Nehemiah 9:6

Thou preservest them all - כלם את מחיה ואתה vettah mechaiyeh eth cullam , and thou givest life to them all: and the host of the heavens, משתחוים לך lecha mishtachavim , prostrate themselves unto thee. How near is this to the opinion of Kepler, that all the heavenly host are instinct with life, and navigate the great expanse on pinions adjusted to their situation in their respective orbits! But to preserve in life, or in being, is a very good meaning in the original, which does not necessarily imply vitality. We say a tree is alive when flourishing, a plant is dead when it withers, etc.