Bible questions
What Is the Firmament in the Bible?
The firmament is the “expanse” God makes on the second day of creation to separate the waters above from the waters below — one of the most discussed single words in Genesis.
Where it appears
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
Genesis 1:6-7 (KJV)
Modern translations mostly read “expanse” (ESV) or “vault” (NIV) here.
It recurs in Genesis 1:14-20, where the lights are set "in the firmament" and birds fly "across" it, and in poetic texts like Psalm 19:1 and Ezekiel 1:22.
What the word actually means
The Hebrew is raqia, from a root meaning to beat out or spread thin — the way metal is hammered into a sheet. The Greek Septuagint rendered it stereōma (something solid), the Latin Vulgate firmamentum, and the KJV followed with "firmament." The solidity is largely a translation inheritance rather than something the Hebrew forces.
Why it's debated
Some scholars read raqia as reflecting ancient Near Eastern cosmology, where the sky was pictured as a solid dome holding back cosmic waters. Others argue Genesis 1 is structured around function and order — separating, filling, assigning roles — rather than making a claim about the physical composition of the sky. Both readings agree the chapter's concern is who orders creation, not the mechanics of it.
Want to see the Hebrew itself? Try our interlinear Genesis 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the firmament in the Bible?
The firmament is the "expanse" God creates on the second day of Genesis 1 to separate the waters above from the waters below. Most modern translations render the Hebrew raqia as "expanse" or "vault" rather than "firmament."
What does the Hebrew word raqia mean?
Raqia comes from a root meaning to beat out or spread thin, as metal is hammered into a sheet — which is why the KJV, following the Latin firmamentum, translated it as "firmament."
Where is the firmament mentioned?
Genesis 1:6-8 and 1:14-20 primarily, with echoes in Psalm 19:1, Psalm 150:1, Ezekiel 1:22-26, and Daniel 12:3.
Does the Bible teach the sky is a solid dome?
That reading is debated. Some argue the language reflects ancient Near Eastern cosmology; others read raqia as simply the open sky. Genesis 1 is describing order and function rather than making a physics claim.
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