Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Karl,

In your examples, the noun פנים in the expression על פני refers to the face 
of people. As such, it has a personal usage ('against' or 'opposite'). This 
is certainly not the case in Gen 1.20, unless you want to propose the רקיע is 
a being, which I don't think you do. This is a common distinction: the 'face' 
of people and the 'surface' of things. Same word in Hebrew (פנים), but 
different connotations and different words in English.


Ishinan,

The birds fly through the sky, but the sky that is under the רקיע, which 
stands as a dome-like roof above everything. The birds flying through the 
שׁמים are thus seen to be flying 'across the surface' of the רקיע above them. 
You are confusing שׁמים with רקיע, but they are distinct.


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