Vernon wrote:
<< Thanks for writing. Concerning the interpretation of the Hebrew word
'raqia' I have, at your suggestion, looked at Ezekiel 1:22 - expecting
to find clear confirmation of your claim re the solidity of the
'expanse' or 'firmament'. Here are four English renderings of this
verse:
1) AV:- "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living
creatures was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth
over their heads above."
2) NASB:- "Now over the heads of the living beings there was something
like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, extended over their
heads."
3) NIV:- "Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what
looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice and awesome."
4) Green's Interlinear Bible - Hebrew/English:- "And a likeness (was)
over the heads of the living creatures, an expanse, like the color of
awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads from above."
Bearing in mind that the prophet is describing a heavenly vision here, I
fail to understand why you are so convinced that 'as the colour of the
terrible crystal', 'like the awesome gleam of crystal', 'sparkling like
ice', and 'like the color of awesome crystal' necessarily demand the
observed effect to emanate from a solid surface.
>>
Since the firmament is a divider and has a color, it has to be something.
The most natural straight-forward reading of the text is that it is something
solid. There is nothing in the text to suggest otherwise. Ezek 1:26 describes
a throne in a very similar way to the way the firmament is described. But,
who would suppose the throne is not something solid? The burden of proof
would be on anyone saying the firmament or throne was not solid.
Paul
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