Why does the Bible refer to a flat Earth in some passages?

Understanding Figurative and Phenomenological Language

In several passages, the Bible includes phrases that may appear to convey a flat Earth concept. However, these verses often employ figures of speech or phenomenological descriptions rather than teaching a scientific model. In everyday life, we might say “the sun rises” and “the sun sets,” though we understand that the Earth revolves around the sun. Similarly, the original biblical writings used language familiar to their audience, reflecting human perception on matters that were not the main focus of the text.

Scriptural examples include the “four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12) or the “ends of the earth” (Psalm 67:7). These phrases are typically recognized as idiomatic expressions indicating “the whole world” rather than literal descriptions. Many scholars compare these phrases to modern idioms—such as saying you traveled “to the four corners of the globe”—which no one takes literally to imply a square planet.

The “Circle of the Earth” in Isaiah 40:22

One verse often mentioned regarding Earth’s shape is Isaiah 40:22, which states, “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a tent to dwell in.”. The Hebrew word often translated “circle” (חוּג, chûg) can imply roundness or a sphere, suggesting an ancient awareness that God’s creation extends beyond a simple flat surface.

When read in its literary and cultural context, this verse depicts God’s sovereignty and transcendent power over all He has made. It is not intended as a scientific treatise but as a declaration that He is greater than the entire expanse of the Earth.

Hebrew Thought and Poetic Imagery

Hebrew authors frequently employed poetic or symbolic language to capture the majesty of God’s power and the breadth of His creation. Passages such as Job 38–39 feature God asking rhetorical questions to emphasize His authority in creation, yet they are couched in poetic form. Similar poetic descriptions of the Earth’s expanse are found in Psalm 104, celebrating God’s mastery over nature.

Ancient peoples, including the Hebrews, had varied cultural and observational understandings about the cosmos. Even so, the core premise of Scripture remains God-centered rather than cosmology-centered, aiming to reveal who God is and how He relates to His people, rather than providing exhaustive scientific detail.

“Four Corners”: Figurative Speech in Scripture

The phrase “four corners” appears in verses such as Isaiah 11:12: “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” The prophet is describing how God will regather His people from every direction under heaven. This type of language is analogous to modern idioms like “covering every part of the globe,” and does not necessarily reflect ancient ignorance or a literal claim of a square planet.

Revelation 7:1 similarly uses the phrase “four corners of the earth” to depict angels standing at the four cardinal points (north, south, east, west) restraining the winds that blow upon humanity. It functions symbolically within the apocalyptic genre to emphasize total coverage and control by God, not a precise geographic model.

Phenomenological Description and Ancient Observation

The biblical writers relayed events and experiences in a way that made sense to those living in their time period. These early audiences would see the sky as a dome, the ground as a flat stretch beneath their feet, and the horizon as a circle. The Holy Spirit inspired these authors to communicate God’s truth within their historical contexts—focusing on eternal messages about faith, righteousness, and God’s sovereignty—rather than providing a detailed explanation of planetary geometry.

This approach aligns with other ancient literature, yet Scripture uniquely testifies to an omnipotent, personal Creator. Ancient Babylonian, Greek, and Egyptian writings might contain different cosmological ideas, but the Bible’s ultimate aim, in all its books, is to proclaim the saving works and divine nature of God (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1–3).

Archaeological and Manuscript Evidence of Reliability

Though some argue biblical texts are scientifically outdated, archaeological discoveries and careful textual analysis have continually reinforced the reliability of Scripture. Ancient manuscripts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered between 1947 and 1956 in Qumran), confirmed that the biblical texts were transmitted with remarkable precision over centuries. This consistency of textual preservation underscores the authenticity and trustworthiness of Scripture, even if it employs ancient idioms and literary devices.

These findings show that although the Bible is not a modern astronomy manual, it has been painstakingly copied and preserved, allowing us to read today the same words that ancient believers read, ensuring we grasp the central truths that God intends to communicate.

Theological Emphasis on the Creator Rather than Creation’s Shape

From Genesis to Revelation, the emphasis is on worshiping the Creator. The shape of the Earth is secondary to who formed that Earth and humanity’s relationship to Him. Romans 1:20 teaches that God’s “invisible qualities… have been clearly seen since the creation of the world.” Even if ancient forms of expression differ from modern scientific vocabulary, the central message remains God’s identity as the all-powerful Maker of the universe.

Many scientists, historians, and theologians throughout history have recognized that biblical references to creation speak more strongly of purpose and design than of fine details on topography or orbital mechanics. This does not compromise biblical inerrancy—rather, it emphasizes that Scripture’s primary function is divine revelation, not a detailed scientific textbook.

Conclusion

Biblical passages sometimes use language that might seem at odds with a spherical Earth if read out of context or interpreted in an overly literal way. However, understanding how ancient audiences would have comprehended these expressions helps clarify that the biblical authors employed figurative phrases and commonly shared viewpoints to communicate God’s power, authority, and redemptive plan.

The “flat Earth” references in Scripture, then, are better viewed as poetic or phenomenological language. They serve to underscore God’s omnipotence and nearness to His people across every corner of the globe, “for the earth will yield its harvest; God, our God, will bless us” (Psalm 67:6). These time-tested messages of God’s sovereignty, love, and salvation remain the enduring focus of the Scriptures.