(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Gen. 1:14). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26, Job 31:27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry (Deut. 4:19;17:3; comp. 2-Kings 23:11; Jer. 19:13).