The New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis provides a detailed explanation of raqia as follows: It refers to an expansion or an expanded area. This helps us understand that raqia does not refer to a solid dome with a sea of water or a river of water above a dome. Then in Ezekiel 1:25-26 it becomes clear that raqia is an area above the angels and God appears above the raqia. Both Psalm 150:1 and Daniel 12:3 actually refer to heaven being stretched out. In Ezekiel 1:22, 25, 26 raqia refers to an area above the heads of the “living beings.” In Ezekiel 1:23 raqia has a different meaning or nuance since it refers to the wings of the “living beings” being spread out. Psalm 19:1 uses raqia to the heavens being stretched out. Therefore in Genesis 1:6-8, the word refers to space that was created between the waters – the waters below and the waters above. A raqia, then, is something that is created by being spread out either by stretching (e.g., a tent) or by hammering. 40:19 the meaning is to overlay or plate (with gold). Here the basic idea is “to spread out,” and specifically the spreading out of the earth at creation (cf. The basic meaning of the noun is determined by a consideration of the verb raqia. In Genesis 1 the word always has the idea “of something that is created by being spread out.” This word is translated as “firmament” in the KJV Bible and “vault” in the NIV Bible. The Hebrew word that is translated as “expanse” in the NASB is raqia. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse and it was so. Do we reject the scientific theories of the universe, atmosphere, et al and accept the Bible's teaching that the sky is blue and rain falls because there's a dome in the sky holding back the sky river (much as the ancient Egyptians believed)? Bible Answer:ĭoes the Bible teach that there is a solid dome in the sky embedded with stars holding back a river in the sky, such as the ancient Egyptians believed? The purpose of this arictle is to answer the question by explaining the meaning of the Hebrew word “firmament” or “expanse” which first occurs in Genesis 1:6-8.
Genesis 1:6-8 says that God set his dome, which we call the firmament or sky to separate the waters above from the waters below.
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