A second look at the "earth" of scripture

[Assyrian]

But, effectively, it is almost equivalent to a global flood. If the whole Middle East were covered with water, How much land would still above the water? In fact, it only takes a flood over ONE "mountain" to signify a global scale flood. (remind you how serious it would be if the sealevel rose 3 ft)

So, I think the "interpretation" of a "global" flood does make sense, even to the Hebrew, the earth only means a piece of dry land.

Surely there is a wide range of ways the hills in a region can be covered with water without the flood being global and covering every mountain on the planet, from land subsiding or sea levels rising, to glacial lakes bursting, tidal surges and tsunami.

 

[juvenissun]

H776
ארץ
'erets
BDB Definition:
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm
Same Word by TWOT Number: 167

Thanks. This is an excellent demonstration that a "literal" reading of the Bible is entirely possible.

 

[Calminian]

Thanks. This is an excellent demonstration that a "literal" reading of the Bible is entirely possible.

When you let scripture interpret scripture, everything seems to fall into place. Lamoureux, Seely and company desperately try to broaden the terms heaven and earth in order to point out ostensible fallacies in scripture so they can impose a new hermeneutic. I'm always amazed how clear and thorough scripture is. There's no doubt in my mind it teaches a six day creation and global flood, and no doubt it does not teach a flat earth, geocentrism and solid domeism. These latter concepts just don't fit, no matter how desperately people try to make them fit.