Did you know that the Bible does not support the spinning globe concept? Although the Bible does not provide a definite shape of the earth in any one place, comparing various verses shows us something different from what we’ve been taught. Let’s take a look.
Firmament
Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Gen 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Gen 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
Ps 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Ps 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Ezek 1:21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Ezek 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
Ezek 1:23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
Ezek 1:24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
Ezek 1:25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
Ezek 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
Ezek 10:1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
H7549 רָקִיַע raqiya` (raw-kee'-ah) n-m.
1. (properly) an expanse, i.e. the firmament.
2. (apparently) the visible arch of the sky.
Outline of Biblical Usage
- extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament
- expanse (flat as base, support)
- firmament (of vault of heaven supporting waters above)
- considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting 'waters' above
Strong’s Definitions (Strong’s Definitions Legend)
רָקִיעַ râqîyaʻ, raw-kee'-ah; from H7554; properly, an expanse, i.e. the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky:—firmament.
Please note that some Bible versions such as the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) translate רָקִיַע raqiya` as “dome.”
Genesis 1 6 God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the water; let it divide the water from the water.” 7 God made the dome and divided the water under the dome from the water above the dome; that is how it was, 8 and God called the dome Sky. So there was evening, and there was morning, a second day.
Let’s also read Ezekiel 1:22, comparing different Bible versions, which give us the impression that the “sky/firmament” is a solid, dome-like structure:
KJV
22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
HCSB
22 The shape of an expanse, with a gleam like awe-inspiring crystal, was spread out over the heads of the living creatures.
ISV
22 There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy, in outward appearance resembling ice,
NET
22 Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads.
CEB
22 The shape above the heads of the creatures was a dome; it was like glittering ice stretched out over their heads.
ERV
22 There was an amazing thing over the heads of the living beings. It was like a bowl turned upside down, and the bowl was clear like crystal.
EHV
22 There was something above the heads of the living creatures like the dome of a vaulted ceiling. It looked like ice. It was spectacular. It stretched out above their heads.
EXB
22 Now, ·over [stretched over] the heads of the living creatures was something like a ·dome [vault; expanse; or platform; Gen. 1:2] that sparkled like ·ice [crystal] and was ·frightening [or awesome].
TLB
22 The sky spreading out above them looked as though it were made of crystal; it was inexpressibly beautiful.
MSG
22 Over the heads of the living creatures was something like a dome, shimmering like a sky full of cut glass, vaulted over their heads.
NIV
22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome.
Let’s also read Job 37:18 in different Bible versions:
KJV
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
HCSB
18 can you help God spread out the skies as hard as a cast metal mirror?
ESV2011
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?
Darby
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror?
LSV
18 You have made an expanse with Him || For the clouds—strong as a hard mirror!
LXXE
18 Wilt thou establish with him foundations for the ancient heavens? they are strong as a molten mirror.
NET
18 will you, with him, spread out the clouds, solid as a mirror of molten metal?
Tanakh-1917
18 Canst thou with Him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?
YLT
18 Thou hast made an expanse with Him For the clouds--strong as a hard mirror!
Here, only ISV gives us a slightly different meaning, comparing how God made the sky to how one can make a mirror:
ISV 18 Can you spread out the skies like he does; can you cast them as one might a mirror?
· So we get the idea that the “firmament” is a strong, solid, dome-shaped structure that is shiny.
· God set the sun and moon “in the firmament” on the fourth day to give light upon the “earth,” which we are going to look at next. However, before we do that, please note that the Bible says God created or set the sun and moon IN the firmament, not millions of miles outside it in space.
Earth
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Deut 13:7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
Deut 28:49 The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
Deut 28:64 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
1Sam 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
The term translated here as “pillar” is used only twice, the other time being translated as “situate” in KJV, in reference to a “sharp rock” or “cliff” that was situated or “rose up” (WEB) or “fixed” (YLT) on the north – 1 Sam 14:5).
KJV Translation Count — Total: 2x
The KJV translates Strong's H4690 in the following manner: pillars (1x), situate (1x).
Outline of Biblical Usage
- molten support, pillar, column
Strong’s Definitions (Strong’s Definitions Legend)
מָצוּק mâtsûwq, maw-tsook'; or מָצֻק mâtsuq; from H6693; something narrow, i.e. a column or hilltop:—pillar, situate.
Job 9:6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Here, the word translated as “pillar” is
עַמּוּד ʻammûwd, am-mood'; or עַמֻּד ʻammud; from H5975; a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform:—× apiece, pillar.
It’s used 110 in KJV where 109 times its translated as “pillar” and once as “apiece.”
The KJV translates Strong's H5982 in the following manner: pillar (109x), apiece (with H259) (1x).
Outline of Biblical Usage
- pillar, column
- pillar
- column, upright
- column (of smoke)
Other Bible versions translate it as “foundations” (NLT, BSB, CEV, ISV)
Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
This is one of the verses used to support the spherical shape of the earth, but it does not say anything about the shape of the earth, only that it’s hung over nothing. Can only a sphere be hung? Also, it means it’s not hung on anything because it has pillars as its foundation. We read in the same book of Job:
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Ps 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Ps 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
Prov 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Prov 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Isa 48:13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
Isa 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Jer 31:37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
Ps 74:17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
Prov 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
1Chr 16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is established, it cannot be moved.
Ps 93:1 The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty, the LORD is robed, he wears strength around his waist. Indeed, the world is established, it cannot be moved.
Ps 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Let's consider this: what is the basis of the earth's revolution? The Big Bang. So why do we tend to say we accept Biblical creation while we support the earth's revolution, which comes from evolution?
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Please note that “circle” is not the same as “sphere.”
The word for circle is STRONGS H2328:
חוּג chûwg, khoog; a primitive root (compare H2287); to describe a circle:—compass.
Outline of Biblical Usage
- to encircle, encompass, describe a circle, draw round, make a circle
- (Qal) to encircle, encompass
† [חוּג] verb draw round, make a circle (Aramaic
circumivit; noun
, חוּגְתָּא,
circle,
vault of heavens) —
Qal Perfect חֹק חָג עלפֿני מים Job
26:10 (compare Proverbs 8:27),
hath
drawn as a circle a bound, etc., of the horizon-line.
Notice that Isaiah uses a different word for “ball.”
Isaiah 22:18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ballH1754 into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.
דּוּר dûwr, dure
KJV Translation Count — Total: 3x
The KJV translates Strong's H1754 in the following manner: ball (1x), round about (1x), burn (1x).
Ps 136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that
created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which
cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to
them that walk therein:
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Matt 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Matt 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Matt 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Sun
Josh 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Josh 10:13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Can you imagine what would happen if it’s the earth that’s actually spinning and then it stops suddenly?
What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?
The probability for such an event is practically zero in the next few billion years. If the Earth stopped spinning suddenly, the atmosphere would still be in motion with the Earth's original 1100 mile per hour rotation speed at the equator. All of the land masses would be scoured clean of anything not attached to bedrock. This means rocks, topsoil, trees, buildings, your pet dog, and so on, would be swept away into the atmosphere. - https://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/q1168.html
That simply describes what would happen if the earth stopped. Now think about this:
Isa 38:8 Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
If it’s the earth that’s spinning, then it did not only stop but actually spun in the opposite direction. Now how much damage would that cause? For a VERY MINIATURE example, try swirling water in a cup/container and then change the direction of swirling.
Another thing; is God lying to us here?
Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
And what of this?
Hab 3:11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
So, is it the earth that’s moving or the sun and moon?
Now let’s consider this verse again to determine the relative sizes of the sun and moon:
Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
If the sun stood still upon Gibeon while the moon stood still in the valley of Ajalon, then:
1. They are significantly smaller than what we are taught
2. They are roughly the same size
"The city of Gibeon is today linked with el-Jib, about 9.5 km (6 mi) NNW of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Numerous earthenware jar handles bearing the name Gibeon in ancient Hebrew characters have been found there. Located on a hill that rises some 60 m (200 ft) above the surrounding plain, the ancient site covers about 6.5 ha (16 acres)." https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001682
https://bibleatlas.org/region/aijalon.jpg
Summary
· The earth has its ends and borders, as opposed to a spherical object.
· The earth has pillars/foundations on which God has set or fixed it.
· The earth is like a circle, not sphere.
· There’s a dome that covers the earth.
· The earth does not move while the sun, moon and stars revolve above it.
· The sun and moon are significantly smaller than the earth.
This is a simulation of how this can happen:
Now, here are a few examples of how some ancient cultures considered the earth to be.
Do you know who else seems to silently endorse the flat earth? The United Nations. Just look at its official logo:
However, we have so far not dealt with how the earth is a circle with four corners. Could it be something like this, especially considering it’s God’s footstool?
However, I don't think the four corners are literal based on the places where they are mentioned.
Isaiah 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
In Isaiah, it would not be possible to gather the dispersed Judah from the "four corners" of the world. Revelation is an apocalyptic prophecy that uses symbols even in the same verse, such as "four winds of the earth."
The Bible tells us to test all things and hold fast what is good. Are you ready to test whether the earth is really a globe?
One final question: how would this be possible if the earth is a globe?
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Now, I still don’t understand how some things would happen based on the above descriptions, but I believe the Bible nevertheless.