The Waters Above: Reading Genesis Through Ancient Eyes

 

Understanding the Expanse and Waters Above in Genesis 1:6-8

"Then God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.' So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.' Evening came and then morning: the second day." —Genesis 1:6-8 (CSB)

The concept of the expanse (firmament) and the "waters above" in Genesis 1:6-8 has been a subject of theological and scientific discussion for centuries. In the mid-20th century, Young Earth Creationists (YEC), such as Henry Morris, posited the existence of a water vapor canopy encircling the earth, the collapse of which was thought to have triggered the Great Flood. (1) However, scientific advancements have demonstrated the untenability of this hypothesis, leading some modern YEC proponents to suggest that Genesis 1:6-8 refers to a layer of ice particles at the edge of the universe. (2)

Long before the rise of Scientific Creationism, early Jewish and Christian writers interpreted the "waters above" within their own cultural and cosmological frameworks. Therefore, a closer examination of ancient Near Eastern thought and literature offers valuable insight into this passage's original meaning.

Ancient Cosmology and the Literary Framework of Genesis

It is crucial to note that Genesis was not written in isolation from its historical and cultural context. The biblical authors were not miraculously endowed with modern scientific knowledge, and neither they nor their audience would have comprehended such information. Rather, Genesis was composed using literary conventions and concepts familiar to the ancient Near East, particularly within the genre of creation myths.

The stylistic and structural parallels between Genesis and ancient Near Eastern creation narratives strongly indicate that it was composed as a deliberate theological rebuttal to the prevailing mythologies of neighboring cultures. Recognizing this is crucial to interpreting Genesis 1-2—not as a scientific treatise but as a theological polemic. Rather than presenting a literal, scientific account of creation, Genesis serves as a counter-narrative that challenges and redefines the cosmological beliefs of surrounding civilizations, affirming Yahweh's supreme authority over the cosmos

The Expanse and the Waters Above: An Ancient Perspective

Ancient Near Eastern civilizations—including those of Egypt, Ugarit, and Babylon—conceived of the sky as a solid dome that acted as a barrier, holding back a vast cosmic ocean. The ancient Hebrews, like their contemporaries, envisioned the earth as a flat disc resting on foundational pillars, which extended into the underworld. Above this disc lay the raqia (רָקִיעַ), a firmament separating the earthly waters from the waters above.

The etymology of raqia further reinforces this conceptual framework. The term derives from the Hebrew root raqa (רקע) meaning to spread out or hammer thin, often used to describe the process of beating metal into plates (e.g., Exodus 39:3). This suggests that the Hebrews conceptualized the firmament as a solid, metallic-like structure—a belief consistent with other ancient cosmologies.

Several biblical passages provide additional evidence:

• Job 37:18 describes the sky as being "hard like a cast metal mirror."

• Ezekiel 1:26 compares the firmament to lapis lazuli, a valuable blue stone, indicating a solid, structured expanse.

• Revelation 4:6 describes God's throne resting upon a transparent, crystalline surface, reflecting Greco-Roman cosmological developments, which envisioned a spherical earth encased within solid celestial spheres.

Additionally, the Apocryphal Book of Baruch (c. 586 BC) describes a solid sky in its retelling of the Tower of Babel account, while rabbinic writings reveal that the concept of a sky-dome persisted well into the 6th century AD.

Ancient Observations and Their Logical Conclusions

For pre-scientific cultures, cosmological understanding was rooted in observable phenomena and human experience. The sky appeared blue by day and dark at night, resembling the color changes in large bodies of water. Rain fell from the sky, which ancient peoples interpreted as water passing through openings in a solid heavenly barrier (e.g., Genesis 7:11, which speaks of the "windows of heaven" opening). Consequently, they logically inferred that the sky must be a solid boundary holding back an immense cosmic ocean.

Genesis 1:6-8, therefore, reflects this ancient conceptualization, depicting God as constructing the raqia to divide the "waters above" from the "waters below," shaping the cosmos according to the prevailing worldview of the time.

Inerrancy and the Accommodationist Approach to Genesis

Given the apparent scientific inaccuracies in Genesis, how should we reconcile them with biblical inerrancy? The key lies in correctly identifying Genesis 1-2’s genre.

If we assume Genesis is a modern historical and scientific narrative, we may feel compelled to either assert that Genesis contains errors or force scientific explanations onto the text—neither of which properly considers the cultural, linguistic, and literary context.

However, if Genesis is recognized as a polemic, we need not apply modern scientific paradigms to its interpretation. Instead, Genesis provides a theological argument against the mythologies of its time. The crucial message is not the precise mechanics of creation but rather who created the universe, why He created it, and why He alone is sovereign and worthy of worship.

In this view, God did not supernaturally encode modern scientific knowledge into the ancient text to prove Himself to contemporary readers. Rather, He communicated within the understanding of ancient peoples, meeting them where they were—a concept known as accommodationism.

As Paul writes in Romans 1:19-20, "What can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made."

Conclusion

Genesis 1-2 reflects the cosmological worldview of the ancient Near East rather than a modern scientific account of creation. Its literary style and theological focus indicate that it was written as a polemic against surrounding pagan mythologies, affirming Yahweh's sole sovereignty over creation.

Rather than providing a literal, scientifically precise depiction of the universe's formation, Genesis emphasizes the theological truths of divine authorship, purpose, and authority. By understanding Genesis in its original historical and cultural setting, we can more fully appreciate the timeless message of God’s creative power and ultimate dominion.