Is the Sky a Dividing Line or a Solid Dome?
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 1:7 contradicts Job 37:18, Isaiah 44:24, Jeremiah 10:12, Psalm 148:4 and 2 Peter 3:5. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The biblical narrative offers various descriptions of the creation of the world, and sometimes these descriptions can appear to contradict each other. Take Genesis 1:7, for instance, which speaks of God creating a firmament to divide the waters, placing some above and some below. This portrays a divine organization plan, where everything in the world is set in perfect order.
Contrast this with Job 37:18, where the sky is described as strong, like a molten looking glass. This imagery suggests a solid, perhaps even reflective dome, which differs from the idea of a firmament that merely separates waters. Such differences in description can be likened to different artists painting the same landscape but emphasizing distinct details—a mountain versus a meadow.
Then, there’s Isaiah 44:24, where it is stated that God alone created everything. It doesn’t specifically mention the separation of waters, focusing instead on God's solitary power. It's a bit like telling the story of building a house without discussing the plumbing; the main story is there, but some details are left out.
Jeremiah 10:12 highlights God’s power and wisdom in creation but omits the specific act of dividing the waters with the firmament. Similarly, Psalm 148:4 speaks of waters above the heavens but does not explicitly affirm the division by a firmament. It's comparable to complimenting a person's wisdom without acknowledging a specific wise act they've done.
Finally, 2 Peter 3:5 speaks of the earth formed out of water and through water, leaving out the division aspect that Genesis 1:7 emphasizes. It's as if narrating a tale about dough becoming bread and omitting the kneading process.
These differing perspectives beg the question: how should we interpret these ancient texts? Are these variations artistic expressions of deeper truths, or are they reflections of differing traditions and understandings of the natural world?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 1:7 | And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament: and it was so. |
| 2. | Job 37:18 | Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is] strong, [and] as a molten looking glass? |
| 3. | Isaiah 44:24 | Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; |
| 4. | Jeremiah 10:12 | He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. |
| 5. | Psalm 148:4 | Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that [be] above the heavens. |
| 6. | 2 Peter 3:5 | For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: [standing: Gr. consisting] |