Topical Bible: Earth: Circle of

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The concept of the "circle of the earth" is a biblical expression that appears in the context of describing the earth's form and God's sovereignty over creation. This phrase is notably found in the book of Isaiah, which provides insight into the ancient Hebrew understanding of the world and God's relationship to it.

Biblical Reference:

Isaiah 40:22 states, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in." This verse poetically illustrates God's supreme authority and the majesty of His creation. The imagery of God sitting above the "circle of the earth" emphasizes His transcendence and omnipotence, portraying Him as the sovereign ruler over all the earth and its inhabitants.

Interpretation and Theological Significance:

The term "circle" in this context is often understood to refer to the earth's horizon or the perceived circular shape of the earth's surface from a human perspective. This description aligns with the ancient Near Eastern cosmology, which viewed the earth as a flat disc surrounded by the heavens. However, the focus of the passage is not on the scientific details of the earth's shape but rather on the grandeur and authority of God over His creation.

From a theological standpoint, the "circle of the earth" serves as a metaphor for God's encompassing presence and His ability to oversee and sustain the entire world. It underscores the belief in God's omnipresence and His intimate involvement with the world He created. The imagery of God stretching out the heavens like a curtain further highlights His creative power and the orderliness of the universe.

Related Themes:

1. God's Sovereignty: The depiction of God enthroned above the earth reinforces the theme of divine sovereignty. It reflects the biblical worldview that God is the ultimate authority over all creation, governing the natural world and human affairs with wisdom and justice.

2. Creation and Order: The reference to God spreading out the heavens like a tent suggests the ordered and purposeful nature of creation. It echoes other biblical passages that celebrate God's creative acts and the beauty and harmony of the universe (e.g., Genesis 1, Psalm 19:1).

3. Humanity's Place in Creation: The comparison of earth's inhabitants to grasshoppers serves as a humbling reminder of humanity's smallness in the grand scope of creation. It calls for a recognition of human dependence on God and the need for humility before His majesty.

In summary, the "circle of the earth" in Isaiah 40:22 is a vivid expression of God's dominion and the splendor of His creation. It invites believers to contemplate the greatness of God and to trust in His sovereign care over the world.

Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 40:22
It is he that sits on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Prodigies of the Astrologers; System of the Astronomers; Chaldean ...
... of Earth is 80,108 stadii; and the perimeter of Earth, 250,543 stadii; and the distance
also from the surface of the Earth to the lunar circle, Aristarchus the ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter viii prodigies of the astrologers.htm

The Doctrine of Mathematicians not Wholly to be Despised, when ...
... for it is impossible for a circle to be described without a point, and it is impossible
for a circle to be without a point,"surely the earth consisted before ...
/.../chapter xiv the doctrine of mathematicians.htm

Further Astronomic Calculations.
... And from the circle of Saturn to the Earth he says the distance is 2,226,912,711
stadii; and from the circle of Jupiter to Earth, 202,770,646 stadii; and from ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter ix further astronomic calculations.htm

The Parable of the Sower. --Christ's Explanation of the Parable to ...
... shoots up quickly, but withers as soon, for want of earth and moisture ... After the
dispersion of the multitude, the smaller circle of disciples gathered about ...
/.../section 129 the parable of.htm

Prayer a War Measure.
... It begins in the heart of God, sweeps down into a human heart upon the earth, so
intersecting the circle of the earth, which is the battle-field of prayer, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/prayer a war measure.htm

Concerning the Heaven.
... earth and water: but water is lighter than earth, and hence is more easily set in
motion: above these on all hands, like a covering, is the circle of air, and ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter vi concerning the heaven.htm

Choice of the Seventy. (Luke, X. ) --Import of the Number "Seventy ...
... upon others than the Twelve to join themselves closely to him; and we find that,
after he left the earth, others did belong to the narrower circle of the ...
/.../section 203 choice of the.htm

Their Cosmogony Framed According to These Mystic Doctrines of ...
... the circle, they maintain that the image is preserved [788] of the connection of
the twelve with the thirty. [789] But, moreover, alleging that the earth was ...
/.../chapter xlviii their cosmogony framed according.htm

The Life of St. Patrick
... Patrick made in the earth a great circle with his staff, and anon the earth after
the quantity of the circle opened and there appeared a great pit and a deep ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st patrick.htm

In the Beginning God Made the Heaven and the Earth.
... [1373] Thus seeing that figures which move in a circle always return upon ... "For the
fashion of this world passeth away" [1374] and "Heaven and earth shall pass ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily i in the beginning.htm