indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible DictionaryĮaston, Matthew George. The firmament is the sky, conceived as a solid dome. indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, It was the support also of the heavenly bodies ( Genesis 1:14 ), and is spoken of as having 'windows' and 'doors' ( Genesis 7:11 Isaiah 24:18 Malachi 3:10 ) through which the rain and snow might descend. The raki'a supported the upper reservoir ( Psalms 148:4 ). It formed a division between the waters above and the waters below ( Genesis 1:7 ). The firmament (from the Latin firmamentum, meaning sky or expanse) is mentioned 17 times in the King James Version of the Bible and refers to the expanse of the heavens above the earth. It is plain that it was used to denote solidity as well as expansion. It is commonly defined as the heavens or the sky, especially when regarded as a tangible thing. In other words, the god of this text does not, and did not, create planet Earth, boundless space, and the numerous galaxies that occupy it Rather, according to the text, God created a finite space in the midst of and encased within. The word firmament is primarily used in the King James Bible.

The language of Scripture is not scientific but popular, and hence we read of the sun rising and setting, and also here the use of this particular word. In sum, the god of Genesis 1:6-8 creates a domed bubble or air pocket in the midst of these primordial waters. They who rendered raki'a by firmamentum regarded it as a solid body. This word means simply 'expansion.' It denotes the space or expanse like an arch appearing immediately above us. Bible Dictionaries - Easton's Bible Dictionary - Firmament Firmament įrom the Vulgate firmamentum, which is used as the translation of the Hebrew raki'a.

Firmament in bible