In Psalms 103:12 David wrote As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Did David know the earth was round? Was it a lucky guess? Or do you think GOD had something to do with it?
2007-10-01 16:45:02 · 22 answers · asked by 2telldatruth 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Your quote does not prove that David knew the world was round. But many people knew the world was round before Columbus. People who lived on flat plains or were sailors could see the curve of the earth, as people/things seemed to "rise up" from the horizon.
2007-10-01 16:50:14 · answer #1 · answered by A Plague on your houses 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally don't see how the expression can be interpreted as saying the Earth is round. In fact the expression makes more sense for a flat depiction of the Earth. In a flat Earth, East and west as far as possible from each other. On a round Earth, if you keep going west you eventually come back from the east.
2007-10-01 23:50:10 · answer #2 · answered by bsandyman 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He didn't. People at that time had no idea whatsoever that the earth was round, at least not in that area.
Plus, if you think about it, east and west are the same thing on a sphere... so the whole removal of transgressions bit wouldn't really work if he knew the earth was round.
I think you're just reading way, way too much into a simple ancient song; grasping at straws for "reasons" to believe.
2007-10-01 23:49:57 · answer #3 · answered by Rat 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually, that implies to me that he did not know that the earth was round and believed that it was flat. Because in a round earth, east eventually meets west, whereas on a flat earth they are very far apart.
EDIT:
Just wanted to add that many learned people have believed that the earth was round for a very long time. It isn't something new, in fact, the round-earth theory can be traced back to at least the 9th century BC. The ancient Greek mathematician Erastothenes knew that the earth was round and used trigonometry to figure out the circumference of the earth (to a surprising level of accuracy, given the tools) This was in about 240 BC. Point being that the Roman Catholic church didn't want to accept it, but people who studied astronomy and physics and math have known for a very long time that the earth is round.
2007-10-01 23:47:34 · answer #4 · answered by joanby 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Um, where does he say anything about ROUND? In fact, on a round earth, east and west meet if you go far enough, so David is saying the earth ENDS.
No wonder people think believers are stupid, they can't even READ.
2007-10-01 23:50:58 · answer #5 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's necessarily implying that the earth is round. When I read it, it just means that the east and west are a bl***dy long way away, especially as they didn't have very fast transport in those days!
2007-10-01 23:48:49 · answer #6 · answered by mdnif 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That statement does not show any knowledge of the earth being round. It only shows he knew east from west.
2007-10-01 23:49:38 · answer #7 · answered by October 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well of course God had something to do with it.
Job was written in approx. 2000-1800 B.C. Believed to be the oldest book in the Bible.
Hint of the true theory of the earth. Its suspension in empty space is stated. The north in particular is specified, being believed to be the highest part of the earth (Isa 14:13). The northern hemisphere or vault of heaven is included; often compared to a stretched-out canopy (Ps 104:2). The chambers of the south are mentioned (Job 9:9), that is, the southern hemisphere, consistently with the earth's globular form.
2007-10-02 00:23:38 · answer #8 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What exactly about that Psalm leads you to believe he was making mention of a round Earth?
2007-10-01 23:48:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
as far as the east is from the west? sounds like he didn't know the earth was round.
2007-10-01 23:48:04 · answer #10 · answered by i_hate_nicknames 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋