The term "firmament" is derived from the Latin "firmamentum," which translates the Hebrew word "raqia" (רָקִיעַ) found in the Old Testament. The concept of the firmament is introduced in the creation narrative of Genesis and is a significant element in biblical cosmology.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 1:6-8 : "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day."

In this passage, the firmament is described as an "expanse" created by God to divide the waters above from the waters below. It is named "sky" and is part of the ordered structure of the universe as established by God during the creation week.

2. Psalm 19:1 : "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

Here, the firmament is synonymous with the heavens, serving as a testament to God's creative power and glory. The psalmist emphasizes the firmament's role in revealing divine craftsmanship.

3. Ezekiel 1:22 : "Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal."

In Ezekiel's vision, the firmament is depicted as a majestic and awe-inspiring expanse, illustrating its grandeur and the divine presence associated with it.

Theological Significance:

The firmament is a key element in understanding the biblical worldview of the cosmos. It represents the ordered separation of the heavens and the earth, reflecting God's sovereignty and intentional design. The firmament is not merely a physical structure but also a symbol of divine authority and the boundary between the earthly and the heavenly realms.

Interpretations and Views:

Throughout history, interpretations of the firmament have varied. In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the firmament was often viewed as a solid dome or vault. However, within the biblical context, it is primarily understood as an expanse or space that God created to organize the universe.

In conservative Christian theology, the firmament is seen as a literal part of the creation account, affirming the historical and factual nature of the Genesis narrative. It underscores the belief in a purposeful and intelligent design by a sovereign Creator.

Role in Creation:

The firmament's creation on the second day highlights its foundational role in the structure of the world. By separating the waters, it establishes the environment necessary for life and sets the stage for the subsequent acts of creation. The firmament's existence is a testament to God's meticulous planning and the harmonious order of His creation.

Conclusion:

The firmament, as described in the Bible, is a profound element of the created order, reflecting God's glory, power, and wisdom. It serves as a constant reminder of the divine craftsmanship that underpins the universe and the purposeful design inherent in all of creation.From the Vulgate firmamentum, which is used as the translation of the Hebrew raki'a. This word means simply "expansion." It denotes the space or expanse like an arch appearing immediately above us. They who rendered raki'a by firmamentum regarded it as a solid body. The language of Scripture is not scientific but popular, and hence we read of the sun rising and setting, and also here the use of this particular word. It is plain that it was used to denote solidity as well as expansion. It formed a division between the waters above and the waters below (Genesis 1:7). The raki'a supported the upper reservoir (Psalm 148:4). It was the support also of the heavenly bodies (Genesis 1:14), and is spoken of as having "windows" and "doors" (Genesis 7:11; Isaiah 24:18; Malachi 3:10) through which the rain and snow might descend. 1. (v. & a.) Fixed foundation; established basis.

2. (v. & a.) The region of the air; the sky or heavens.

3. (v. & a.) The orb of the fixed stars; the most remote of the celestial spheres.

FIRMAMENT

fur'-ma-ment.

See ASTRONOMY. III, 3.

7549. raqia -- an extended surface, expanse
... firmament. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, ie The firmament or (apparently) visible
arch of the sky -- firmament. see HEBREW raqa'. 7548, 7549. raqia. 7550 ...
/hebrew/7549.htm - 6k

7834. shachaq -- dust, cloud
... From shachaq; a powder (as beaten small): by analogy, a thin vapor; by extension,
the firmament -- cloud, small dust, heaven, sky. see HEBREW shachaq. ...
/hebrew/7834.htm - 6k

Whether the Firmament was Made on the Second Day?
... ON THE WORK OF THE SECOND DAY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the firmament was
made on the second day? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the firmament was made.htm

Whether the Firmament Divides Waters from Waters?
... ON THE WORK OF THE SECOND DAY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the firmament divides
waters from waters? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the firmament divides waters.htm

On the Firmament.
... Homily III. On the Firmament. ... It lays down the reason necessitating the structure
of the firmament: it is, it is said, to separate the waters from the waters. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily iii on the firmament.htm

Whether There are Waters Above the Firmament?
... ON THE WORK OF THE SECOND DAY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether there are waters above the
firmament? ... Therefore there are not waters above the firmament. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there are waters above.htm

Allegorical Explanation of the Firmament and Upper Works, Ver. 6
... Book XIII. Chapter XV."Allegorical Explanation of the Firmament and Upper
Works, Ver. 6. 16. Or who but Thou, our God, made for ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xv allegorical explanation of the.htm

The Spacious Firmament on High,
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CLXXVI The spacious firmament on high,.
With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled Heavens, a shining frame,. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/clxxvi the spacious firmament on.htm

Or Who, Except Thou, Our God, Made for us that Firmament of ...
... Book XIII Chapter XV Or who, except Thou, our God, made for us that firmament
of authority over us? Or who, except Thou, our God ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xv or who except.htm

All Men Should Become Lights in the Firmament of Heaven.
... Book XIII. Chapter XIX."All Men Should Become Lights in the Firmament of
Heaven. 24. But first, "Wash you, make you clean;" [1315 ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xix all men should become.htm

Of the Intellectual Heaven and Formless Earth, Out of Which, on ...
... Book XII. Chapter XIII."Of the Intellectual Heaven and Formless Earth, Out
of Which, on Another Day, the Firmament Was Formed. 16. ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xiii of the intellectual heaven.htm

the Spacious Firmament on High
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Sundays after Trinity: Praise and Adoration 252. The spacious
firmament on high. LMD ... Joseph Addison, 1712. The spacious firmament on high, ...
/.../sundays after trinity praise and 4.htm

Firmament (17 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FIRMAMENT. fur'-ma-ment. See ASTRONOMY. III,
3. Multi-Version Concordance Firmament (17 Occurrences). ...
/f/firmament.htm - 13k

Heaven (653 Occurrences)
... (a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Genesis 2:19; 7:3, 23; Psalm
8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lamentations 4:19), etc. ...
/h/heaven.htm - 72k

Forces (123 Occurrences)
... 29 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will be darkened, the
moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament, and the ...
/f/forces.htm - 39k

Disordered (4 Occurrences)
... 29 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will be darkened, the
moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament, and the ...
/d/disordered.htm - 8k

Disturbed (30 Occurrences)
... 29 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will be darkened, the
moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament, and the ...
/d/disturbed.htm - 15k

Air (74 Occurrences)
... the air." The Hebrew word is usually rendered "heaven" or "heavens." According to
ancient Hebrew cosmogony the sky was a solid dome (firmament) stretching over ...
/a/air.htm - 34k

Cosmological
... "The world is a solid expanse of earth, surrounded by and resting on a world-ocean,
and surmounted by a rigid vault called the `firmament,' above which the ...
/c/cosmological.htm - 33k

World (2829 Occurrences)
... "The world is a solid expanse of earth, surrounded by and resting on a world-ocean,
and surmounted by a rigid vault called the `firmament,' above which the ...
/w/world.htm - 40k

Libraries
... To the ancient Babylonians the whole firmament was a library of "celestial tablets."
The mythological ideas often have important bearing on Biblical doctrines ...
/l/libraries.htm - 38k

Lift (283 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. 2.
(vt) To move in a direction opposite to that of gravitation ...
/l/lift.htm - 41k

What was the firmament in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Firmament: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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