A second look at the "earth" of scripture

juvenissun said:

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.

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Assyrian said:

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

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

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