Waters

[arapahoepark]

Hey! I was just wondering what is meant by expanse in the midst of the waters to separate waters from waters....

[arapahoepark]

maybe I'll just go with this quote....
‘…(B)y not naming the waters above the firmament as he named the waters below (Gen. 1:9-10) God signified that he excluded them from the world made for man'

[Robert]

"Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day." (Genesis 1:6-8, NASB)

This would seem to indicate that quite a bit of water was displaced from the earth and suspended over it.

[mattfivefour]

Good answers. Here are three more from some noted modern day bible expositors:

Dave Guzik, President of Calvary Chapel Bible College, Europe:


Genesis 1:6-8 The second day of creation: God makes an atmospheric division.


a. Here, the Bible recognizes the existence of water vapor in the sky, and the waters of the land are separated from the water vapor in the sky.

b. "The waters above the firmament thus probably constituted a vast blanket of water vapor above the troposphere and possibly above the stratosphere as well, in the high temperature region now known as the ionosphere, and extending far into space." (Morris)

c. Such a vapor blanket would greatly change the ecology of the earth, and Morris suggests several effects of a vapor blanket:

i. It would serve as a global greenhouse, maintaining an essentially uniformly pleasant temperature all over the world.

ii. Without great temperature variations, there would be no significant winds, and the water-rain cycle could not form. There would be no rain as we know it today.

iii. There would be lush, tropical-like vegetation, all over the world, fed not by rain, but by a rich evaporation and condensation cycle, resulting in heavy dew or ground-fog.

iv. The vapor blanket would filter out ultraviolet radiation, cosmic rays, and other destructive energies bombarding the planet. These are known to be the cause of mutations, which decrease human longevity. Human and animal life spans would be greatly increased.

v. A vapor blanket would provide the necessary reservoir for a potential worldwide flood.

_________________________________________________


Dr. Thomas Constable, Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dalla theological Seminary:


The second day 1:6-8

1:6 The "expanse" refers to the heavenly vault above the earth. Moses called it
the "firmament" (AV) or "sky" (NIV). God placed the sun, moon, and
stars in it (vv. 16-17). The ancients grouped the stars and planets together
referring to the former as fixed stars and the latter as wandering stars (cf.
Jude 13).

1:7 God separated the waters so some of them remained on the earth and some
were above the earth in the atmosphere. Before He made this division
there may have been a dense fog over the whole surface of the earth.70


1:8 "Heaven" is the same as the "expanse." Moses used it here as a general
term to describe everything above the earth from man's viewpoint (v. 8)

_________________________________________________


Dr. Keith Krell, Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Bible Fellowship in Olympia, Washington


Day 2

(1:6-8): “Then God said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” God’s work involves making divisions and distinctions. God showed His power again by putting limits on the waters of the earth (cf. Job 38:8-11). The “expanse” is a reference to the sky (cf. 1:8; 7:11-12; 2 Kgs 7:2; Ps 104:3; 148:4-6; Prov 8:28). The water above is a reference to clouds; the water below is a reference to the water of the earth. Moses states that God “made this.” The word “make” (asa, 1:7) is not the same word as “create” (bara). Two examples should suffice. Last week, Lori made whole wheat muffins. She created (bara) these muffins. But they were not suitable for her family. So she prepared (asa) the muffins by spreading butter and strawberry jam on them. Another example: Lori and I had the house we live in built (bara). But before we moved in, we furnished it (asa) so that it would be habitable.