Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Dave Humpal" <ebedyah AT elite.net>]

Bill Rea writes, "The firmament was thought to be a solid dome."

It seems to me the Biblical use of raqia in Genesis 1:8 indicates an
expanse, not a solid dome.  This misconception of the Hebrew view came from
the LXX which translated raqia with the Greek stereoma -- firm vault.  This
idea of the heavens being an expanse is repeated in Isaiah 40:22 where he
says that God stretches out the heavens like gauze, and Ezekiel 1:22 where
he speaks of raqia as shining like transparent ice.  It seems the Biblical
writers did not consider the heavens to be a solid dome.   This idea only
developed later.

Rev. Dave Humpal ebedyah AT elite.net
First Christian Church, Merced, California
Bible Study Site http://www.elite.net/~ebedyah/PastorsHomePage.htm
First Christian Church Site
http://www.elite.net/~ebedyah/FirstChristianHomePage.htm