanoid

The word "astronaut" comes from the Greek «αστρα» (astra) for star and the Greek root «ναυτ» for sailor, boat, navy, etc.

English: navy
The Latin word "nauta" ≈ "sailor".
The Latin word "naviculam" ≈ "boat".
The modern Greek word "ναύτης" (NAV-tees) ≈ "sailor".
Hindi: नाव (nav) for boat

Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. [kjv]

… αστερα … [gnt]

2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. [kjv]

… χρονον … αστερος [gnt]

The Greek word for "star" appears more than 60 times in the Bible. The most famous mention is the star of Bethlehem at Christmas.

The modern Greek word "χρόνος" (HRO-nos) ≈ "time", from which we get English words such as "chronology", "chronic", etc.

Matthew 2:2

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KJV: Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Greek: λεγοντες που εστιν ο τεχθεις βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ειδομεν γαρ αυτου τον αστερα εν τη ανατολη και ηλθομεν προσκυνησαι αυτω

Matthew 2:7

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KJV: Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

Greek: τοτε ηρωδης λαθρα καλεσας τους μαγους ηκριβωσεν παρ αυτων τον χρονον του φαινομενου αστερος

There are many theories as to this "star", all of which are interesting.

Details are left as a future topic.

The ancient Greek words for "pasture", "law", "nomad", "coin" are related. The progression appears to be from a pasture, to a distribution of sheep, to the rules for such distributions, to representations of such wealth as coins, etc.

The ancient Greek word "νέμω" ≈ "distribute, pasture, graze" (as a verb)
The ancient Greek word "νομός" ≈ "pasture" (as a noun, accent on second syllable)
The ancient Greek word "νόμος" ≈ "custom, law" (as a noun, accent on first syllable)

Some English words made from this word include "economy", "astronomy", "Deuteronomy", "numismatics", etc.

Interestingly, the word the KJV (King James Version) translates as "iniquity" is a negation of that word for "law".

More: Syllable accent change over time

More: Coining a customary distribution law of iniquity

The "Esther" in the Old Testament book of "Esther" comes from the Greek word «αστέρ» for "star".

Details are left as a future topic.

♈	Aries Ram
♉	Taurus Bull
♊	Gemini Twins
♋	Cancer Crab
♌	Leo Lion
♍	Virgo Virgin
♎	Libra Scales
♏	Scorpio Scorpian
♐	Sagittarius Archer
♑	Capricorn Goat
♒	Aquarius Waterbearer
♓	Pisces Fish

♌

Leo, the constellation, is one of the twelve zodiac constellations.

More: The panther as an all-beast

Lamentations 3:12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. [kjv]

… τοξον … σκοπον … βελος [lxx]

… arcum … signum … sagittam [v]

The modern Greek word "σκοπός" (sko-POS) ≈ "purpose, objective, aim, scope" from which we get the English word "scope" and in Bible times meant "mark".

The Latin word "saggita" ≈ "arrow, shaft, bolt, arrowhead" and the Latin word "saggitarius" ≈ "archer" which is the source of the English word "Sagittarius" for the zodiac constellation.

More: Rainbows and the toxic arrow of time

The Star of David is a widely recognizable symbol of Israel. It consists of two blue regular triangles, one pointing up and one pointing down.

The Hebrew is, literally, the "shield of David", pronounced "Magen David".

The Hebrew word "דוד" (da-vid) ≈ "David".

Ruth 4:22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. [kjv]

… δαυιδ [lxx]

Ruth 4:22

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KJV: And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Hebrew: ועבד הוליד את ישי וישי הוליד את דוד׃

Greek: και ωβηδ εγεννησεν τον ιεσσαι και ιεσσαι εγεννησεν τον δαυιδ

Latin: Obed genuit Isai Isai genuit David

Wycliffe: Obeth gendride Isay; Isay gendride Dauid the kyng.

Russian: Овид родил Иессея; Иессей родил Давида.

Jeremiah 46:3 Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. [kjv]

… ασπιδας … [lxx]

*H1732 דָּוִד דָּוִידּ (daw-veed') : rarely (fully); Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as H1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse:--David.

The Hebrew word "מגן" (magen) ≈ "Shield".

*H6793 צִּנָּה (tsin-naw') : feminine of H6791; a hook (as pointed); also a (large) shield (as if guarding by prickliness); also cold (as piercing):-- buckler, cold, hook, shield, target.

Jeremiah 46:3

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KJV: Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Hebrew: ערכו מגן וצנה וגשו למלחמה׃

Greek: αναλαβετε οπλα και ασπιδας και προσαγαγετε εις πολεμον

Latin: praeparate scutum et clypeum et procedite ad bellum

Wycliffe: Make ye redi scheeld and targat, and go ye forth to batel.

Luther: Rüstet Schilde und Tartschen und ziehet in den Streit!

Spanish: Aparejad escudo y pavés, y venid a la guerra.