Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

In response to something Karl wrote (see below):

In both Isa 40.22 and Prov 8.27, the word חוג does not mean 'sphere'. It 
simply indicates a circle. The use of the verb form in Job 26.10 shows that 
is something that can be traced on a flat surface. Ergo, we can't read modern 
cosmology back into the biblical texts.


GEORGE ATHAS
Dean of Research,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia


From: K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com<mailto:kwrandolph AT gmail.com>>
Date: Saturday, 18 August 2012 8:33 AM
To: Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu<mailto:if AT math.bu.edu>>
Cc: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] GALGAL and TALTAL

As far as I can tell, GLGL גלגל is used only as a place name, never
referring to an object in Tanakh. The word for “wheel” is )PN אפן found in
places like Exodus 15:25. The word for “circle”, “circular” or “sphere” is
KhWG חוג found in places like Isaiah 40:22 and Proverbs 8:27.

By the way, Gilgal, the camping place, was down in the valley near Jericho,
not up in the nearby hills.

Karl W. Randolph.