Pillars of the Earth

[juvenissun]

I was trying to write up a short essay about the pillars of the earth. It is, as usual, a geological essay. However, I decided not to. As I understand that it would probably do no good to readers in this forum. So, instead, I am only going to briefly mention it. If any question is raised, we could also talk about it.

The term "Pillars of the Earth" accurately describes a physical truth of the earth.

In this term, the earth is best understood as the land (or continent). Geologically, it could also be extended to cover the oceanic crust. So, I would say it represents, in general, the crust of the earth.

The pillars, of course, provide physical strength to support anything above them. So, without these pillars, the crust of the earth will collapse and sink into the mantle of the earth. The word pillars are expressed in plural. It suggests that there are more than one type of force that are supporting the earth's crust. This is also known to be true in modern geology.

From this point of view, the description "pillars of the earth" makes a perfect sense and it is another wonderful reason to believe the literal truth of the Bible.

 

[Assyrian]

The word pillars are expressed in plural. It suggests that there are more than one type of force that are supporting the earth's crust.

or more than one pillar.

 

[Molal]

I was trying to write up a short essay about the pillars of the earth. It is, as usual, a geological essay. However, I decided not to. As I understand that it would probably do no good to readers in this forum. So, instead, I am only going to briefly mention it. If any question is raised, we could also talk about it.

The term "Pillars of the Earth" accurately describes a physical truth of the earth.

In this term, the earth is best understood as the land (or continent). Geologically, it could also be extended to cover the oceanic crust. So, I would say it represents, in general, the crust of the earth.

The pillars, of course, provide physical strength to support anything above them. So, without these pillars, the crust of the earth will collapse and sink into the mantle of the earth. The word pillars are expressed in plural. It suggests that there are more than one type of force that are supporting the earth's crust. This is also known to be true in modern geology.

From this point of view, the description "pillars of the earth" makes a perfect sense and it is another wonderful reason to believe the literal truth of the Bible.

Hey, I agree with you!!! Seriously.

But, since you have interpreted the meaning of pillars of the earth, the term is not literal.....by definition. But it can mean the bible is the literal truth - i.e. Gods word.

Other than that - you have an interesting idea! Thanks J.

 

[juvenissun]

or more than one pillar.

More than one type of pillar and each type has many pillars. So, the land (earth) is very well supported.

 

[juvenissun]

Hey, I agree with you!!! Seriously.

But, since you have interpreted the meaning of pillars of the earth, the term is not literal.....by definition. But it can mean the bible is the literal truth - i.e. Gods word.

Other than that - you have an interesting idea! Thanks J.

Thanks. In case you want some "evidences" again, I do have some for you. In fact, without many known evidences, I could not say what I said. The study of mantle-crust interaction is pretty hot in the study of the earth (not sure why).

And yes, I am interpreting. Through interpretation, one simple word becomes more meaningful. You may say there are two types of interpretation: literal and figurative.

 

[lemmings]

Pillars cannot be treated as a synonym for force.

Pillars act can only act as a repulsive force (aka magnetism) but the vast majority of forces in the universe attract objects together, this is why matter forms will naturally for planets and stars.

Forces act over an infinite distance with the energy decreasing according to the inverse square of the radius between the two objects, a pillar could only exert force at a set distance and if the objects move farther or closer to each other, the force would become non-existent.

 

[Molal]

Thanks. In case you want some "evidences" again, I do have some for you. In fact, without many known evidences, I could not say what I said. The study of mantle-crust interaction is pretty hot in the study of the earth (not sure why).

And yes, I am interpreting. Through interpretation, one simple word becomes more meaningful. You may say there are two types of interpretation: literal and figurative.

I like it J! Nice idea - thanks.

 

[busterdog]

More than one type of pillar and each type has many pillars. So, the land (earth) is very well supported.

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H04676&t=kjv]

​

matstsebah

Pronunciation

mats·tsā·bä' (Key)

Part of Speech

feminine noun


Root Word (Etymology)

(causatively) participle of H5324
​

TWOT Reference

1398g​

Outline of Biblical Usage
1) pillar, mastaba, stump
a) pillar
1) as monument, personal memorial
2) with an altar
b) (Hoph) stock, stump (of tree)

 

[Assyrian]

More than one type of pillar and each type has many pillars. So, the land (earth) is very well supported.

What makes you think the plural refers to more than on type of pillar as well as many pillars? The metaphor, if you think it was meant as a metaphor, is of a building supported by pillars, in the original image pillars refers to multiple instances of the same type of pillar. What is it in the text that make you think different types of pillar as well as many of each type?

 

[crawfish]

I was visiting my grandparent's church one day many years ago - an ultraconservative rural Church of Christ in a small town in Arkansas. This was a church where you sat still and stayed quiet unless it was time to sing. (You'd get a nasty look if you coughed.)

Anyway, the preacher was giving the sermon and reached the text talking about "the pillars of the earth". He then said, "I'm not talking about Arkansas pillars* - the kind you sleep on - ...". I started to let out a HUGE belly laugh, and looked around me to see that nobody else was even cracking a grin. It was the hardest thing I ever did, keeping that laugh inside me the next (seemingly) 10 hours of the sermon.**

* If you've never spent any time in Arkansas, you probably don't get this. Just read on by, never mind me.

** I know this is off-topic, but it's what I think of every time somebody says "pillars of the earth"...

 

[juvenissun]

What makes you think the plural refers to more than on type of pillar as well as many pillars? The metaphor, if you think it was meant as a metaphor, is of a building supported by pillars, in the original image pillars refers to multiple instances of the same type of pillar. What is it in the text that make you think different types of pillar as well as many of each type?

There is one type of pillar which has the function of pillar, but it may not look like the shape of pillar. There is another type of pillar, which looks like pillar, but probably does not function like pillar (at least it functions in a different way). Each type has a few varieties. And some of them are abundant in number.

It is a strange world about 100 Km beneath the surface of land. It is not as solid as "rock". We can visualize it today through the study of seismology.

This is an example of very simple illustration:

 

[philadiddle]

So, I would say it represents, in general, the crust of the earth.

So by "pillars" you don't literally mean "pillars"?

I'm also wondering how the proposed temperature from 283 million years ago is supposed to support your point.

 

[Assyrian]

You're missing my point Juv. I was asking what it is that makes you think from the grammar of the text that the plural is speaking of different types of pillar as well as a multiplicity of a single type.

Gal 2:9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

This does not mean James and Cephas were leaders while John was a stone pillar who held the roof up. It is a metaphorical meaning of the word pillar, but the plural refers to multiple instances of the same application, not multiple instances and different meanings of the word.

 

[juvenissun]

So by "pillars" you don't literally mean "pillars"?

I'm also wondering how the proposed temperature from 283 million years ago is supposed to support your point.

As I said, depends on what your emphasis is on the literal meaning of pillar. Are you talking about shape or function or both. I think there could be examples on each emphasis.

The figure I linked is one which demonstrates the shape of pillar. It is a giant temperature/chemical anomaly in mantle. However, its function to the continent is not as simply as supporting (very complicate, in fact). The age does not matter. It is a continuous feature of the earth and is still happening today.

 

[juvenissun]

You're missing my point Juv. I was asking what it is that makes you think from the grammar of the text that the plural is speaking of different types of pillar as well as a multiplicity of a single type.

Gal 2:9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

This does not mean James and Cephas were leaders while John was a stone pillar who held the roof up. It is a metaphorical meaning of the word pillar, but the plural refers to multiple instances of the same application, not multiple instances and different meanings of the word.

I simply see that there are different forms and functions which could be described by the word pillar. So I interpret it that way. I don't really care "why" does the author use the plural form. I am sure that the author did not see what we can see today.

 

[lemmings]

Those "pillars" are convection currents that exist because of the heat from radiometric decay. They play no role in supporting the crust; actually, without them we would not have earthquakes or volcanoes.

PS: That big red pillar in the middle of that diagram caused the Permian extinction.

 

[philadiddle]

The figure I linked is one which demonstrates the shape of pillar. It is a giant temperature/chemical anomaly in mantle.

The only pillar shaped thing i see is the red part, which would appear to be too hot to be solid. Maybe you could elaborate which pillar shaped object acts as a pillar to support the outer crust.

 

[Assyrian]

I simply see that there are different forms and functions which could be described by the word pillar. So I interpret it that way. I don't really care "why" does the author use the plural form. I am sure that the author did not see what we can see today.

So no relationship to plain meaning or the author's original intention then. If only you could show a fraction of that exegetical enthusiasm to the Genesis days

 

[juvenissun]

So no relationship to plain meaning or the author's original intention then. If only you could show a fraction of that exegetical enthusiasm to the Genesis days

I guess you are right. I do wish I could spend more time to dig into the meanings of original text. I am still too busy in doing the stupid science. But I think science is much more fun.

 

[juvenissun]

The only pillar shaped thing i see is the red part, which would appear to be too hot to be solid. Maybe you could elaborate which pillar shaped object acts as a pillar to support the outer crust.

This pillar-shape thing called mantle plume. It has density approximately 3.5 to 4.x (significantly higher than the crust) and is in solid state (by seismic definition). The rising plume would hit the bottom of crust (say, continent). Only tiny part of it would show up on the surface as volcanoes. Most of them will spread sideway under the continent and have complicate interactions with the crustal rock. I am not quite sure what happened to it afterward. One function of this plume is to add new basaltic rock to the lower part of the continent. Eventually, the continent will become bigger as a result.

So, if you will, I would see this pillar-shape thing is doing a complicate way of "support".