Bible Dictionaries
Sun

Holman Bible Dictionary

The source of light for earth. Ancient people considered the sun as a necessary part of the cycle of the seasons. Thus, it was often viewed as a god. Ancient Egyptians worshiped the sun as the god Ra, and the Greeks as Helios. The Canaanite city of Beth-Shemesh, “House of the Sun,” probably referred to a temple in the city. The Bible simply views the sun as the “greater light” God created to rule the day (Genesis 1:16 ). In Israel, the new day began with sunset. The Psalms compared the sun's brightness to God's glory by which it will one day be replaced (Psalm 84:11 ). Zacharias described Christ's coming as a new sunrise for humankind (Luke 1:78 ). The darkening or eclipse of the sun was often interpreted as a sign of God's displeasure with humans. See Gods, Pagan .

David Maltsberger