Word Study for G792 (ἀστήρ) | Strong's Concordance

astḗr /as-tare'/ Ask about this word

Rootprobably from the base of στρώννυμι

Meaninga star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively

KJV usagestar.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of astḗr — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word astḗr, represented by G792, refers to a star, a celestial body seen as if strown over the sky. It appears 24 times across 21 unique verses in the Bible. The term is used both literally to describe physical stars and figuratively to represent other concepts or beings.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G792 is used in several key contexts. Literally, it guided the wise men G3097 from the east G395 to worship G4352 the newborn King G935 (Matthew 2:2, Matthew 2:9). It is also frequently mentioned in prophetic and apocalyptic visions, such as the stars G792 falling from heaven G3772 as a sign of cosmic upheaval (Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:13). Figuratively, a star G792 can represent an angel G32 or a messenger, as seen in Revelation where the seven G2033 stars G792 are the angels G32 of the seven G2033 churches Revelation 1:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the literal and figurative use of astḗr:

G2246 hḗlios (the sun): This term often appears with astḗr in passages describing the cosmos, such as in prophecies where the sun G2246 will be darkened G4654 alongside other celestial signs Matthew 24:29.
G32 ángelos (angel): This word provides a direct figurative interpretation, as the seven G2033 stars G792 held by Christ are identified as the angels G32 of the seven churches Revelation 1:20.
G1391 dóxa (glory): Scripture distinguishes between celestial bodies by their unique glory G1391, stating that one star G792 differeth from G1308 another in glory G1391 1 Corinthians 15:41.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G792 is significant, representing key spiritual concepts.

Divine Guidance and Signs: A star G792 acts as a divine sign G4592, most notably the one that appeared G5316 in the east G395 to guide the wise men G3097 to the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:7, Matthew 2:9).
Christ's Authority and Identity: Jesus is identified as "the bright and morning star G792" Revelation 22:16, a title signifying his supreme authority and role as a light to the world. He also holdeth G2902 the seven G2033 stars G792, symbolizing his control over the messengers of the churches Revelation 2:1.
Symbols of Judgment and Apostasy: In apocalyptic prophecy, falling stars G792 signify immense judgment and the shaking of heavenly powers G1411 Mark 13:25. Figuratively, false teachers are called "wandering stars G4107" for whom blackness G2217 of darkness G4655 is reserved Jude 1:13.

Summary

In summary, G792 is a word with rich literal and symbolic meaning. It functions as a literal celestial body that gives light G5338 and provides guidance, but it is also used figuratively to represent divine messengers, Christ's supreme identity, and powerful forces of judgment. From the star that appeared G5316 over Bethlehem to the symbolic stars G792 held in Christ's hand, astḗr illustrates how scripture uses the natural creation to explain profound spiritual realities.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists one rendering for this word. It is counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the number is how many of them use it. Select it to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 24 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

ἀστέρων
ἀστέρες
ἀστέρα
ἀστὴρ
ἀστέρας
ἀστέρος

Related Words

2 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 21 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Revelation (13 verses); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Mark

1 Corinthians

Jude

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.