Raqia debate : Hezekiel 1:22

Intro to Raqia debate with Drew Gasaway · Midrash part of Debate with Drew · Raqia : debate on 3 Baruch 3:5-8 · Raqia debate : Josephus (and Philo) · Raqia debate : Hezekiel 1:22 · Raqia debate : Psalm 148 · Raqia debate : Genesis Day 4

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Drew Gasaway

In the text of Ezekiel 1:22 the Semitic range for the word for crystal can be determined because in the Septuagint it is the Greek word "krystallos" and that is what the text says the "raqia" or firmament is made out of there. The Greek I mentioned is very much what it sounds like. This oddly matches what Josephus and some Midrashim say.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

Ezechiel 1:22 And over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of the firmament, as the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, and stretched out over their heads above.

"likeness of" the firmament?
"appearance of" crystal?

The prophet is not claiming to directly see the substance as it is.

Comment by Biblical Spotlight

came before Drew posted below as a separate thread.

Drew Gasaway

Hans-Georg Lundahl that is really a dishonest mistranslation of "demuth" Ezekiel 1:22 within a Semitic range it can mean figure or form and since it is given place object that would mean it is substance. As I also pointed out we can tell from the Septuagint that is isn't sparkle or shine this is actual crystal.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

LXX translated by Ellopos:

And the likeness over the heads of the living creatures was as a firmament, as the appearance of crystal, spread out over their wings above.

I still don't read "was a crystal" I read of the firmament that it was "as" namely still not crystal but "appearance of crystal".

You seem to be trying to make a grid with word meanings here from LXX, here from Masoretic, to get a meaning neither in itself has.

I think it is at the utmost permissible with proposing a possibility, not with attempting to prove a necessity in the meaning.

Drew Gasaway

Hans-Georg Lundahl "homoioma" has the same issue you have in the Hebrew and with the other word, it is a physical thing not a visual thing so we know what it means. For future reference, Ellopos uses a Greek text generated by Brenton that is edited away from the original Greek in some places. Blue Letter Bible is original and you can go to some of the Codex's online that have companion Greek that is easier to read.

[Image from entry homoioma]

Hans-Georg Lundahl

I am not sure you have properly learned how to read a dictionary.

I saw meanings which do not necessarily imply solid objects.

Any visual thing is physical, btw.