The Creator’s Vantage Point
Posted on August 18, 2024 by Patrick Shabi with an estimated reading time of 5 minutes
Last updated on August 30, 2024
“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” (Isaiah 40:22)
Around 500 B.C. Greek thought began to shift with more philosophers accepting the notion that the Earth and its existence could be explained by natural processes rather than Greek mythology. This revolutionary shift led to many of the scientific principles we still use and are taught today in the fields of physics, astronomy, ethics, and of course mathematics (such as the famous Pythagorean theorem). One of the major scientific discoveries made around this time is the first recorded observation that the earth was round (and not flat like widely believed in other ancient civilizations) by Pythagoras. Roughly 250 years later after Pythagoras’ discover, Eratosthenes was able to devise a precise theory to measure the circumference of the Earth at between 24,000 and 29,000 miles (variations exist because the exact unit of measure is unknown and the figure is derived from other historical documents of the time). The earth is now known to measure 24,901 miles around the equator.
2015: Earthrise 2.0 (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)
“The image is simply stunning,” said Noah Petro, who was Deputy Project Scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center when this unique view of Earth was taken by the LRO. Launched in 2009, LRO captures some 12 Earthrises daily, but is generally busy look at the Moon’s surface. On occassion, such as this, planets sometimes come into view as LRO points its instruments into space for atmospheric observations and calibration. This image is a composite of high-resolution black-and-white Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) and lower-resolution color Wide Angle Camera (WAC) images.
Image credit and text: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University
History scholars credit Pythagoras as the first person to record the Earth is round, but in actuality he is the second. The book of Isaiah recorded this fact roughly 200 years earlier (around 740 B.C):
“It is He who sits above the circle of the Earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” (Isiah 40:22)
The book of Proverbs also uses the same Hebrew word “ḥûg” (meaning "circle") as found in Isaiah. Like Isaiah, Proverbs was written long before the time of Pythagoras. King Solomon authored Proverbs during his reign over Israel, between 970 and 931 B.C., which is more than 400 years before Pythagoras made his discovery.
"When He prepared the heavens, I was there, when He drew a circle on the face of the deep.” (Proverbs 8:27)
In Job, which dates back to around the patriarchal age, we see the concept of a round Earth also recorded. A more literal translation of this verse in Job states:
“He described a circle upon the face of the waters, until the day and night come to an end.” (Job 26:10)
Upon reading these verses, you might be thinking the words mentioned in both of these verses are “circle” so the writers are describing something different. Consider that there was no word for “sphere” in the ancient Hebrew language. Most Hebrew scholars agree on this that “sphere” and “circle” are the same words in Hebrew. Also, consider, when you’re high above a sphere looking down on it, how does it appear to you? From a high vantage point, does it appear as a circle or a sphere?
The ancient Greeks philosophers are the most well-known in history and are credited for laying the foundations of western thought, including advancing our understanding of the Earth and science. They are revered in history for their advancements, achievements, and discoveries in so many different fields of study, which are still used and taught today. However, long before Greek philosophers like Pythagoras and Eratosthenes theorized the Earth’s roundness, the Bible had already alluded to this truth in Isaiah 40:22: It is He who sits above the circle of the Earth.” While ancient civilizations held varying beliefs about the Earth’s shape, the Bible presented a clear depiction that aligns with what we now know scientifically. This verse and others found in the Bible, written centuries before these groundbreaking discoveries, highlights the Bible’s remarkable insight into the natural world, providing evidence that its teaching were not bound by the limitations of human understanding at the time.
“He [God] reveals deep and secret things, He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells in Him.” (Daniel 2:22)