Moon

Heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezra 6:15), and lebanah, the “white” (Cant. 6:10; Isa. 24:23), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun “for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen. 1:14-16). A lunation was among the Jews the period of a month, and several of their festivals were held on the day of the new moon. It is frequently referred to along with the sun (Josh. 10:12; Ps. 72:5, 7, 17; 89:36, 37; Eccl. 12:2; Isa. 24:23, etc.), and also by itself (Ps. 8:3; 121:6). The great brilliance of the moon in Eastern countries led to its being early an object of idolatrous worship (Deut. 4:19; 17:3; Job 31:26), a form of idolatry against which the Jews were warned (Deut. 4:19; 17:3). They, however, fell into this idolatry, and offered incense (2 Kings 23:5; Jer. 8:2), and also cakes of honey, to the moon (Jer. 7:18; 44:17-19, 25).

The moon held an important place in the kingdom of nature, as known to the Hebrews. Conjointly with the sun, it was appointed “for signs and for seasons, and for days and years;” though in this respect it exercised a more important influence, if by the “seasons” we understand the great religious festivals of the Jews, as is particularly stated in (Psalms 104:19) and more at length in Ecclus 43:6,7. The worship of the moon prevailed extensively among the nations of the East, and under a variety of aspects. It was one of the only two deities which commanded the reverence of all the Egyptians. The worship of the heavenly bodies is referred to in (Job 31:26,27) and Moses directly warns the Jews against it. (4:19) In the figurative language of Scripture, the moon is frequently noticed as presaging events of the greatest importance through the temporary or permanent withdrawal of its light. (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:31; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24)

MOON, Deut 33:14, or LES'SER LIGHT. Gen 1:16. The Hebrew year was a lunar year, and the new moon regulated many of the feasts and sacred services of the Jews. It was always the beginning of the month, and this day they called Neomenin, new-moon day or new month, and celebrated it with special sacrifices. Num 28:11-15. The heathens have generally worshipped the moon, under the names of "Queen of Heaven," "Venus," "Urania," "Succoth-benoth," "Ashtaroth," "Diana," "Hecate," or perhaps "Meni," etc. Deut 4:19; Deut 17:3; Job 31:26-27. The Jews were warned against this kind of idolatry, Deut 4:19; Deut 17:3, but they nevertheless burnt incense to the moon, 2 Kgs 23:5; Jer 8:2, and their women worshipped her as the queen of heaven and offered cakes of honey to her. Isa 7:18; Jer 44:17-19, Jer 44:25.

MOON, Deut 33:14, or LES'SER LIGHT. Gen 1:16. The Hebrew year was a lunar year, and the new moon regulated many of the feasts and sacred services of the Jews. It was always the beginning of the month, and this day they called Neomenin, new-moon day or new month, and celebrated it with special sacrifices. Num 28:11-15. The heathens have generally worshipped the moon, under the names of "Queen of Heaven," "Venus," "Urania," "Succoth-benoth," "Ashtaroth," "Diana," "Hecate," or perhaps "Meni," etc. Deut 4:19; Deut 17:3; Job 31:26-27. The Jews were warned against this kind of idolatry, Deut 4:19; Deut 17:3, but they nevertheless burnt incense to the moon, 2 Kgs 23:5; Jer 8:2, and their women worshipped her as the queen of heaven and offered cakes of honey to her. Isa 7:18; Jer 44:17-19, Jer 44:25.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The celestial orb which revolves round the earth; the satellite of the earth; a secondary planet, whose light, borrowed from the sun, is reflected to the earth, and serves to dispel the darkness of night. The diameter of the moon is 2,160 miles, its mean distance from the earth is 240,000 miles, and its mass is one eightieth that of the earth. See Lunar month, under Month. The crescent moon, the diadem of night. Cowper.

2. A secondary planet, or satellite, revolving about any member of the solar system; as, the moons of Jupiter or Saturn.

3. The time occupied by the moon in making one revolution in her orbit; a month. Shak.

4. A crescentlike outwork. See Half-moon. Moon blindness. (a) (Far.) A kind of ophthalmia liable to recur at intervals of three or four weeks. (b) (Med.) Hemeralopia. -- Moon dial, a dial used to indicate time by moonlight. -- Moon face, a round face like a full moon. -- Moon madness, lunacy. [Poetic] -- Moon month, a lunar month. -- Moon trefoil (Bot.), a shrubby species of medic (Medicago arborea). See Medic. -- Moon year, a lunar year, consisting of lunar months, being sometimes twelve and sometimes thirteen.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To expose to the rays of the moon. If they have it to be exceeding white indeed, they seethe it yet once more, after it hath been thus sunned and mooned. Holland.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To act if moonstruck; to wander or gaze about in an abstracted manner. Elsley was mooning down the river by himself. C. Kingsley.