Twice, in Job, the writer mentions "the ends of the Earth" (Job 28:24, Job 37:3). The flat-earther's Circle Earth has no end. However, a rotating sphere has TWO ends - the ends of the axis on which the sphere rotates: the North Pole and the South Pole. Maybe the Bible is saying that Earth is a sphere!
Things that make you go, "hmm...".
2019-02-06T20:50:00Z
From all the answers I'm seeing, it appears that the Bible is NOT a reliable source for determining the shape of Earth. Eat that, Flat-Earthers.
Jeffrey K2019-02-15T05:05:30Z
The poles are not ends of a sphere. The Bible does not tell us the shape of the earth. That was left to people to figure out.
The bible describes the earth as unmoveable (stationary) Just like the Flat Earth (FE) Model, as a circle which is a flat object (Isaiah knew what a sphere was and uses the word for sphere/ball in a previous chapter but the word for a flat 2D circle in 40:22) just like the FE model, the Bible describes the earth as covered by a dome called a firmament just as other nations around that time which had a flat earth model also believed in. With windows in the firmament which let in the waters Just like the FE model. The Sun, moon, and stars were all stuck inside of this firmament Like the FE model. The stars were tiny and could fall to earth and even make war with the inhabitants of the earth (just like in the FE model the stars are small and close to us). The earth was established upon pillars (again, just like the FE model). The moon is described as a light in the bible just like the FE model.
All these claims and many more fly in the face of modern science. It is clear that the people writing this had no idea what the universe was and of our place in it, let alone the shape of our planet. We know what the shape of the earth is and the bible had it dead wrong. Why do you think most FE believers are also Christian. They have been correct in their interpretations of the biblical passages. Mind you there are a couple passages which are in the book that are not in accordance with this very old model of a flat earth but that just goes to show it was written by several people with varying contradictory ideas rather than by some all-knowing being.
Every single part of this image has scriptural references to back it up. Except there is also the Throne of God directly above the waters which are above the firmament according to the scriptures. This is in your own book, do not take my word for it, research it yourself.
The Hebrew word Chug (חוג), used in Isaiah 40:22 is most often translated as a flat circle, like a coin.
The Hebrew word for a sphere like a ball is Dur (דור). The author is clearly aware of the difference. In Isaiah 22:18 "He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you..." Here, Dur is used to clearly indicate a ball.
Isa 44:13 also uses mechugah. This term refers to a "circle instrument," a tool used to make a circle, what we call a compass used by a carpenter.
So, the wording of "circle of the earth" in the original Hebrew seems to indicate a circle like a coin, not a sphere.
No, it does not. Nobody would infer from the phrase, "ends of the Earth", that it was a sphere unless they already knew that it was. It is just a post-hoc interpretation.
No. It describes the earth as both being a circle held up by pillars, it also describes the earth as having 4 corners. So not only is the Bible laughably inactivate, it is contradictory.