Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

Hi Robert,

 

The Hebrew names for the traditional 7 planets (those visible to the naked
eye) are listed in the Babylonian Talmud tractate Shabbat p. 156a, in a
discussion of whether Israel is affected by "mazal" (here meaning astrology)
like the gentiles are. Slightly different names appear in other Byzantine
and Early Medieval period Jewish writings, including liturgical poetry and
synagogue mosaic floors. The names are Kokhav-Hammah ("sun-star", Murcury),
Nogah ("bright-light", Venus), Levanah ("white", the Earth's Moon, which in
a earth-centered astronomy is the closest of the "planets"), Ma'adim ("red",
Mars), Tsedeq ("justice", Jupiter) and Shabbetai (Saturn, apparently even
then somehow connected with the Sabbath). Some of these names are biblical,
others were apparently borrowed from Mesopotamian astronomy. The Bible and
later Jewish sources also have names for some of the constellations and
other heavenly bodies as well.

 

Karl, while "Mazalot" in 2 Kings 23:5 may very well mean "planets", in later
Hebrew literature the term came to refer to the constellations of the
Zodiac, and is used in this way today as well. So obviously a different term
is needed for "planets". 

 

Jason, did Greek or Latin have a special name for the planets? The Greek
word that we use today simply means "wanderer", referring to the fact that
these "stars" follow what seem to be eccentric "paths" - course as observed
from Earth. If you have a good suggestion, I'd be happy to hear it and we
could forward it to the Hebrew Language Academy for consideration. 

 

Pere, "Rahav" (or "Rahab") was a Canaanite sea/river god, sort of a synonym
for Yamm. He was trounced by Baal. This is translated in the Bible as YHWH
defeating the Sea/River, as in Job 26:12. "Rahav" also became a poetic word
for "river", and thus became a "term" for Egypt, as in Is. 30:7 and in Ps.
87:4.

 

I still feel sorry for Pluto: recently "demoted" from planet to "dwarf
planet" and now not given a Hebrew name. I think I'll start a campaign. Does
anyone have a good idea for a name, maybe something to do with "Sheol"?

 

 

Yigal Levin