Host, Host of Heaven* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Hebrew expressions found frequently in the OT and literally meaning “army” and “army of the skies.” “Host” is basically a military term, occurring nearly 500 times in the OT, and can mean “army” (2 Kgs 18:17), “angels,” “heavenly bodies,” or “creation.”

Show passage in OET: KI2 18:17

OET-RV KI2 18:17

17 However, the Assyrian king still sent his general and some of his top officials from Lakish to King Hizkiyah in Yerushalem (Jerusalem). They arrived at Yerushalem with a large army and camped by the aquifer supplying the upper pool that was near the field where the people washed their clothes.

OET-LV KI2 18:17

17 And_ the _king _of ʼAshshūr _he _sent DOM the_commander _in _chief and_DOM the_Raⱱ-_of şārīş and_DOM the_Raⱱ-_of shaqeh from Lākīsh to the_king Ḩizqiy^yāh with_an _army _of massive Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_they _went _up and_they _came Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_they _went _up and_they _came and_they _stood at_the _conduit _of the _pool (the)_upper which is_on_the_highway _of the_field _of the_washer.

Jump to OET KI2 18:17 section.

The phrase “host of heaven” has various applications in the Bible. Ancient writers sometimes referred symbolically to the sun, moon, and stars as an army (Dt 4:19; Jgs 5:20). In the astrological cults of antiquity, it was believed that celestial bodies were animated by spirits and thus constituted a living army that controlled heavenly destiny. The worship of the host of heaven was one of the earliest forms of idolatry, and was common among the Israelites in their times of regression from serving God (Jer 19:13; Acts 7:42). Although warned against such pagan beliefs (Dt 4:19; 17:3), the Israelites fell into the practice of worshiping heavenly bodies, particularly during the Assyrian and Babylonian periods (2 Kgs 17:16; 21:3-5; 2 Chr 33:3-5; Jer 8:2; Zep 1:5). The corrective to this pagan practice is belief in the Lord as the Creator of heaven and earth, the Almighty, the one who marshaled the heavenly bodies at his command and ordained them to perform a special function (Gn 1:14-19; 2:1; Neh 9:6; Pss 33:6; 103:21; 148:2; Is 40:26; 45:12).

Show passage in OET: DEU 4:19

OET-RV DEU 4:19

19 Don’t look up to the sky and be tempted to bow down to the sun or the moon or the stars and serve them—your god Yahweh made them to serve every people group in the world.

OET-LV DEU 4:19

19 And_lest you _should _lift _up eyes _of_your to_the_heavens and_you _will _see DOM the_sun and_DOM the_moon and_DOM the_stars all _of the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_you _will _be _drawn _aside and_you _will _bow _down to/for_them and_you_will _serve _them which YHWH god _of_your he _has _assigned DOM_them to_all/each/any/every the_peoples under all _of the_heavens.

Show passage in OET: JDG 5:20

OET-RV JDG 5:20

20 From the sky, the stars battled.
⇔ From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

OET-LV JDG 5:20

20 From heaven the_stars they _fought from_highways _of_their they _fought with Şīşərāʼ.

Show passage in OET: JER 19:13

OET-RV JER 19:13

13 and Yerushalem’s houses including the houses of Yehudah’s kings will be defiled like that place, Tofet—all the houses on whose rooftops they burnt incense to all the constellations and poured out drink offerings to other ‘gods’.

OET-LV JER 19:13

13 And_they _will _be the _houses _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_the _houses _of the _kings _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) like_the _place _of (the)_Tofet the _unclean_things to_all/each/any/every the_houses which people _made _smoke on roofs _of_their to_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_they _poured _out drink _offerings to_gods other.

Show passage in OET: ACT 7:42

OET-RV ACT 7:42

42 But God turned and allowed them to serve the heavenly armies, just as the prophets wrote,
⇔ ‘It wasn’t me that you Israelis sacrificed to for those forty years in the wilderness.

OET-LV ACT 7:42

42 But the god turned, and gave_ them _over to _be _serving unto _the army of_ the _heaven, as it _has _been _written in scroll of _the prophets:
You _all_ not _offered victims and sacrifices to _me, because/forty years?
in the wilderness, house of _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl)?

Show passage in OET: DEU 17:3

OET-RV DEU 17:3

3 and worshipped other gods, or the sun, moon, or stars—all of which I’ve prohibited you from doing,

OET-LV DEU 17:3

3 And_he/it _went and_he _has _served gods other and_he _has _bowed _down to/for_them and_to_sun or to_moon or to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens which not I _have _commanded.

Show passage in OET: KI2 17:16

OET-RV KI2 17:16

16 They disobeyed the instructions given to them by their god Yahweh by molding two metal calves for themselves and making an Asherah pole. Then they bowed down and worshipped the sun, moon, and stars, and they served Ba’al.

OET-LV KI2 17:16

16 And_they _abandoned DOM all _of the _commands _of YHWH god _of_their and_they _made to/for_them a _molten _image two _of calves and_they _made an _ʼAshērāh _pole and_they _bowed _down to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_they _served DOM (the)_Baˊal.

Show passage in OET: KI2 21:3–5

OET-RV KI2 21:3

3 In fact he went backwards from his father and rebuilt the hilltop shrines that Hizkiyah (Hezekiah) had destroyed, and he made altars for Ba’al, and he made an Asherah pole, just like Yisrael’s (Israel’s) King Ahav had, and he worshipped the constellations and followed astrology.

OET-RV KI2 21:4

4 Also he built altars in Yahweh’s residence, where Yahweh had said, “I will establish my reputation in Yerushalem.”

OET-RV KI2 21:5

5 Menasheh built altars to all the constellations in the two temple courtyards .

OET-LV KI2 21:3

3 And_he _returned and_he/it _built DOM the _high_places which Ḩizqiy^yāh his/its_father he _had _destroyed and_he _set _up altars to_Baˊal and_he/it _made an _ʼAshērāh _pole just_as ʼAḩʼāⱱ the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _had _done and_he _bowed _down to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_he _served DOM_them.

OET-LV KI2 21:4

4 And_he _built altars in_house _of YHWH which YHWH he _had _said in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) I _will _put DOM name _of_my.

OET-LV KI2 21:5

5 And_he/it _built altars to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens in_the _two _of the _courtyards _of the _house _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: CH2 33:3–5

OET-RV CH2 33:3

3 The hilltop shrines that his father Hizkiyah (Hezekiah) had torn down, he turned around and rebuilt them and erected altars to the Baals, and he made Asherah poles, and he bowed down to all the stars in the sky and served them.

OET-RV CH2 33:4

4 He built altars in Yahweh’s temple in Yerushalem that Yahweh had previously said that his name would always be associated with.

OET-RV CH2 33:5

5 He built altars for all the stars in the sky in both of the temple courtyards,

OET-LV CH2 33:3

3 And_he _returned and_he/it _built DOM the _high_places which Ḩizqiy^yāh his/its_father he _had _pulled _down and_he _set _up altars to_Baˊal and_he/it _made ʼAshērāh _poles and_he _bowed _down to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_he _served DOM_them.

OET-LV CH2 33:4

4 And_he _built altars in_house _of YHWH which YHWH he _had _said in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) it _will _be name _of_my forever_perpetuity.

OET-LV CH2 33:5

5 And_he/it _built altars to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens in_the _two _of the _courtyards _of the _house _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: JER 8:2

OET-RV JER 8:2

2 Then they’ll spread them out under the sun, moon, and stars—the heavenly bodies that they loved and served, and that they followed after and searched for, and that they bowed down to. Those bones won’t be collected up, and they won’t be buried again. They’ll be like dung across the surface of the land.

OET-LV JER 8:2

2 And_they_will _spread _them _out to_sun and_to_moon and_to/for_all the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens which they_loved _them and_which they_served _them and_which they _walked after_them and_which they_consulted _them and_which they _bowed _down to/for_them not they _will _be _gathered and_not they _will _be _buried (into)_dung on the _surface _of the_soil they _will _become.

Show passage in OET: ZEP 1:5

OET-RV ZEP 1:5

5 I’ll punish those who bowed down to the stars and planets from their rooftops,
⇔ ≈ and those making promises to Yahweh but then promising to the false god Malkam.

OET-LV ZEP 1:5

5 And_DOM those_who_bow _down on the_roofs to_the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_DOM those_who_bow _down those_who_swear _an _oath to/for_YHWH and_those_who_swear _an _oath by_king _of_their.

Show passage in OET: GEN 1:14–19

OET-RV GEN 1:14

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate daytime from nighttime, so they’ll be signs, and for indicating seasons, and for tracking days and years.

OET-RV GEN 1:15

15 They must function as lights in the sky that shine light on the earth.” Everything happened exactly as he commanded,

OET-RV GEN 1:16

16 so God made the two large lights, the larger, brighter light to rule the day, and the smaller light to rule the night, and he also made the stars.

OET-RV GEN 1:17

17 He put those lights in the sky to shine light on the earth,

OET-RV GEN 1:18

18 and to oversee the daytime and the nighttime, and to distinguish between the light and the darkness. And God saw that what he had done was good.

OET-RV GEN 1:19

19 Then evening came, and later morning came, and that was the end of the fourth day.

OET-LV GEN 1:14

14 And_ god _he/it _said let _it _be luminaries in _the_firmament the_heavens to_separate between the_day and_between the_night and_they _will _be to/for_signs and_to/for_seasons and_to/for_days and_years.

OET-LV GEN 1:15

15 And_they _will _be for_lights in _the_firmament the_heavens to_give _light on the_earth/land and_he/it _was so.

OET-LV GEN 1:16

16 And_ god _he/it _made DOM the _two _of the_lights the_big(pl) DOM the_luminary the_big/great(sg) for_dominion the_day and_DOM the_luminary the_small(sg) for_dominion the_night and_DOM the_stars.

OET-LV GEN 1:17

17 And_ god _he/it _gave DOM_them in _the_firmament the_heavens to_give _light on the_earth/land.

OET-LV GEN 1:18

18 And_to_rule in _the_day and_in _the_night and_to_separate between the_light and_between the_darkness and_ god _he/it _saw if/because _that it_was_good.

OET-LV GEN 1:19

19 And_he/it _was evening and_he/it _was morning a _day fourth.

Show passage in OET: GEN 2:1

OET-RV GEN 2:1

2 So the heavens and the earth were completed, along with everything in them.

OET-LV GEN 2:1

2 And_ the_heavens and_the_earth and_all their_objects _they _were _completed.

Show passage in OET: NEH 9:6

OET-RV NEH 9:6

6 Yahweh, you alone are God. You yourself made the heavens, the galaxies in the heavens and all their stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and all the stars bow down to you.

OET-LV NEH 9:6

6 You(ms) he are_YHWH you_alone wwww you _made DOM the_heavens the _heavens _of the_heavens and_all their_group/army/objects the_earth/land and_all that on/upon_it(f) the_seas and_all that (is)_in_them and_you(ms) are_preserving _alive DOM of _them _of_all and_the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens to/for_yourself(m) are_bowing _down.

Show passage in OET: PSA 33:6

OET-RV PSA 33:6

6 At Yahweh’s command, the heavens were made,
⇔ ≈ and all the stars were made by the breath of his mouth.

OET-LV PSA 33:6

6 By_the _message _of YHWH the_heavens they _were _made and_by_the _breath _of his _mouth _of_his all _of their_group/army/objects.

Show passage in OET: PSA 103:21

OET-RV PSA 103:21

21 Bless Yahweh, all his heavenly warriors—
⇔ his servants who do whatever he wants.

OET-LV PSA 103:21

21 Bless YHWH Oh _all _of soldiers/messengers _of_his servants _of_his who_do _of will _of_(of)_his.

Show passage in OET: PSA 148:2

OET-RV PSA 148:2

2 Praise him, all his messengers.
⇔ ≈ Praise him, all his armies.

OET-LV PSA 148:2

2 Praise_him Oh _all _of messengers _of_his praise_him Oh _all _of mmm.

Show passage in OET: ISA 40:26

OET-RV ISA 40:26

⇔  26 Look up and see the stars.
⇔ Who created them?
⇔ Yahweh knows their number as he brings them out.
⇔ ≈ He calls them all by name.
⇔ Because of his great strength and mighty power
⇔ not a single one is missing.

OET-LV ISA 40:26

26 Lift _up height your(pl)_eyes and_see who did _he _create these the_one_who_brings _out by_number their_group/army/objects to/for_all_them in/on_name _of he _calls from_greatness _of strength(s) and_a _strong_one_of power any not it _is _missing.

Show passage in OET: ISA 45:12

OET-RV ISA 45:12

12 I made the earth and created humankind on it.
⇔ My own hands stretched the skies out,
⇔ and I ordered all the heavenly bodies into place.

OET-LV ISA 45:12

12 I I _made the_earth and_human/ʼĀdām on/upon_it(f) I _created I hands _of_my they _stretched _out the_heavens and_all their_group/army/objects I _commanded.

Jump to OET DEU 4:19 section.

Jump to OET JDG 5:20 section.

Jump to OET JER 19:13 section.

Jump to OET ACT 7:42 section.

Jump to OET DEU 17:3 section.

Jump to OET KI2 17:16 section.

Jump to OET KI2 21:3–5 section.

Jump to OET CH2 33:3–5 section.

Jump to OET JER 8:2 section.

Jump to OET ZEP 1:5 section.

Jump to OET GEN 1:14–19 section.

Jump to OET GEN 2:1 section.

Jump to OET NEH 9:6 section.

Jump to OET PSA 33:6 section.

Jump to OET PSA 103:21 section.

Jump to OET PSA 148:2 section.

Jump to OET ISA 40:26 section.

Jump to OET ISA 45:12 section.

God is frequently called “the Lord God of hosts,” that is, of the celestial armies (Jer 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Hos 12:5). The heavenly host includes angels or messengers who are associated with the Lord’s work in heaven and on earth. God presides over a heavenly council composed of angels or “sons of God” (Gn 1:26; 1 Kgs 22:19; Jb 1:6; Ps 82; Is 6) whose messengers are sent from the Lord’s council to accomplish his purpose (Gn 28:12-15; Lk 2:13).

Show passage in OET: JER 5:14

OET-RV JER 5:14

14 So Commander-in-chief Yahweh says this:
⇔ Because you’ve spoken those words,
⇔ I’ll put my messages in your mouth as a fire
⇔ and this people group will be the wood that it consumes.

OET-LV JER 5:14

14 For_so/thus/hence thus YHWH the _god _of soldiers/messengers he _says because you_have _spoken DOM the_message the_this HERE_I am_about _to _make words/messages _of_my in_mouth _of_your into_a _fire and_the_people the_this wood(s) and_it_will _consume _them.

Show passage in OET: JER 38:17

OET-RV JER 38:17

17 “Okay,” Yirmiyah answered the king, “Yisrael’s (Israel’s) god, Commander-in-chief Yahweh says this: If you indeed go out to the Babylonian king’s officials, then you’ll live, and this city won’t be burnt down. You and your family would live.

OET-LV JER 38:17

17 And_ Yirmə^yāh/(Jeremiah) _he/it _said to Tsidqiy^yāh thus YHWH the _god _of soldiers/messengers the _god _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _says if indeed _(go _out) you _will _go _out to the _commanders _of the _king _of Bāⱱel and_ self _of_your _it _will _live and_the_city (the)_this not it _will _be _burnt with_fire and_ you and_household _of_your _you _will _live.

Show passage in OET: JER 44:7

OET-RV JER 44:7

7 So now Yisrael’s god, Commander-in-chief Yahweh asks why you all insist on bringing this terrible harm onto yourselves that’ll see men and women, children and babies from Yehudah, eliminated without even leaving a remnant.

OET-LV JER 44:7

7 And_now thus YHWH the _god _of soldiers/messengers the _god _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _says why are_you(pl) doing harm great to selves _of_your(pl) to_cut _off to/for_you(pl) man and_woman child and_sucking _child from_the _midst _of Yəhūdāh to_not to _leave to/for_you(pl) a _remnant.

Show passage in OET: HOS 12:5

OET-RV HOS 12:5

5 Yahweh, the god of armies.
⇔ Yahweh is his famous name.

OET-LV HOS 12:6

6  And_YHWH the _god _of (the)_soldiers/messengers YHWH memorial _of_is_his.

Show passage in OET: GEN 1:26

OET-RV GEN 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every creature moving on the earth.”

OET-LV GEN 1:26

26 And_ god _he/it _said let _us _make humankind in_our_image according _to_our_likeness/pattern and_they _will _rule _over on/over_(a)_fish _of the_sea and_on/over_bird _of the_heavens and_on/over_cattle/livestock and_on/over_all the_earth/land and_on/over_all the_creeping _(thing) the_(one)_creeping on the_earth/land.

Show passage in OET: KI1 22:19

OET-RV KI1 22:19

19 But Mikayah continued, “Listen to Yahweh’s message then: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the heavenly army were standing at both sides of him.

OET-LV KI1 22:19

19 And_he/it _said for_so/thus/hence hear the _message _of YHWH I _saw DOM YHWH sitting on throne _of_his and_all the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens standing on/upon/above_him/it from_right _of_his and_from_left _of_his.

Show passage in OET: JOB 1:6

OET-RV JOB 1:6

6 It was the day that God’s sons came to present themselves to Yahweh, and the adversary (Satan) was also there among them.

OET-LV JOB 1:6

6 And_he/it _was the_day and_ the _sons _of the_ʼElohīm _they _came to_present _themselves on YHWH and_ also the_adversary _he _came among_them.

Show passage in OET: PSA 82:1–8

OET-RV PSA 82:1

82 God stands in the divine assembly.
⇔ He renders judgement among the gods.

OET-RV PSA 82:2

2 For how long will you judge unjustly
⇔ and show favouritism to the wicked? (Instrumental break.)

OET-RV PSA 82:3

3 Defend the poor and the fatherless.
⇔ ≈ Maintain the rights of those who are afflicted and destitute.

OET-RV PSA 82:4

4 Rescue the poor and needy—
⇔ ≈ help them escape from the control of the wicked people.

OET-RV PSA 82:5

5 They neither know nor understand.
⇔ They wander around in the darkness.
⇔ All the earth’s foundations crumble.

OET-RV PSA 82:6

6 I said, “You are ‘gods’,
⇔ and all of you are sons of the highest one.

OET-RV PSA 82:7

7 Nevertheless you will die like men
⇔ and fall like one of the leaders.”

OET-RV PSA 82:8

8 Take action, God, judge the earth,
⇔ because you have an inheritance in all the nations.

OET-LV PSA 82:1

82 A _song of_ʼĀşāf god is_taking _his _stand in_the _congregation _of god in_the_midst _of the_gods he _gives _judgement.

OET-LV PSA 82:2

2 Until when will _you(pl)_judge injustice and_the_face _of wicked_people will _you(pl)_lift _up Şelāh.

OET-LV PSA 82:3

3 Give _judgement _for the_poor and_the_fatherless the_afflicted and_the_poor vindicate.

OET-LV PSA 82:4

4 Deliver the_poor and_the_needy from_the_hand _of wicked_people rescue_them.

OET-LV PSA 82:5

5 Not they _know and_not they _understand in_darkness they _walk _about all _of the_foundations _of the_earth they _are _shaken.

OET-LV PSA 82:6

6 I I _said are_gods you(pl) and_the _sons the _Most _High of _you _of_all.

OET-LV PSA 82:7

7 Nevertheless like_humankind you(pl)_will _die and_like_one _of the _princes you(pl)_will _fall.

OET-LV PSA 82:8

8 Arise Oh _god judge the_earth/land if/because you you _have _an _inheritance in_all the_nations.

Show passage in OET: GEN 28:12–15

OET-RV GEN 28:12

12 While he was sleeping, he had a dream, and wow, a stairway was set up on the earth and its top reached to the heavens, and look, God’s messengers were ascending and descending on it.

OET-RV GEN 28:13

13 And look, Yahweh was standing above it and he said, “I am Yahweh, the god of Avraham your grandfather and the god of Yitshak (Isaac). I will give the land that you are lying on to you and to your descendants

OET-RV GEN 28:14

14 and they will be as numerous as dust particles, and you’ll all spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

OET-RV GEN 28:15

15 So listen, I’m with you and I’ll watch over you everywhere you go. I’ll bring you back to this land because I won’t leave you until I’ve done what I told you.”

OET-LV GEN 28:12

12 And_he _dreamed and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _stairway was_placed towards_land and_his/its_head/top was_reaching to_the_heavens and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE the _messengers _of god were_going _up and_were_going _down in/on/over_him/it.

OET-LV GEN 28:13

13 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE YHWH was_standing on/upon/above_him/it and_he _said I am_YHWH the _god _of ʼAⱱrāhām father _of_your and_the _god _of Yiʦḩāq the_earth/land which you are_lying on/upon_it(f) to/for_yourself(m) I_will _give _it and_to_offspring _of_your.

OET-LV GEN 28:14

14 And_it _was your(ms)_seed/fruit like_the _dust _of the_earth/land and_you _will _spread _out westward_to and_eastward_to and_northward_to and_southward_to and_they _will _be _blessed in_you(ms) all _of the _clans _of the_soil and_by_offspring _of_your.

OET-LV GEN 28:15

15 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE I am_with_you and_I_will _protect _you in_every where you _will _go and_I_will _bring _you _back to the_soil (the)_this if/because not I_will _abandon _you until that (if) I _have _done DOM that_which I _have _spoken to/for_you(fs).

Show passage in OET: LUK 2:13

OET-RV LUK 2:13

13 Then suddenly lots of heavenly soldiers joined the messenger, praising God and saying,

OET-LV LUK 2:13

13 And suddenly a_multitude of_the_ heavenly _army became with the messenger, praising the god and saying,

Jump to OET JER 5:14 section.

Jump to OET JER 38:17 section.

Jump to OET JER 44:7 section.

Jump to OET HOS 12:5 section.

Jump to OET GEN 1:26 section.

Jump to OET KI1 22:19 section.

Jump to OET JOB 1:6 section.

Jump to OET PSA 82:1–8 section.

Jump to OET GEN 28:12–15 section.

Jump to OET LUK 2:13 section.

Though the hosts are sometimes understood as the stars or angels, the tribes of Israel are also called “the host of the Lord.” The “host of heaven” in Daniel 8:10-11 appears to be figurative language referring to Israel, “the holy people,” and God, the King of Israel, is called “the Prince of the host.”

Show passage in OET: DAN 8:10–11

OET-RV DAN 8:10

10 It grew up to the army in the heavens, but it threw some of the army and some of the stars down to the earth and trampled on them.

OET-RV DAN 8:11

11 It became as powerful as the general leading the heavenly army. It took the regular burnt offering away from him, and his sanctuary place was overthrown.

OET-LV DAN 8:10

10 And_it _became _great to the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_it _made _fall towards_land some _of the_soldier/messenger and_from the_stars and_it_trampled _them.

OET-LV DAN 8:11

11 And_unto the _commander _of the _soldier/messenger it _magnified _itself and_from_him it _was _removed the _perpetual_offering and_ the _place _of his _sanctuary _of_his _it _was _thrown _down.

Jump to OET DAN 8:10–11 section.

The Greek words translated “host” occur only twice in the NT (Lk 2:13; Acts 7:42). “Lord of hosts” is used by Paul and James (Rom 9:29; Jas 5:4) as a title for the Lord. The term expresses God’s sovereign might and majesty in history, but the precise identification of the “hosts” that stand at his command is uncertain.