The concept of a flat Earth has been a topic of fascination for centuries, but how does this idea align with ancient scriptures? In this blog, we’ll delve into Bible verses that some believe refer to a flat Earth. While modern science supports the spherical nature of our planet, it’s important to understand how people in biblical times, with their unique worldview, may have perceived the world around them and how certain verses have been interpreted through the lens of flat Earth theories.

1. The Earth’s Foundation

In the Old Testament, several verses suggest that the Earth is fixed and immovable, a concept that some flat Earth proponents link to the notion of a flat, stationary Earth.

• Psalm 104:5
• “The Lord established the Earth upon its foundations, so it will never move at all.”
• This verse portrays the Earth as being firmly set in place, an image that could be interpreted to support the idea of a flat, unchanging world. The imagery of a fixed foundation evokes the notion of a flat, solid surface rather than a rotating sphere.
• 1 Chronicles 16:30
• “The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.”
• This passage reinforces the idea that the Earth is stable and unshakable, which some flat Earth theorists argue aligns with the concept of a flat, immovable plane.

2. The Earth’s Corners: A Geographical Reference?

In the Bible, the term “corners of the Earth” is used to describe the ends or extremities of the Earth. This expression has led some to suggest a flat Earth, with four distinct corners.

• Isaiah 11:12
• “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.”
• The “four corners” or “quarters” of the Earth have long been a metaphor for the farthest reaches of the planet, which, when taken literally, some people believe could hint at a flat Earth model, as opposed to the spherical one we know today.
• Revelation 7:1
• “After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the Earth, holding back the four winds of the Earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or the sea or any tree.”
• Again, the “four corners” is used to describe a global region, implying a flat, boundary-like Earth in certain interpretations.

3. The Earth’s Movement and the Sun’s Course

Another verse often cited by flat Earth proponents involves the movement of the sun and the way it travels across the sky. In biblical times, many believed that the sun was the moving object, not the Earth.

• Joshua 10:12-13
• “On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies.”
• This miraculous event in the Bible portrays the sun standing still, which some interpret as a sign of a geocentric or flat Earth model where the sun orbits above a fixed, flat surface.
• Psalm 19:4-6
• “In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.”
• The sun is depicted as moving across the sky, which some flat Earth advocates interpret as supporting the idea that the Earth itself remains static while the sun revolves over it.

4. The Circle of the Earth: A Misunderstood Metaphor?

The Bible also mentions the “circle” of the Earth, a verse that both spherical Earth theorists and flat Earth supporters have cited. What is often missed in this debate is that the term “circle” in ancient scriptures could refer to a disk or a round shape rather than a sphere.

• Isaiah 40:22
• “He sits enthroned above the circle of the Earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”
• Some argue that this verse refers to a flat, circular Earth, especially when considering the term “circle” rather than “sphere.” This interpretation aligns with the idea that the Earth is a flat disk, surrounded by an expansive sky.
• Proverbs 8:27
• “When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep.”
• Again, the term “circle” has led to discussions about the Earth’s shape, with flat Earth supporters interpreting it as evidence of a flat, circular plane.

5. The Earth and the Heavens: A Separate Realm

Biblical references often describe the Earth as distinct from the heavens, sometimes implying a layered or flat system of existence.

• Genesis 1:6-7
• “And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’ So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.”
• The description of the vault (often interpreted as the firmament) separating the waters could be seen as an allusion to a flat Earth model, with a solid dome structure covering the Earth.
• Revelation 21:1
• “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”
• This passage contrasts the Earth with a new heaven, suggesting a division between realms that some interpret as supporting a layered, flat Earth model.

Conclusion: Context and Interpretation

The Bible contains numerous references to the Earth, its shape, and its movement. While many verses have been interpreted as supporting a flat Earth model, it’s crucial to consider the historical context in which these verses were written. Ancient peoples had different ways of perceiving the world, and their descriptions were often symbolic or based on their limited understanding of the cosmos. This historical context is crucial when interpreting biblical verses.

For modern readers, the majority of scientific evidence supports the idea that the Earth is spherical. However, the Bible’s poetic and figurative language allows for a wide range of interpretations. Whether you see these verses as metaphorical or literal, it’s clear that ancient texts reflect the worldviews and beliefs of their time—beliefs that were often far different from our current understanding of the universe.