HEAVEN AND EARTH

MODULE 2: SESSION 6: Genesis 1 is an Ancient Israelite Cosmology

I have learnt something wonderful about Genesis 1. For a better understanding you need to ask yourself two important questions including what comes to your mind when you hear the word earth and secondly what did the author try to communicate in Hebrew (Genesis 1:1)?

According to the biblical text the word “earth” is referred to the Hebrew word ‘eret’ means the earth or land that is below the skies. Also the the word ‘raqia’ is being referred to the firmament which holds the waters above.

Literally, ‘raqia’ comes from the verb ‘raqa’ which is an act of molding or weaving one thing into something else that is beautiful or useful. Basically, the ‘raqia’ is the separator between waters above and the area below it where the birds flies. From the ‘raqia’ going up it is where it is referred to as the habitation of heaven. The ‘raqia’ is referred to host the beams of the upper chambers of heaven