Is the earth a sphere or do we live on a flat earth? Also, are we living in a heliocentric model of the universe?
The Bible describes the earth as circular in shape. Isaiah 40:22 states, “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.”
The word “circle” derives from the Hebrew chuwg. Strong’s defines this word as a “…from OT:2328; a circle.” The Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon provides a similar quote: “a circle, a circuit, a compass.” Some will agree that the earth is circular in shape, but is flat and not a three-dimensional sphere.
As seen above, BDB expands the definition of chuwg to include a “vault,” which is a three-dimensional shape. It’s also noteworthy that according to Modern Hebrew, chuwg includes the definition of a sphere.
Regarding the heliocentric model, i.e., planets revolve around the sun, the Bible does not have much to say about this. However, we find ample evidence in science for both the heliocentric model and the sphere of the earth.
As early as 500 BCE, Pythagoras of Samos, a well-known Greek mathematician, hypothesized that the sun was sphere-shaped and that the earth rotated around it. As a side note, Pythagorean theorem was named after Pythagoras. Plato (427-347 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE), along with nearly all Greek writers after the 5th century, alsobelieved in a spherical earth.
Aristotle based his belief on several natural phenomena. For example, he noticed stars that could be seen in Cyrus could not be seen in the northern region. He also observed that when traveling south, the southern constellations rose higher above the horizon. In addition, he noticed that during a lunar eclipse the shadow of the earth was circular.
This theory was gradually accepted through late antiquity and the Middle-Ages and would eventually replace the idea of a flat earth. Today, this has been further confirmed by modern science, including thousands of pictures from space verifying the earth is spherical in shape.
From our perspective, the thought of hundreds of thousands of world leaders, scientists, graphic artists, engineers, and staff of every space agency in the world, private and international, engaged in a worldwide conspiracy to deceive the masses is not reasonable. This belief has also caused unnecessary division within the body of Messiah.
How could you? I really respect a lot of the intellectual integrity and biblically scholastic articles and posts on this site, but why this lack of due diligence? 1st stating that science is what you fall back on in trying to prove what the bible meant by circle or how Yahuah designed the cosmos? And without exploring or at least without presenting even a fraction of the scriptural indications as to the possible answers to this question. Then saying there is “ample EVIDENCE in science’ and then offering NO evidence, but only theories quoting supposed scientists of antiquity. I propose… Read more »
“1st stating that science is what you fall back on in trying to prove what the bible meant by circle or how Yahuah designed the cosmos? And without exploring or at least without presenting even a fraction of the scriptural indications as to the possible answers to this question.” No, no. We did present scriptural indications by defining what circle means in Hebrew. You went on and on about why what we said was inadequate, yet you never refuted anything. You just complained about it. If you have information we missed, by all means. Present it. “Then saying there is… Read more »
Thank you. Bless you. Much needed. Shalom!