And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven.
H7549
רקיע
râqı̂ya‛
BDB Definition:
1) extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H7554
H7554
רקע
râqa‛
BDB Definition:
1) to beat, stamp, beat out, spread out, stretch
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:14-18 ASV)
(Genesis 1:20 ASV) And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
(Psalms 19:1 ASV) For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.
(Psalms 150:1 ASV) Praise ye Jehovah. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power.
And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the terrible crystal to look upon, stretched forth over their heads above. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.
Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. (Ezekiel 1:22-26; 10:1 ASV)
(Daniel 12:3 ASV) And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Here are all the mentions of the verb root for what is translated as “firmament”.
(Exodus 39:3 ASV) And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skilful workman.
(Numbers 16:39 ASV) And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,
(2 Samuel 22:43 ASV) Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad.
(Job 37:18 ASV) Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?
(Psalms 136:6 ASV) To him that spread forth the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
(Isaiah 40:19 ASV) The image, a workman hath cast it, and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth for it silver chains.
(Isaiah 42:5 ASV) Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
(Isaiah 44:24 ASV) Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth (who is with me?);
(Jeremiah 10:9 ASV) There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skilful men.
(Ezekiel 6:11 ASV) Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
(Ezekiel 25:6 ASV) For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thou hast clapped thy hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the despite of thy soul against the land of Israel;
