The Bible does not explicitly teach that the earth is flat. However, certain verses have sometimes been interpreted in ways that suggest a flat earth perspective, while others imply a different understanding. The Bible primarily focuses on spiritual truths and ethical teachings rather than on scientific descriptions of the natural world. Let’s explore some of the verses that have been interpreted in these ways, as well as biblical evidence that suggests a round earth or a less literal interpretation.
1. Verses Often Cited in Support of a Flat Earth
- Isaiah 40:22 – “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.”
- Interpretation: Some flat-earth proponents argue that the term “circle” (Hebrew: chug) implies a flat, disc-like earth. However, many scholars interpret “circle” as more of a poetic description and not necessarily a scientific statement about the earth’s shape.
- Counterpoint: In context, this verse is more about God’s authority and majesty than about the earth’s physical shape. “Circle” could easily mean “sphere” or a round shape from an observer’s point of view, especially in ancient poetic language.
- Job 38:13–14 – “That it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.”
- Interpretation: Some interpret this verse as suggesting a flat earth, with “edges” implying boundaries around a flat surface. The imagery of clay shaped by a seal has also been interpreted to support a disc-like shape.
- Counterpoint: The imagery of clay under a seal likely refers to the sunrise illuminating the landscape, as the seal impresses upon the clay. It doesn’t necessarily imply the earth’s shape but rather poetically describes how light brings out the earth’s features.
- Daniel 4:11 – “The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.”
- Interpretation: In a literal sense, a tree visible from the “ends of the earth” suggests that all areas could see it, as if on a flat plane.
- Counterpoint: This verse appears in a dream given to King Nebuchadnezzar, and thus is likely symbolic or figurative rather than a literal geographic description. Additionally, phrases like “ends of the earth” were common expressions of the time, indicating “everywhere” rather than a physical boundary.
2. Evidence for a Round Earth in the Bible
- Job 26:7 – “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.”
- Interpretation: This verse describes the earth as being suspended in space, rather than resting on a solid foundation. This implies that the earth exists in the vastness of space, which is more consistent with a round earth floating in space than a flat earth with pillars.
- Context: While Job is poetic, this description aligns with our understanding of earth’s placement in the cosmos, suggesting an awareness of the earth’s unique position rather than a flat structure.
- Luke 17:34–36 – Jesus describes an event where people are taken while others are left behind. In this passage, He mentions people working, sleeping, and grinding grain, which implies different time zones (day and night).
- Interpretation: This hints at an understanding that different parts of the earth experience day and night simultaneously. This is consistent with the idea of a rotating, round earth, rather than a flat plane where day and night would occur everywhere at once.
- Proverbs 8:27 – “When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep.”
- Interpretation: The Hebrew word for “circle” (chug) is again used here. Many see this as poetic language rather than literal geography, but it can also fit a description of a round earth.
3. Understanding Ancient Cosmology and Biblical Language
- Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology: The biblical authors lived in a time when various cosmological views existed. They often described the world with poetic and phenomenological language (i.e., describing things as they appear to the observer).
- Figurative Language: Many descriptions in the Bible, such as the “four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12), were likely not meant as literal geography but as expressions common in ancient literature. “Four corners” may refer to directions (north, south, east, and west) rather than physical edges.
4. Scientific and Theological Perspective
- The Bible’s central aim is to reveal God, moral truths, and the path to salvation. It doesn’t primarily focus on detailed scientific explanations of natural phenomena.
- Many biblical descriptions are best understood as poetic or symbolic language, not as literal statements about earth’s structure. Interpreting these descriptions with an understanding of ancient literary forms can help avoid conflicts between science and faith.
Summary
The Bible does not teach a specific scientific model of the earth’s shape. Some verses have been interpreted to suggest a flat earth, but they can also be read as poetic language or figures of speech. Conversely, other passages imply a spherical earth, or at least an earth consistent with our understanding of space. Ultimately, the Bible’s purpose is to communicate spiritual truths rather than detailed scientific facts about the physical world.