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NASB | Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy? |
Subject: Can angels sing? |
Bible Note: Hi Brad, Ok, I just wasn't sure of your answer, as I looked at how the original question was worded. Job 38:7 is a very interesting verse to me. If "morning stars" refers to angels, it would be the only passage in the Bible that would tell us that angels sing. There is none other, and there isn't a place that says specifically that "angels" sing. So this rather hinges on the correct interpretation of "morning stars", would it not? So are there other places in Scripture that define "morning stars" for us? There are four passages I find in the NASB that seem to use this or similar phrases: Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Is 14:12 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 2 Pet 1:19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Rev 2:28 and I will give him the morning star. Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." Of these, Rev. 22:16 is clearly refering to Jesus. 2 Peter 1:19 would seem to be referring to completing our being conformed to the image of Christ. I can only guess at Rev. 2:28, but with 2 Peter in view, it would seem to me to be referring to this same thing, that God is promising to make us like Jesus. This leaves us with the passage in question in Job, and Isaiah 14:12. This verse in Isaiah gives me pause because it seems to be calling this fallen one in the same way Jesus is called! Can that be right? Here is a sampling of other translations: (ASV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! (BBE) How great is your fall from heaven, O shining one, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the earth, low among the dead bodies! (Bishops) Howe art thou fallen from heauen O Lucifer, thou faire mornyng chylde? Howe hast thou gotten a fall euen to the grounde, which didst weaken the nations? (DRB) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, who didst rise in the morning? how art thou fallen to the earth, that didst wound the nations? (ESV) "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (GB) How art thou fallen from heauen, O Lucifer, sonne of the morning? and cutte downe to the grounde, which didest cast lottes vpon the nations? (GW) How you have fallen from heaven, you morning star, son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the ground, you conqueror of nations! (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (LITV) Oh shining star, son of the morning, how you have fallen from the heavens! You weakening the nations, you are cut down to the ground. (MKJV) How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! (The Scriptures '98) “How you have fallen from the heavens, O Helel, son of the morning! You have been cut down to the ground, you who laid low the gentiles! (YLT) How hast thou fallen from the heavens, O shining one, son of the dawn! Thou hast been cut down to earth, O weakener of nations. So the most common ways to treat this are to translate "shining one" or leave as a proper name. The Hebrew in question is "heylel", used only here, and is from "halel", to shine. This would seem to agree with those many who have translated this as "shining one", or "Lucifer" (meaning "light-bearer"). I would be reluctant to use this passage to define a doctrine, since the translation as "morning star" is not only questionable, but seems out of step with the other references. So that again leaves us with "who are these morning stars?" I think they are the redeemed, those in whom the Morning Star has arisen in their hearts. We sing, and the angels shout for joy. Another interesting referrence to this concept is Deut 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Here the word for saints is the same as is used for the temple utensils, and refers to that which has been sanctified, or made holy. This word suits the redeemed, not angels, which were created holy. Anyway, we know that once we are translated we will live in the eternal, not bound to the temporal - I think it's going to get really interesting! Love in Christ, Mark |