Orion
The constellation (Job 9:9; Job 38:31-32; Amo 5:8). Kecil, "a fool" or "wicked one." The Arabs represent Orion as a mighty man, the Assyrian Nimrod, who rebelled presumptuously against Jehovah, and was chained to the sky as a punishment; for its rising is at the stormy season. (See NIMROD) Sabaism or worship of the heavenly hosts and hero worship were blended in his person. The three bright stars which form Orion's girdle never change their relative positions.
"Canst thou loose the bands of Orion?" is God's challenge to self sufficient man; i.e., canst thou loose the bonds by which he is chained to the sky? The language is adapted to the current conceptions (just as we use the mythological names of constellations without adopting the myths), but with this significant difference that whereas those pagan nations represented Orion glorified in the sky the Hebrew view him as a chained rebel, not with belt, but in "bands."
Orion is visible longer and is 17 degrees higher in the Syrian sky than in ours. Rabbis Isaac, Israel, and Jonah identified Hebrew Kesil with Arabic Sohail, Sirius, or Canopus.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Orion
Orion o-ri'-on: A brilliant constellation dedicated to Nimrod or Merodach. ⇒See a list of verses on ORION in the Bible. See ASTRONOMY, sec. II, 11. ⇒See the definition of orion in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Orion
The common noun késil is of frequent occurrence in OT, especially in the Wisdom litera- ture, and is regularly tr‘ ‘fool’ or ‘foolish.’ At Am δ᾽, Job 9° 38% our Versions have correctly treated it as a proper noun, and rendered it by ‘Orion.’ At Is 13! the true tr® of the same word is ‘and the Orions thereof,’ i.e. the great constella- tions such as Orion. It has also been suggested that at Job 15” késil (Orion) should be substituted for kegel (flanks); but this is very doubtful. Sa‘adya, Abulwalid, and others have thought that késil is Canopus in Argo, the second brightest star in our heavens [cf. Am 58). The evidence of the ancient VSS is strongly in favour of the identification with Orion. The LXX has ὁ Ὠρίων at Is 13%, Job 38%; Jerome, ‘Orion’ at Am 58, Job 99; the Targ. x53 (giant) at Is 13", Job 99 3851. the Pesh. gabara (giant) at Am 5%, Job 99 3881, The devia- tions, such as Ἕσπερος (LXX, Job 99) and ‘ Are- turus’ (Jerome, Job 38%), do but illustrate the admitted fact that absolute certainty on these ints is unattainable. The literal meaning of the Heb. word falls in with the…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Orion
(the giant), a large and bright constellation of 80 stars, 17 large ones, crossed by the equinoctial line. It is named after a mythical personage of the Greeks, of gigantic stature and “the handsomest man in the world.” The Arabs called it” the giant,” referring to Nimrod, the mighty hunter who was fabled to have been bound in the sky for his impiety. (Job 9:9) Also alluded to in (Job 38:31)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia