The full moon is often seen as having spiritual, supernatural, or symbolic significance in many cultures and religions throughout history. In the Bible, there are a few references to the full moon, which provide some insight into its meaning and significance. Here is an overview of the main ways the full moon is referenced in the Bible:
The Full Moon as a Marker of Time
The most common way the full moon is referenced in Scripture is as a unit of time – a means of marking days, months and seasons. The Bible mentions “new moons” and “full moons” frequently as part of the Jewish calendar:
“Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” (Psalms 81:3)
“And when you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire. If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is tainted; it will not be accepted, and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from his people.” (Leviticus 19:5-8)
Here the phases of the moon help mark the days on which the peace offerings can be eaten.
The new moon marked the beginning of each month in the Hebrew calendar, and the full moon came halfway through the month. While we follow the Gregorian solar calendar today, the ancient Israelites followed a lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon. The full moon helped them track time and keep their festivals and observances at the proper times.
The Full Moon as a Spiritual Symbol
In a few poetic passages of Scripture, the full moon takes on symbolic meaning. Often it is used as a metaphor representing completeness, wholeness, and fulfillment:
“They shall bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; at the time when they are punished they shall be satisfied; for he will fill them with bread. After I have satisfied, I will clothe them with the full moon.” (Psalm 109:29-30, paraphrased)
Here the full moon seems to poetically represent the restoration and fulfillment coming to God’s people.
“Your moon will wane no more, and your sun will never set; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will be over.” (Isaiah 60:20)
In this messianic prophecy, the full moon symbolizes the fullness of joy and God’s blessings in the age to come.
The full moon was also occasionally used as a descriptive metaphor for beauty and radiance:
“Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the full moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 6:10)
Here the woman’s beauty is compared to the brilliance of a full moon.
The Full Moon and God’s Judgment
There are a few instances where the full moon is associated with God’s judgment in the Bible:
“When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.” (Ezekiel 32:7)
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (Matthew 24:29)
“The sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.” (Joel 2:10)
In these prophetic passages, the darkening of the full moon is a vivid symbol of God’s judgment and wrath being poured out on the nations. The loss of the moon’s light represents the cosmic turmoil and disruption of the created order during God’s Day of Judgment.
Jesus and the Full Moon
An interesting reference to the full moon occurs during Jesus’ betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane:
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” […] As soon then as he had said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.” (John 18:1-12)
What’s notable here is that Judas leads the armed guard to arrest Jesus at night under the cover of darkness. But John specifically points out that this darkness was temporary, since it was the time of the full moon – they needed lanterns and torches, not because it was dark, but to identify Jesus amidst His disciples:
“Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.” (John 18:3)
The clear light of a full moon revealed the betrayal and sham trial of Jesus. The Jewish leaders didn’t want to arrest Jesus publicly in broad daylight – they relied on Judas to single Him out secretly at night. Yet even in the middle of the night, the full moon exposed their deed.
The full moon here contrasts the darkness of man’s sin with the light of God’s truth. Despite the obscuring darkness, the fullness of the moon signifies that Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion were all according to God’s perfect plan and foreknowledge.
The Moon Turned to Blood
One of the most well-known biblical references to the moon is during the sixth seal judgment in Revelation:
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.” (Revelation 6:12-13)
“The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” (Joel 2:31)
The prophets warn that the end times will be marked by the moon turning to the color of blood. This will be a clear supernatural sign of God’s impending judgment on the world preceding Christ’s return. While some propose it could reference a lunar eclipse, the description of the moon changing color permanently suggests an unnatural event beyond any known astronomical phenomenon.
Practical Lessons from the Full Moon
Though Scripture does not prescribe any special rituals or observances related to the full moon, it provides some practical spiritual lessons:
- God is sovereign over all creation, including the cycles of the moon which He put in place for our benefit.
- Fullness and wholeness are blessings that come from God.
- God has ordained the regular rhythms of time and seasons.
- Darkness and sin cannot hide from God’s sight.
- God uses natural symbols like the moon to communicate spiritual truths.
- Strange happenings with the moon are meant to warn people of coming judgment.
Overall, the Bible views the full moon positively as a reminder of God’s faithful provision and design. While the moon itself holds no magical powers, its symbolic meaning in Scripture encourages us to seek fullness of life and fellowship with God.