In the Bible, the term “firmament” appears in Genesis, describing the sky’s expanse. It’s like an ancient way of talking about the atmosphere.
Some see it as a real thing, like a dome. Others think it’s a poetic way to express the beauty and order of creation. Interpretations vary, adding depth to biblical stories.
firmament in the bible
The term “firmament” originates from the Latin word “firmamentum,” meaning “sky” or “expanse.” It appears 17 times in the King James Version of the Bible, referring to the expansive heavens above the Earth.
Nine instances of “firmament” occur in the first chapter of Genesis during the creation narrative. (Genesis 1:6-8) describes God’s creation of the firmament, separating the waters below it from those above it, and naming it Heaven.
Essentially, the firmament is what we see when we look up, encompassing the Earth’s atmosphere and the celestial realm, including the sun, moon, and stars. In modern translations, it’s often referred to as the “expanse” or the “sky.”
According to Genesis, the firmament divided the water below it from the water above it (Genesis 1:7). Initially, God created the Earth with water both beneath the sky (terrestrial and subterranean) and above the sky—possibly a protective “water canopy” enveloping the Earth. Alternatively, the waters above the firmament could represent clouds.
The term “firmament” is also used in Psalms, where it signifies the heavens declaring God’s glory and power (Psalm 19:1, Psalm 150:1). Additionally, Ezekiel (five times) and Daniel (once) include references to the firmament. In Ezekiel, these references occur within visionary experiences, like seeing a sapphire stone in the firmament above cherubim (Ezekiel 10:1).
In Daniel 12:3, the wise are said to shine like the brightness of the firmament, comparing them to eternal stars.
In summary, the “firmament” denotes a vast expanse, specifically the atmosphere or sky, and the term is primarily found in the King James Version and other older translations of the Bible.
How many times is firmament mentioned in the Bible
The term “firmament” is mentioned in the Bible 17 times, and all these occurrences are in the Old Testament. The King James Version (KJV) and some other older translations use the term “firmament,” while more modern translations often replace it with words like “expanse” or “vault.” Here’s a breakdown of the mentions:
Genesis 1:6-8
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 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. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”
Genesis 1:14-15
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.”
Genesis 1:17
“And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:20
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.”
Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Genesis 7:11
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.”
Genesis 8:2
“The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.”
Genesis 9:2
“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.”
Job 37:18
“Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?”
Ezekiel 1:22
“And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.”
Ezekiel 10:1
“Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.”
Ezekiel 10:3
“Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.”
Ezekiel 10:4
“Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.”
Ezekiel 10:5
“And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.”
Ezekiel 10:6
“And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.”
Daniel 12:3
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Relevant Bible Verses
Psalm 104:2-3 (KJV)
“Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind.”
Isaiah 40:22 (KJV)
“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.”
Isaiah 66:1 (KJV)
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?”
Amos 9:6 (KJV)
“It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.”
Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV)
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 6:26 (KJV)
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Acts 1:9-11 (KJV)
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
2 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV)
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.”
Revelation 4:6-7 (KJV)
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.”
Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV)
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 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. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”
Genesis 1:14-15 (KJV)
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.”
Genesis 1:17 (KJV)
“And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:20 (KJV)
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.”
Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Genesis 7:11 (KJV)
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.”
Genesis 8:2 (KJV)
“The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.”
Genesis 9:2 (KJV)
“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.”
Job 37:18 (KJV)
“Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?”
Psalm 19:1 (KJV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Psalm 150:1 (KJV)
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.”
Ezekiel 1:22 (KJV)
“And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.”
Ezekiel 10:1 (KJV)
“Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.”
Ezekiel 10:3 (KJV)
“Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.”
Ezekiel 10:4 (KJV)
“Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.”
Ezekiel 10:5 (KJV)
“And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.”
Ezekiel 10:6 (KJV)
“And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.”
Daniel 12:3 (KJV)
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Zechariah 12:1 (KJV)
“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.”
Matthew 24:29 (KJV)
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”
Conclusion
In the biblical text, the “firmament” illustrates ancient views of the sky’s structure. Whether literal or symbolic, it enriches understanding of creation narratives.
Interpretations invite reflection on the universe’s beauty and order. The diversity of interpretations underscores the richness of biblical exploration and the human quest for meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the term “firmament” mean in the Bible?
The term “firmament” in the Bible refers to the expanse or structure mentioned in the book of Genesis that separates the waters below from the waters above. It is associated with the sky or the heavens.
How is the firmament described in the Bible?
The firmament is described as a structure or expanse created by God on the second day of creation, dividing the waters below from the waters above. It is often associated with the term “Heaven” in the biblical text.
Is the firmament a literal structure?
Interpretations vary. Some see the firmament as a literal, physical structure like a dome, reflecting ancient cosmological views. Others view it symbolically, representing the order and beauty of creation.
How is the firmament related to the creation narrative in Genesis?
In Genesis, God creates the firmament on the second day, establishing it as part of the structure of the cosmos. It plays a role in separating different elements of creation.
What do modern translations use instead of “firmament”?
Modern translations may use terms like “expanse” or “vault” instead of “firmament” to convey the idea of the separation between the waters below and above.
Does the firmament have significance beyond Genesis?
Yes, the firmament is mentioned in various parts of the Bible, including Psalms, Ezekiel, and Daniel. It is associated with visions, heavenly realms, and the glory of God.
How do scholars interpret the firmament?
Interpretations vary among scholars. Some view it as a representation of ancient cosmological beliefs, while others see it as a symbolic element expressing deeper theological and poetic truths.
What can we learn from the concept of the firmament?
The firmament adds depth to our understanding of ancient perspectives on the cosmos. It invites reflection on the beauty and order of creation and highlights the richness of symbolic language in biblical narratives.
Does the firmament have relevance in modern cosmology?
No, the concept of the firmament is not consistent with modern scientific understanding of the universe. It reflects ancient cosmological ideas prevalent at the time of the biblical writings.
