We find twice mention made in the book of Job of the heavenly constellations. (Job ix. 9. and 38. 31.) The sacred writer enumerates but some of them, Arcturus, Orion, the Pleiades, and Mazzaroth; but we may suppose the whole are equally included as those whose influences we cannot bring forth nor bind. "He calleth them all by their names." (Ps. cxl7: 4.) And we read that there was a time when the stars in their courses fought in the Lord’s course. (Judg. v. 20.) There is an uncommon degree of beauty as well as sublimity in this relation of the heavenly bodies. The Pleiades are those stars which form a cluster, vulgarly called the seven stars, though even with a naked eye, in a clear night, more can be seen in the ring. Perhaps this is the smallest of the heavenly constellations with which we are acquainted; very beautiful they are to every beholder; and small as they are, yet we find they have their sweet influences. The bands of Orion are also spoken of as perfectly uncontrollable; and this forms that very large constellation, perhaps none larger in the chambers of the south. Arcturus is among the northern of the heavenly bodies, alike independent of man’s government, or man’s guidance. But what a refreshing thought it is to the true believer in Jesus, the sinner’s Saviour is the Maker of them all; and to whatsoever purpose else they are formed to minister, their alt by his appointment serve to his glory, and his people’s welfare!
Ple’iades. The Hebrew word, (cimah), so rendered occurs in Job 9:9; Job 38:31; Amo 6:8. In the last passage, our Authorized Version has "the seven stars," although the Geneva version translates the word "Pleiades," as in the other cases.
The Pleiades are a group of stars situated on the shoulder of the constellation, Taurus. The rendering "sweet influences" of the Authorized Version, Job 38:31, is a relic of the lingering belief in the power, which the stars exerted over human destiny. But Schaff thinks the phrase arose from the fact that the Pleiades appear about the middle of April, and hence, are associated with the return of spring, the season of sweet influences.
[Plei’ades]
kimah. The Hebrew signifies lit . ’a heap or collection.’ Being named with Arcturus and Orion, it doubtless refers to the group of stars that still bear the name Pleiades. Job 9:9; Job 38:31. The same Hebrew word is translated SEVEN STARS in Amo 5:8. There are many stars in the group, but seven are visible to the naked eye. Job 38:31 is better translated, "Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?"
By: Kaufmann Kohler, Ludwig Blau
The word "Kimah," which occurs in three passages in the Bible (Job ix. 9, xxxviii. 31, and Amos v. 8), each time in connection with Orion, is translated by the Septuagint once by 
= "to heap up," or with the Assyrian "kamu" = "he bound" (Delitzsch, in "Proc. Soc. Bibl. Arch." xii. 185).
According to the Talmud (Ber. 58b), this cluster is called "Kimah" because it consists of about 100 stars (
). The constellation is in the northern sky, with its tail to the west of the Milky Way (ib.; comp. Pes. 94b). For the most important reference to the Pleiades, which have alwaysattracted attention on account of their brilliancy and number, See Orion (comp. also Jew. Encyc. ii. 249b, s.v. Astronomy).
Bibliography:
Schiaparelli, L'Astronomia nell' Antico Testamento, p. 79, Milan, 1903;
Hastings, Dict. Bible, iii. 896;
Hamburger, R. B. T. ii. 80.
PLEIADES.—See Stars.