The Mazzaroth: Christian Symbolism in the 12 Zodiac

[SCRIPT DRAFT]

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen. 1:14).

The stars have a special purpose as stated in Genesis chapter 1. God tells us they are both signs and they are a calendar. Throughout history they’ve not only served these purposes for farmers, navigators, astrologers, and stargazers, but for God too. The stars testify of Christ, his birth, resurrection, and second coming. In the words of David, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

We can learn of God and his message when we look up at night and see the stars. The constellations are, in a way, God’s hieroglyphs; a story in pictures written by our creator. In this video, we’ll compare the zodiacal constellations, their stars, and even some traditional mythology with scripture to show his story written in the stars.

[INTRO]

This will be a long video, so If you want the five minute version, I’ll first provide a brief overview, then we’ll take a deeper dive into each of the 12 Zodiacs. If you want even more, you can find my sources in the description below. While some of this is my own interpretation of scripture, much of it has been discussed by other writers and bloggers, so check out the links below. There are plenty of interesting reads on this topic.

OVERVIEW

Here is your overview with a scripture for each Zodiac. This introduces some of the symbolism of which we’ll go into more detail later.

• Virgo the Virgin: Represents the virgin birth of Christ in Bethlehem.
• Matt 1:23 - Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
• Libra the balance scale: the mission of Christ to pay the price of sin and redeem fallen mankind.
• 1 Cor 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
• Scorpio the Scorpion: The enemy of Christ who bruises his heel.
• Gen 1:14 - And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
• Sagittarius the Centaur Archer: Christ as the conqueror whose word is sharp and who destroys the enemy.
• Psalm 45:4 - And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
• Capricorn the Sea Goat: Christ as the sacrifice for his church, slain yet risen on the third day so that all may live again.
• Lev 9:15 - And he (Aaron) brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
• Aquarius the Water Bearer: Christ who pours out blessing on the faithful, providing them with living water.
• Isa 44:3 - For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
• Pisces the Fish: A representation of those who are gathered into the church of Christ, both Jews and Gentiles.
• Matthew 4:19 - And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
• Aries the Ram: Christ as the sacrifice who is slain to loose the bands of hell that our sins may be white as wool.
• Gen 22:13 - And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
• Taurus the Bull: Christ’s disciples who are yoked with him and who labor in his field preaching his gospel.
• Micah 4:13 - Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
• Gemini the Twins: Christ’s harvest raised up unto him, in the end, to stand before their maker with his image in their countenance.
• 1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
• Cancer the Crab: Christ who gathers in his church with a strong hand out of the world, delivered from the depths of hell.
• Ex. 13:9 - And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
• Leo the Lion: Christ as he finally takes his throne as King of kings, Lord of lords, and lawgiver or the whole earth.
• Gen 49:9-10 - Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

That brief overview is sure enough to convince me that God designed the stars with a purpose and to remind us of his plan of salvation. Unfortunately, there is a lot of knowledge that has been lost and distorted through the ages. I did my best to verify my information, but it wasn’t always possible to find primary sources. In any case, I’m always open to additional insights and honest feedback, and I consider this still a work in progress.

Details aside, I do believe God named and numbered the stars. I’m less interested in proving the constellations were meant to mean one thing or another, as I am in finding ways to remember him and see him in his work. I also recognize there can be many layers of symbolism in God’s words and work, so I’m not going to even attempt to cover it all. That said, here are a few things I like to consider as I admire the stars.

GOD NAMED THE STARS

I began this study when I read a word in the book of Job that I had never heard before. Although I had noticed some Christian symbolism in the zodiacs before, this new word really kicked off my studies on this topic.

In Job, God talks about various constellations that may sound familiar to you. God asks Job, “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” (38:31-33)

The Pleiades is a naked-eye star cluster that is, just as God said, loosely bound together in shared gravity. Orion is a popular constellation, and Arcturus is the name of a bright star in the constellation Bootes.

Mazzaroth, however, was an unfamiliar word to me. Its origin is unclear, but the general consensus is that it is a word for “constellations,” particularly the 12 zodiacs. These constellations are displayed in the night sky and progress or change with the seasons. In the past, were used as seasonal signals for planting and harvesting crops. For example, Virgo rises in the springtime when the fertile earth is ready for new crops. As I mentioned they also represent God’s appointed times for the events and history of the earth. It starts with the prophesied birth of a king that occurred at the beginning of the Age of Pisces, circa 1 AD.

VIRGO

Virgo, not surprisingly, is the starting point for Christ’s story written in the stars. He was born of a virgin in the city of Bethlehem, which is Hebrew for “the house of bread.” In Virgo’s left hand is a star named Spica, which is Latin for “ear of grain,” which is reminiscent of the place of Christ's birth. In Virgo’s right hand is a star named Vindemiatrix, which is Latin for “the grape-harvestress,” and together the two stars remind us of the last supper. The bread, taken in remembrance of Christ’s body, which was freely sacrificed that we may live again. The wine, a token of Christ’s blood, “which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:26-28). These are symbols of baby Jesus’ mission.

Some online sources suggest there is more symbolism to be found here, but I had a hard time verifying it with credible sources. Some blogs, for example, point out another traditional name for spica is Al Zimach meaning “Branch.” While Vindemiatrix was also called Al Mureddin meaning “who shall come down.” These names give reference to prophecies in the bible that tell of Christ’s coming, such as Jeremiah 33:15, which says, “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.” I assume those names came from Babylonian artifacts, but I couldn’t find out for certain.

LIBRA

The constellation that rises after Virgo is Libra. Libra is Latin for weighing scales, which were used in ancient times to buy and sell goods. If we turn to the scriptures with that in mind, Daniel 5:27 says “Thou art weighed in the balance and, art found wanting.” In 1 Corinthians 7:23, Paul states that we “are bought with a price.” Some blogs indicated that the Traditional names for a few of Libra’s stars have related meanings. They say Zuben al genubi, the brightest star in Libra, is Arabic for “the price which is deficient,” and another bright star “Zuben al chemali'' means “the price which covers.” I couldn’t verify those translations, but the imagery of a balance easily brings to mind the price which Christ paid to redeem mankind. It also symbolizes to me his perfect balance of justice and mercy.

A third star, named Zuben Al Karab is said to mean “the price of the conflict.” Which leads nicely to our next constellation. Christ is after all our champion in a great and eternal conflict.

SCORPIO

Following Libra is the constellation Scorpio, which is Latin for Scorpion. This image introduces “the price of the conflict” in the Savior’s mission. The image in the sky of the scorpion is below Ophiuchus, (the less-known 13th zodiac) and the one who wrestles with the snake. He is being stung in his right foot while crushing the scorpion’s head with his left. The image is right out of Genesis 3:15 where God says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Eve’s offspring mentioned here is Christ who was “bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53: 5)” and even crucified, “whom God raised from the dead (Acts 4:10)” that “therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ (Mosiah 16:8, 1 Corinthians 15:53-55).” To further the image of Christ’s victory over the serpent, we can find in this constellation located near the scorpion’s tail, the butterfly nebula, which is a fitting symbol for rebirth.

In short, the constellation Scorpio, introduces Lucifer, the antagonist of Christ’s mission. He the one who opposes, which is the root meaning of the title “Satan.” In fact, the brightest star in Scorpio is Antares, which means “against” or “opposed to” Ares. Ares is also known as Mars, the Greek god of War. It might seem odd that Satan would be opposed to the god of War, unless you consider that Mars could also represent Christ or Jehova. We learn from the Old Testament that God will fight our battles. Perhaps he can be our God of war. “For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (Deut. 20:4, Ex 14:14).”

So up until this point, we have our premise: humanity’s deficit to be paid for by Christ who is a prophesied King born of a virgin who will battle the enemy serpent.

Then Sagittarius, the next constellation, gives us the action.

SAGITTARIUS

Sagittarius represents Christ as the warrior and conqueror. Half man and half horse, Sagittarius is the centaur archer with an arrow pointed at the heart of the scorpion. The centaur represents the dual nature of Christ that allowed him to conquer death: He was part man, enabling him to lay down his life for us, and part god, so he could take it up again on the third day.

This is my own speculation here, but I it seems likely that in ancient times, riding on horses was probably the fastest or quickest way a person could travel. A horse would be a good animal to represent “quick,” and conveniently “quickened” is a word used in scriptures to mean resurrection. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit (1 Pet 3:18).” Thus the horse half of the centaur symbolizes Christ’s divine and spiritual nature.

As a side note, there are also scriptures that speak of God using sharp arrows to “ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness.” (Psalm 45:4-5, Psalm 64:7, Revelation 6:2). The sharp arrow could represent the word of God, which also pierces to the heart. There are various scriptures that compare the words of the mouth to sharp weapons, here are just a few: Isa. 49:2, Rev. 19:15, Prov. 25:18, Alma 31:5.

CAPRICORNUS

Next, we come to Capricornus, which is Latin for “horned male goat.” This has direct reference to the sacrificial animals of the bible which represent the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7). Goats were one of the many animals used as sacrifices in biblical tradition. The priest’s routine is demonstrated in the old testament: “Then he presented the people’s offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering” (Leviticus 9:15).

I have to admit, I was confused about the fishtail for a while, but I found some interesting explanations. The first star in Capricornus, Alpha Capricorni carries the traditional Arabic name Algedi which means the “billy goat.” We can read of a similar name in the bible, a place called En-gedi. “1. And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.”

So the scripture says there are wild goats at En-gedi, but it’s helpful to know some geography too. The name En-gedi means “the fountain of the young goat,” and it is an oasis by the dead sea with a rare freshwater spring and rocky cliffs inhabited to this day by wild mountain goats. This is possibly where the depiction of a sea-goat comes from, but it also carries symbolic meaning.

The ocean, as we’ll discuss later, often represents death and hell in literature. Sea creatures, of course, thrive in the ocean; it’s only mammals that would drown there. In Capricornus, we have an animal that is half mammal and half fish. The fishtail, then, suggests life after death, or an ability to move with vitality through the depths of the ocean. It was, after all, only Christ who was both half-man and half-God who could lay down his life, then take it up again (John 10:17-18).

Capricorn, therefore, is similar to Sagittarius, except it brings a different angle to Christ’s role. The fish brings to mind the connection of Christ to his church. It is well-known that the early Christians, as with many still today, adopted the fish as their symbol. After all, Christ called his apostles to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). The goat, as already established, represents Christ, so in one picture, we have depicted both the sacrifice and those for whom it is sacrificed.

Some additional star names of note with biblical imagery within the constellation Capricornus are:

• Deneb Al Gedi means, according to one source, “the sacrifice cometh.”
• Dabih, meaning “the butcher”
• Al Shat, meaning “the sheep”

 

AQUARIUS

Aquarius is Latin for water-bearer. I’ve seen two interpretations for this sign and I think both are valid. In scripture, God promises to pour out blessings upon his children, but also He pours out judgment upon his enemies.

First, we have the Lord’s promise to Jacob and his posterity: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3). Often in scriptures, God uses the word “pour” in conjunction with his spirit and his blessings. Malachi 3:10 says, “bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD or hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Joel 2:28 says “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.”

On the other hand, there’s Isaiah 42: 24-25 which states that unto God’s children who would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law, he chastises saying “therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battle.” Similarly, in the last days, God will say to his angels, “pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth” (Rev. 16:1).

That being said, my favorite scripture about the water poured out by Aquarius is in the New Testament: “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Aquarius represents both God’s abundant blessings and his curses.

PISCES

Pisces is the Latin plural for Fish. As we’ve already established, the fish is a common Christian symbol, but there’s a little more to unpack here. One connection that I mentioned in my video about Pisces, includes the story of Christ’s disciples miraculously catching a great multitude of fishes. Luke tells the story well:

“3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” (Luke 5:3-6)

What I like about this fish story is that this miracle comes in two, just like there are two fish in Pisces. That first story happened just before Christ called Peter, James, and John to the ministry, and the miracle occurs a second time after Christ’s resurrection. Again, in John 21, they go fishing and catch nothing until Christ calls from the shore for them to “cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” In short, the two fish in Pisces remind me of Christ’s ability to perform miracles throughout our lives as we obey and follow him.

There’s another connection too, which relates to the bands that are usually depicted tying the two fish together. If you look on a star map, such as Stellarium, you’ll find that the fish’s bands appear to be tied to the constellation Cetus, which represents a sea monster. Many scriptures refer to death and sin as bands that take us captive, but it can be broken by Christ. “Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion,” (Isaiah 58:6) and “behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead” (Mosiah 15:20).

AIRES

That is a perfect segue to Aires, which is Latin for Ram and is depicted in the sky next to Pisces with his symbolic foot breaking the bands that tie the church to the evil sea monster. The deep ocean has long been symbolic of hell, but Christ, the lamb of God, has loosened the bands of death and hell through his atoning sacrifice (Alma 7:12).

The ram is another traditional sacrificial animal in the bible. My favorite story of a ram comes from Genesis 22. After Abraham proves his obedience to sacrifice his only son, God sends an angel to stay his hand. Instead, Abraham offers a ram that suddenly appears nearby, foreshadowing the “Lamb of God” who taketh away the sins of the world (John 1:29). “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son” (Genesis 22:13).

Isaiah 1:18 has additional details about the lamb of God: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Our sins, if washed in the blood of the lamb, can be made white again like the wool of the ram. Interestingly, as one source pointed out, within Aires is a galaxy called NGC 1156 that looks vaguely like the fleece, or piece of wool, from a ram.

TAURUS

Taurus, which is Latin for Bull, was a bit trickier than I expected. If you search for the word Bull in the scriptures there are only two references. However, if you search for Ox you can find a goldmine of symbolism. While bull and ox are clearly two different words, they are related in etymology and biology. Ox and bull are two different names for bovine. The key difference is in the purpose of the animal. In short, “Ox” is an acceptable translation of Taurus.

Let’s start with some agricultural background for the Ox. Oxen have been used in agriculture for a variety of purposes, including plowing, transport, threshing, and even grinding or milling grain. Particularly noteworthy was the use of oxen in biblical times to stomp and tread over wheat after the harvest. This “threshing” loosens the edible wheat from the inedible chaff to prepare it for milling. Consequently, the Ox is a symbol of labor and strength.

In scriptures, the disciples of Christ are those who labor with their might in the Lord’s field. Their purpose, like the ox, is to separate the wheat from the chaff by preaching and inviting all to come unto Christ that we may be counted as “wheat into the garner” rather than chaff to be burned up with “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).

The analogy is laid out clearly in various scriptures. Here are a couple: “let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward.” (1 Timothy 5:17,18)

“Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth (Micah 4:13)“.

Both scriptures use Ox as imagery for working in the lord’s field. That’s pretty cool symbolism, but there’s more too! In the old testament, we can read about oxen included in King Solomon’s temple. He had a large fountain constructed which was set on the backs of 12 bronze oxen (see 2 Chronicles 4:3-6, 1 Kings 7:40, 44-46). Three oxen faced each cardinal direction representing Christ’s command to the apostles to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). The “sea” or fountain on the oxen’s back gives us that connection with baptism by immersion, which is the gateway or entrance into Christ’s church. Interestingly, in the wild, oxen exhibit a defensive behavior of encircling their young with their face towards the enemy in the presence of predators. Likewise, the church and our relationships there can help protect us from the world and its influences.

In short, God’s work rests on the back of his disciples who gather the people, separating the wheat from the chaff, inviting all to be baptized so that they can be protected from the day of burning. The Ox, then represents Christ’s disciples who are yoked together with Him (Matt. 11:30).

I also want to add that in the constellation Taurus, near what I imagine as the ox’s back, we find the Pleiades star cluster, also called the Seven Sisters. This number seven appears in the book of Revelation and also relates to or symbolizes Christ’s church. (See Revelations 1)

(Topics to study include: Oxen, Wheat, Chaff, Thresh, Seven)

GEMINI

Gemini is Latin for twins. For this sign, there wasn’t one clear direction for me, and I think it could have many explanations. Surprisingly, the two brightest stars in Gemini are directly referenced in the new testament: “After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island – it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux” (Acts 28:11). Unfortunately, that didn’t really give me anything to go on.

Here are three suggestions I came across while studying Gemini:

Throughout scripture, Christ is depicted as a groom and the church as his bride. Just as we are commanded that “a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” so too can we become united with Christ through repentance and obedience to his laws. This connection was not very clear to me when I first read it because a bride and groom are a little different than twins. Although I have heard it said that married couples tend to look more alike over time, and unity is definitely the goal for a perfect marriage.

Another source suggests that Gemini represents the two natures of Christ, his twin role as Son of God and Son of Man (see Matt. 24:27,30 and Luke 1:35), but I think that’s already addressed with more nuance in other signs.

A final source pointed towards twin loaves of leavened bread which are offered at the temple on the Day of Pentecost. They represent the word of God being written on the hearts of the Jews first, and then also on the hearts of the Gentiles (See Lev. 23:17).

I think each explanation is valid. However, on further study, I’m partial to the first explanation about the relationship between Christ and his church. Here’s why. I discovered the root of the word “Gemini” comes from “Dios” or “Diopetes” meaning “fallen from heaven” and “Kouros” being the plural of “boy.” So we get the picture of two “boys fallen from heaven,” which could refer to Adam and Christ. Adam was the first who fell because of Satan, the deceiver, and then Christ, the second who descended, rather than fell, in order to bring up or redeem the first.

This line of thinking is validated by the synopsis of the Greek tradition for Gemini. “Pollux asked Zeus to let him share his own immortality with his twin to keep them together, and they were transformed into the constellation Gemini.” The connection is pretty clear. Christ did after all, come to earth and live and die in righteousness, that we too may live again in immortality.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits” (1 Cor. 15:20-23). Castor and pollux are even often depicted on horses, which as mentioned, symbolizes the resurrection (or “quickening”). This even ties back to the twin loaves idea, which was specifically supposed to be leavened or “risen” bread (Matt. 27:64).

To further solidify this symbolism I’ll use one more scripture: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Thus we can be like Christ when he comes again if we choose to follow him (D&C 88:58).

(Topics to study: Twin, Adam, First Fruits, Son of Man, Son of God, Two)

CANCER

The next sign, Cancer, is Latin for Crab. Greek mythology tells a similar story to what we discussed about the scorpion. It was said that while Hercules battled the Hydra, he was attacked in the heel by a crab, which Hercules then crushes. Following that line of thinking, the crab once again represents Christ’s bruise by death yet subsequent victory. However, the crab can tell us even more about Christ.

Unlike the scorpion, crabs live on both land and in water. Again that’s a representation of Christ’s dual nature being able to descend below the grave and return again. One source recommended the fiddler crab as the ideal image for this symbol because the fiddler crab has one large and exceptionally powerful pincer, which represents the strength of Christ’s hand; he who descended into the Spirit Prison, to bring forth the captives from that prison in his firm grasp, such that no one can "pluck them out of my hand" (see John 10:28).

Although I couldn’t confirm this with reputable sources, some blogs indicated that the root meaning of the word Cancer means “holding or encircling.” I’m inclined to believe it, because there is similar symbolism found elsewhere in this constellation. For example, in the heart of this constellation is an open star cluster with a traditional name of Praesepe, which is Latin for "enclosure, stall, manger, or hive." This brings to mind the image of a place where livestock gathers around for nourishment and safety. Acts 20:28 says “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

One of Cancer’s stars is named Al Tarf, which is Arabic for “the end.” We know from scripture that in the end or last days, Christ will gather together all things in one (Eph 1:10, Isaiah 11:12). His church is his flock that gathers around the manger (not coincidentally the birthplace of the Savior). Then there will be one fold and one shepherd (John 1:16). Today Praesepe is also called “the beehive cluster,” which is another image of a place where things gather together. Bee’s gather and work together in harmony for the hive, just as Christ’s church will be united in Him when he comes again.


In short, the crab represents Christ’s descent below all, to purchase and bring us forth with his mighty hand, so we can gather together in Zion in righteousness.


(Topics to study: gather together, right hand, honey, purchased, manger, flock, the exodus)

LEO

Finally, we come to Leo, which is Latin for Lion. The lion is traditionally a symbol for the Israelite tribe of Judah. Jacob’s blessing to his son Judah references both a lion and the second coming of Christ (Gen 49:9-10). Isaiah 31 compares the triumphant return of the Lord “like as the lion... roaring on his prey.” And Revelation 5:5 says “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” This scripture is also referencing Christ and his last day’s return.

There’s not much else to add to this one, except that a lion is a traditional symbol for kingship or royalty. Christ who is the lion of Judah, will return again to earth and rule with power and glory to destroy satan and his followers and usher in a millennial reign of peace and righteousness. Then “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 65:25).

The brightest star in Leo is Regulus, which is Latin for “little king.” And that brings us right back to where we started:

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt 1:23). And when he was born “in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 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” (Matt 2:1-2).

CONCLUSION

So there you go! That is the story of Christ written in the stars. Truly all things testify of Christ, and all things are created by his hand. We have seen the testimony of the stars corroborated by the testimony of the holy scriptures. I hope you’ve found this study enlightening, and please share if you have more to add. Below I will list some books, sources, and additional scriptures, as well as my favorite resources I used while studying this topic, such as blueletterbible.org and scriptures.byu.edu. Keep learning and remember to smile!