Galaxies in Jewish Wisdom: How Ancient Teachings Anticipated Modern Astronomy

A galaxy is a massive collection of stars bound together by gravitational interaction. Neighboring galaxies form galaxy groups and clusters, which themselves combine into superclusters containing countless galaxies spread across immense distances.

The universe contains hundreds of billions of galaxies. Even through the most powerful telescopes, they appear as faint, hazy patches of light. Galaxies come in many shapes and sizes — from dwarf galaxies containing about 10 million stars, to giant galaxies with 100 trillion stars. A typical galaxy contains tens of billions of stars, though these numbers are still estimates — many of the “stars” we see may already be long dead, their light only now reaching us.

In the past, people thought that our galaxy, the Milky Way, was the entire universe. Today we know there are billions of other galaxies, separated by vast, almost unimaginable distances.

The Origin of the Word “Galaxy”

The word galaxy comes from the ancient Greek galaxias, meaning “milky.” When viewed under clear night skies, one sees a pale, milky-white band crossing the heavens — a dense field of countless distant stars. These stars are so close together and so far away that our eyes perceive them as a continuous glowing path.

This bright band is the plane of our galaxy, known as the Milky Way, named for its white color. It was the first galaxy ever observed by humans — and the one that gave its name to all the others discovered later. Our own Milky Way contains between 200 and 400 billion stars, including our solar system and Earth itself.

Ancient Jewish Knowledge of the Cosmos

More than 1,500 years ago, the Sages of the Talmud already discussed the vastness of the universe and even offered a numerical estimate for the number of stars — one that aligns astonishingly well with modern science.

In the Talmud (Berachot 32b), it says: “The Holy One, blessed be He, said: My daughter, I created twelve constellations in the firmament, and for each constellation I created thirty legions,
and for each legion I created thirty cohorts, and for each cohort I created thirty divisions, and for each division I created thirty hosts,
and for each host I suspended 365,000 myriads of stars, corresponding to the days of the solar year. And all of them I created only for you…”

Beyond its beautiful spiritual message that God’s creation was made for humanity, this passage contains fascinating scientific data.

Interpreting the Talmudic “Cosmic Hierarchy”

The terms “legion,” “cohort,” and “division” describe layers of structure — large systems made up of smaller ones, much like galaxies, clusters, and superclusters in modern astronomy. Rashi (the medieval commentator) explains them as “ranks and divisions of command.” In scientific language, we can understand this as describing nested cosmic systems.

The number implied by this passage equals roughly 10¹⁸ stars — a figure of one quintillion. Modern estimates by NASA suggest there are around 10²¹ stars in the observable universe — astonishingly close, given that the Talmudic text was written almost two millennia ago.

The passage also describes stars as being “suspended” within larger and smaller systems, a concept that mirrors modern understandings of the hierarchical structure of the cosmos — from solar systems to galaxies to clusters and beyond.

The Spiritual Meaning of a Vast Universe

The staggering number of stars and galaxies fills the human heart with awe and wonder. The Sages referred to such subjects as “the secrets of the Torah” — mysteries of divine creation.

Rabbi Daniel Blass explains that the scientific discoveries of recent centuries are not random, but part of humanity’s spiritual preparation for redemption, as the prophet Yirmiyahu (31:33) foretold: “No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.”

The more we uncover about the universe’s vastness, the more we realize the infinite greatness of the Creator, and the clearer it becomes that “there is none besides Him.”

Why Did God Create Billions of Galaxies?

Each star and galaxy affects the balance of the cosmos. Even if we don’t fully grasp every purpose, their presence contributes to the physical and spiritual harmony of creation. As Rabbi Blass explains, the human being remains the most precious creation — because only humans possess a soul and consciousness capable of recognizing and connecting with the Creator.

In response to a question about the purpose of so many stars, Rabbi Blass cites the verse in Tehillim (8:4): “When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place…”

The universe, in its vastness, reveals the infinity of God. Just as the King’s palace reflects His majesty, the grandeur of creation reflects the greatness of its divine Architect.

A Universe Made for Humanity

God designed this universe as a classroom of awe — a cosmic reminder of His greatness and unity. By gazing into the endless heavens, humanity comes to recognize that only an infinite Creator could have brought such a reality into being. Every star and galaxy serves to proclaim: “There is none beside Him.”

The universe’s enormity thus strengthens faith, illustrating how the vast, orderly cosmos points directly to its intelligent, infinite Source.

The Human Brain — A Universe Within

Rabbi Blass adds: “The brain in your head is the marvel of creation.
It contains 100 billion neurons — more than all the stars in our galaxy, all working together in perfect harmony, enabling you to see, hear, move, speak, and think.”

And yet, this astonishing mechanism is only the vessel, given so that the soul may act through the body — like a driver guiding a chariot.

The countless galaxies above and the divine spark within both tell the same story: the infinite wisdom of the Creator, who fashioned a vast and majestic universe — not to make humanity feel small, but to invite us to recognize how great He truly is.