On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 20:56:59 +0000 Vernon Jenkins
<vernon.jenkins@virgin.net> writes:
> Paul,
>
> 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.
>
> I am disappointed that you appear to have no view regarding
> Rev.13:18.
> Are you not in the least intrigued by the verse? - and by the
> context in
> which the Lord has framed it?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Vernon
>
>
Vernon,
You are overlooking the key word, "firmament" or "expanse," which is like
crystal or ice. How can something that is stretched out looking like ice
be something other than solid? In Strong's, the number 7549 represents
"firmament." It is derived from 7554, which basically means "to pound"
along with the results of pounding, something hammered flat. This last is
related to 7555, "beaten out, plate." Ezekiel has to be reporting what
would look to us like a heavy, clear, solid glass canopy.
In the standard New Brown-Driver-Broggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon
it speaks of a solid extended surface. I also note that Genesis 1:20 that
the birds do not fly in the firmament, but in front of it. The firmament
is not the atmosphere and whatever lies beyond it, which last we moderns
append.
Dave
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