The Bible is full of words that look up to the heavens and the stars. Here we have selected passages related to astronomy and added a short note to each (quotations are from the Douay-Rheims Bible).

And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars.

Genesis 1:16 (Douay-Rheims)

Here the Sun and Moon are not called by name but simply “a greater light” and “a lesser light.” The heavenly bodies are portrayed not as gods but as created things, each given its task.

For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded. What is man that thou art mindful of him?

Psalm 8:4-5 (Douay-Rheims)

Before the vastness of the night sky, we recognize how small we are. The psalm sings of the wonder that, even so, God is mindful of us.

Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names.

Psalm 146:4 (Douay-Rheims)

Only a few thousand stars are visible to the naked eye, but in the age of the telescope they have become countless. This verse calls to mind how astronomy has cataloged the stars, giving them numbers and names.

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by their names.

Isaiah 40:26 (Douay-Rheims)

To “lift up your eyes on high” and look: this is the very starting point of observation.

And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Matthew 2:10 (Douay-Rheims)

The star that guided the wise men on their journey, and the origin of our name.

I am the root and stock of David, the bright and morning star.

Revelation 22:16 (Douay-Rheims)

The morning star is Venus, shining in the eastern sky before dawn. It is portrayed as the star that announces the end of night and the coming of morning.

In the left-hand column of this site, these verses are shown one per day on a rotating basis.