Râqîyaʻ — H7549

Definition

masculine noun

properly, an expanse, i.e. the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky

1. extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament
1. expanse (flat as base, support)
2. firmament (of vault of heaven supporting waters above)
1. considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting 'waters' above

Usually translated as

firmament

Origin

from H7554

• Derived from Râqaʻ (H7554)

Greek equivalents

• ouranós (G3772)
• steréōma (G4733)

Occurrences

Râqîyaʻ occurs 17 times in 15 verses of the King James.

Distribution of the word across the Bible: Genesis (7), Psalms (2), Ezekiel (5), Daniel (1)

• Genesis 1:6 — And God said, Let there be a firmament (רָקִ֖יעַ) in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
• Genesis 1:7 — And God made the firmament (הָרָקִיעַ֒), and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
• Genesis 1:7 — And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament (לָרָקִ֔יעַ) from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
• Genesis 1:7 — And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament (לָרָקִ֑יעַ): and it was so.
• Genesis 1:8 — And God called the firmament (לָֽרָקִ֖יעַ) Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
• Genesis 1:14 — And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament (בִּרְקִ֣יעַ) of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
• Genesis 1:15 — And let them be for lights in the firmament (בִּרְקִ֣יעַ) of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
• Genesis 1:17 — And God set them in the firmament (בִּרְקִ֣יעַ) of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
• Genesis 1:20 — And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament (רְקִ֥יעַ) of heaven.
• Psalms 19:1 — The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament (הָרָקִֽיעַ) sheweth his handywork.
• Psalms 150:1 — Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament (בִּרְקִ֥יעַ) of his power.
• Ezekiel 1:22 — And the likeness of the firmament (רָקִ֔יעַ) upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
• Ezekiel 1:23 — And under the firmament (הָרָקִ֔יעַ) were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
• Ezekiel 1:25 — And there was a voice from the firmament (לָרָקִ֖יעַ) that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
• Ezekiel 1:26 — And above the firmament (לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙) that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
• Ezekiel 10:1 — Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament (הָרָקִ֙יעַ֙) that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
• Daniel 12:3 — And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (הָרָקִ֑יעַ); and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.