The Circle of the Earth

by Stephen M Golden

Copyright © 16October2021

 

There have been some Christians in recent times who have subscribed to the “Flat Earth” Theory due to Isaiah 40:22:

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: (KJV)

It’s unfortunate most other translations use “circle” as well.  

 

These Christians seem to be unaware that translations don’t always convey the meaning of the original language or the meaning of the English word when the version was translated. 

 

It saddens me because Satan has been able to destroy the work and witness of some insightful researchers in the past few years as a result.

 

The word translated as “circle”:[1]

ח֣וּג

ū

Pronounced as khûg (rhymes with “tug”).

Strong’s Concordance defines the Hebrew word as “vault” or “horizon.” 

Strong’s # 2329 [e][2]

chug: vault, horizon

Original Word: חוּג

Part of Speech: Noun Masculine

Transliteration: chug

Phonetic Spelling: (khoog)

Definition: vault, horizon

 

In Job 22:14[3], the same Hebrew word is translated as “vault” or “circuit.”

Job 22:14

HEB: וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶ֑ה וְח֥וּג שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם יִתְהַלָּֽךְ׃

NAS: And He walks on the vault of heaven.'

KJV: not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

INT: cannot see the vault of heaven walks

 

From space, the Earth appears as a circle.  However, this explanation is an unnecessary “lifeline” since the word does not mean a “circle” as we think of it today.[4] 

 

“In modern Hebrew, a sphere is denoted by khûg, along with kaddur, galgal, and mazzal.”[5]

 

“…Khûg carries the sense of roundness, and common usage makes clear that this can refer to either a two or three dimensional geometry.”[6]

 

Another scholarly perspective suggests a better translation of Khûg is “choreography—an amazingly well-ordered, orchestrated, festive, happy, and harmonious dance.[7]



[1] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2329.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2329.htm

[3] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2329.htm

[4] https://creation.com/isaiah-40-22-circle-sphere

[5] https://creation.com/isaiah-40-22-circle-sphere: Ben-Yehuda, E. and Ben-Yehuda, D, Hebrew Dictionary, Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster), USA, p. 252, 1961.

[6] https://creation.com/isaiah-40-22-circle-sphere

[7] Institute for Creation Research, https://www.icr.org/article/the-circle-of-the-earth