Astrologer

Concise Bible Dictionary:

1. In Daniel 1:2020And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. (Daniel 1:20); Daniel 2:2, 10, 272Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. (Daniel 2:2)
10The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. (Daniel 2:10)
27Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king; (Daniel 2:27); Daniel 4:77Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. (Daniel 4:7); Daniel 5:7, 11, 157The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:7)
11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; (Daniel 5:11)
15And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing: (Daniel 5:15) the Hebrew word is ashshaph, signifying “enchanter, magician”; one who practiced occult arts. This word occurs nowhere else.
2. habar shamayinz, one who viewed or divided the heavens, an astrologer, who professed to foretell events by the position of the planets (Isa. 47:1313Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. (Isaiah 47:13)). Babylon was wearied with its various counselors, who doubtless often differed one from another; but it had no other resource, so it turned to its astrologers, star-gazers and so forth. See DIVINATION.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:
825 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)
Transliteration:
’ashshaph
Phonic:
ash-shawf’
Meaning:
from an unused root (probably meaning to lisp, i.e. practice enchantment); a conjurer
KJV Usage:
astrologer

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Isaiah 47:18. Let now the astrologers, the star gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Efforts to foretell future events by watching the motions of the heavenly bodies are very ancient. The ancient Babylonians and Chaldeans were especially celebrated for their attempts in this direction. See Daniel 2:22Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. (Daniel 2:2). In Chaldea the astrologers formed a particular caste, in which the knowledge acquired was transmitted from father to son. They taught that the universe was eternal, that a divine providence ruled over it, and that the movements of the heavenly bodies were directed according to the council of the gods, Their long observation had made them more competent than other men to calculate the movements and influence of the stars. From the rising and setting of the planets, their orbits and color, they predicted storms, heat, rain, comets, eclipses, and earthquakes; and from the varied appearances of the heavens they foretold events that not only affected lands and nations, but also brought happiness or unhappiness to kings and common people.
To assist them in making calculations from the stars the astrologers divided the heavens, visible and invisible, into twelve equal parts, six above the horizon and six below. These they called “houses,” and the various subjects which affect the happiness of mankind, such as fortune, marriage, life, death and religion, were distributed among them. From the position of the stars in these “houses” the calculations were made. The two words rendered “astrologers” in the text literally signify “dividers of the heavens.”

Related Books and Articles:

520. Astrologers