The concept of "circular" in the Bible is not directly addressed as a specific term but can be understood through various scriptural references and themes that imply circularity or cyclical patterns. The Bible often uses imagery and symbolism that can be interpreted as circular, reflecting the nature of God's creation, time, and divine order.

Creation and the Natural World

The Bible frequently alludes to the cyclical nature of creation. In Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 , the writer observes the repetitive cycles in nature: "The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course. All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again." This passage highlights the circular patterns evident in the natural world, suggesting a divine order established by God.

Time and Seasons

The Bible also speaks to the cyclical nature of time and seasons. In Genesis 8:22 , after the flood, God promises Noah: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease." This assurance of the perpetual cycle of seasons underscores the reliability and constancy of God's creation.

Divine Order and Completeness

The concept of circularity can also be seen in the biblical symbolism of completeness and perfection. The circle, as a shape, is often associated with eternity and wholeness. In the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple, circular elements, such as the laver and certain altars, symbolize purity and the eternal nature of God's covenant with His people.

Eternal Life and God's Sovereignty

The Bible presents the idea of eternal life as a form of spiritual circularity, where believers are brought into an everlasting relationship with God. In John 10:28 , Jesus declares, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand." This promise of eternal life reflects the unending, circular nature of God's love and sovereignty.

Prophetic Cycles and Fulfillment

Prophetic literature in the Bible often follows a cyclical pattern, where prophecies are given, fulfilled, and then echoed in future events. This can be seen in the recurring themes of judgment and redemption throughout the Old and New Testaments. The cyclical nature of prophecy underscores God's control over history and His ultimate plan for humanity.

Conclusion

While the term "circular" is not explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in the form of natural cycles, divine order, and the eternal nature of God's promises. These elements reflect the consistency and faithfulness of God in His creation and His relationship with humanity.1. (a.) In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.

2. (a.) repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning.

3. (a.) Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. See Cyclic.

4. (a.) Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation; as, a circular letter.

5. (a.) Perfect; complete.

6. (n.) A circular letter, or paper, usually printed, copies of which are addressed or given to various persons; as, a business circular.

7. (n.) A sleeveless cloak, cut in circular form.

5164. trochos -- a wheel
... 5164 (derived apparently from 5143 , "to run") -- properly, a (moving on a circular
track); (figuratively) a (circular course), representing the "moral axis ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5164.htm - 7k

2302. theatron -- a theater, a spectacle
... Transliteration: theatron Phonetic Spelling: (theh'-at-ron) Short Definition: a
theatre, spectacle Definition: (a) a theatre, a semi-circular stone building ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2302.htm - 7k

5696. agol -- round
agol or agol. 5695, 5696. agol or agol. 5697 . round. Transliteration: agol
or agol Phonetic Spelling: (aw-gole') Short Definition: circular. ...
/hebrew/5696.htm - 6k

7049. qala' -- to sling, hurl forth
... carve, sling out A primitive root: to sling: also to carve (as if a circular motion,
or into light forms) -- carve, sling (out). 7048, 7049. qala'. 7049a . ...
/hebrew/7049.htm - 5k

5439. sabib -- circuit, round about
... 1), all (1), all around (68), all around about (1), all sides (3), all* (2), altogether*
(1), around (114), around about (1), around* (1), circular courses (1 ...
/hebrew/5439.htm - 6k

2342. chuwl -- to whirl, dance, writhe
... Or chiyl {kheel}; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or
spiral manner), ie (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of ...
/hebrew/2342.htm - 6k

2341. Chavilah -- a son of Cush, also a son of Joktan, also ...
... Havilah. Probably from chuwl; circular; Chavilah, the name of two or three eastern
regions; also perhaps of two men -- Havilah. see HEBREW chuwl. 2340, 2341. ...
/hebrew/2341.htm - 6k

4570. magal -- an entrenchment, track
... Or feminine mapgalah {mah-gaw-law'}; from the same as agol; a track (literally or
figuratively); also a rampart (as circular) -- going, path, trench, way((-side ...
/hebrew/4570.htm - 6k

Circular Letter.
... Circular Letter. To his fellow-ministers in every place, beloved
lords, Athanasius sends health in the Lord. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/circular letter.htm

Circular Letter to the Clergy of the Arch-Deaconry of Suffolk.
... Circular Letter to the Clergy of the Arch-Deaconry of Suffolk. My Worthy
Brethren, [82] ALTHOUGH it hath been my constant practice ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/circular letter to the clergy.htm

Whether the Operation of Contemplation is Fittingly Divided into a ...
... OF THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the operation of contemplation
is fittingly divided into a threefold movement, circular, straight and oblique ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the operation of contemplation.htm

Motion vindicated from the Charge of Irregularity; Circular ...
... Chapter VII."Motion Vindicated from the Charge of Irregularity; Circular; Straight;
Of Generation and Corruption; Of Alteration, and Quality Affecting Sense. ...
/.../alexander/of the manichaeans/chapter vii motion vindicated from the.htm

Second Tractate. The Heavenly Circuit.
... THE SECOND ENNEAD SECOND TRACTATE. THE HEAVENLY CIRCUIT. 1. But whence that
circular movement? In imitation of the Intellectual-Principle. ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/second tractate the heavenly circuit.htm

Whether an Actually Infinite Magnitude Can Exist?
... But it is not against the nature of time and movement to be infinite, since every
determinate indivisible in time and circular movement is both a beginning and ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an actually infinite magnitude.htm

The General Conference of 1808
... Though this proposition was not agreeable to the American preachers, and therefore
was not acceded to by them in their reply to Dr. Coke's circular, yet it ...
/.../chapter 7 the general conference.htm

Introduction to Apologia Contra Arianos.
... Circular of Egyptian bishops reciting the election of Athanasius, the plots and
charges against him, the history of the Mareotic Commission, the testimony ...
/.../introduction to apologia contra arianos.htm

Changed Conditions
... of society affected a style similar to that of an English schoolgirl, the flowing
locks reaching to the shoulders and held from the face by a circular comb. ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xx changed conditions.htm

To the Editors of El Espanol
... moment been directed by a friend to a letter which appeared in your journal of the
5th instant, signed Jose Francisco Garcia and prefixed to a circular of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/to the editors of el.htm

Circular (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning;
hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning. ...
/c/circular.htm - 8k

Ring (33 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned. 12. (n.) A circle, or a circular
line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop. 13. ...
/r/ring.htm - 24k

Round (664 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Having every portion of the surface or of the circumference equally distant
from the center; spherical; circular; having a form approaching a spherical ...
/r/round.htm - 40k

Wheel (20 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid,
or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave ...
/w/wheel.htm - 18k

Circumference (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The boundary that goes encompasses a circular
figure; a periphery. 2. (n.) A circle; anything circular. ...
/c/circumference.htm - 7k

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)
... This transformation is seen in lamps of the Seleucid period, or from around 300
BC These lamps have usually a circular foot and sometimes a string-hole on one ...
/l/lampstand.htm - 24k

Whirlwind (33 Occurrences)
... ce`arah (2 Kings 2:1 Job 38:1; Job 40:6 Isaiah 40:24; Isaiah 41:16 Zechariah 9:14)):
When two currents from opposite directions meet, a circular motion results ...
/w/whirlwind.htm - 19k

Turn (963 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To cause to move upon a center, or as if upon a center; to give circular
motion to; to cause to revolve; to cause to move round, either partially ...
/t/turn.htm - 41k

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)
... LAODICEA DISPLACED BY EPHESUS 1. A Circular Epistle 2. Proof from Biblical Prologues
IV. ... 1. A Circular Epistle: How then did Ephesus displace Laodicea? ...
/l/laodiceans.htm - 28k

Lamp (45 Occurrences)
... This transformation is seen in lamps of the Seleucid period, or from around 300
BC These lamps have usually a circular foot and sometimes a string-hole on one ...
/l/lamp.htm - 28k

What are some examples of circular reasoning in issues that Christians debate? | GotQuestions.org

How does the geologic timescale fit with the view of a young earth? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Bible is self-authenticating? | GotQuestions.org

Circular: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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