Had to Google it. It is 26:7---"He spreads out the northern skies, over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing." I interpret the first part as alluding to the skies over the northern pole. I interpret the second part as the earth hanging in space, implying the possibility of rotation, as a pendant. My recollection was poorly expressed (my apology). It is not an easy book to read, but quite powerful.
If you are a bible fan (and/or like theosophy, I highly recommend blueletterbible.org and the pocket e-sword)
I did some research on this line and have concluded that it does not support your interpretation (or provided translation).
The preceding line speaks of hell (in this instance, sheol) which is the cavernous underworld (read dante’s inferno? Or have any familiarity with hades?) beneath us.
Job is talking about that in the next line! The empty space is not “outer space” (they absolutely had no concept anything like that when the bible was written - it was first made up by the coimbra jesuits in the 15-16’s), but the empty space of sheol!
It is not an easy book to read
Agreed! Thousands of years and repeated translations will tend to do that! My research suggests that kjv did the best job in english, but even with creating new words when necessary - something is always lost when translating.
I was construing the "empty space" to be the desolation of the Arctic cap, signifying the North Pole, implying the point where the Earth would rotate if dangled. Remember this is inspired writing and God may give man words that have no clear meaning in the times in which they were given.
Also, where would you "hang the Earth" except in some sort of space?
Fig. 1.3 Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli’s (who in 1903 published a book on the subject which was translated into english in 1905) reconstruction of the universe of the the Old Testament. The Earth (EEE) is surrounded by a sea (SS), and its surface is connected by streams to a large underground water deposit (NN). Above the Earth is the heavenly tent (ABC), supported by a solid vault (GHG). The space LL contains the waters in heaven, the source of rain. Beneath is the underworld Sheol (PQP), the land of the dead. From Schiaparelli, 1905, pg 33.
Interesting! What passage?
Had to Google it. It is 26:7---"He spreads out the northern skies, over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing." I interpret the first part as alluding to the skies over the northern pole. I interpret the second part as the earth hanging in space, implying the possibility of rotation, as a pendant. My recollection was poorly expressed (my apology). It is not an easy book to read, but quite powerful.
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
If you are a bible fan (and/or like theosophy, I highly recommend blueletterbible.org and the pocket e-sword)
I did some research on this line and have concluded that it does not support your interpretation (or provided translation).
The preceding line speaks of hell (in this instance, sheol) which is the cavernous underworld (read dante’s inferno? Or have any familiarity with hades?) beneath us.
Job is talking about that in the next line! The empty space is not “outer space” (they absolutely had no concept anything like that when the bible was written - it was first made up by the coimbra jesuits in the 15-16’s), but the empty space of sheol!
Agreed! Thousands of years and repeated translations will tend to do that! My research suggests that kjv did the best job in english, but even with creating new words when necessary - something is always lost when translating.
Thanks again for sharing!
I was construing the "empty space" to be the desolation of the Arctic cap, signifying the North Pole, implying the point where the Earth would rotate if dangled. Remember this is inspired writing and God may give man words that have no clear meaning in the times in which they were given.
Also, where would you "hang the Earth" except in some sort of space?
Good question! Erets (earth) also means dirt/ground (just like in our language and for the same reason!).
It is reasonably clear that the author intended to say that the north (the land/country/place) is stretched over the empty cavern of sheol.
It makes a LOT more sense when you understand the jewish conception of the world. Here is a diagram which should help!
https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/doc/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199209163.001.0001/graphic003.gif
Below is the book this diagram came from, however you will need a library card in order to access this link : https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199209163.001.0001/acprof-9780199209163-chapter-2