Are you looking for the key verses about the firmament?
Look no further.
We combed through the Scriptures and listed every firmament Bible verse below. The 27 key verses about the firmament will give you an excellent introduction to the firmament in the Bible.
Contents
Firmament Bible verses in Genesis
The firmament Bible verses in Genesis 1 set the stage for what the firmament is in the Bible.
According to Genesis 1, at the beginning of creation, there were two sets of waters that the firmament separated from one another.
The separated waters became the waters above the firmament and the waters below the firmament.
Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV)
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
The Bible mentions firmament on three of the seven days of creation. On day 2, God created the firmanent. On day 4, God filled the firmament with the sun, moon, and stars. On day 5, God created birds to multiply on the land (Genesis 1:22) but “fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.”
Genesis 1:14-18 (KJV)
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Genesis 1:20 (KJV)
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 of heaven.
Firmament Bible verses in Psalms
Below, you will find four verses about the firmament in Psalms.
In Psalm 19:1, the term ‘firmament’ is used interchangeably with ‘expanse ‘. Interestingly, 1/3 of the most popular Bible translations use ‘expanse,’ while ⅔ prefer ‘firmament.’ This ratio is more or less 50/50 in Genesis verses.
In 19:4, 148:4, and 150:1, heavens are the firmament. Here, the heavens consist of the first (sky where the birds fly) and the second heaven (outer space where the sun, moon, and stars are).
Psalm 19:4 and 150:1 refer to the idea that the firmament is represented in the tabernacle. The Holy Place is the firmament, and the Holy of Holies, where God dwelled on top of the Ark of the Covenant, is the highest heaven.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God.
The expanse shows his handiwork.
Psalm 19:4
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
Psalms 148:4
Praise him, you heavens of heavens,
you waters that are above the heavens.
Psalm 150:1
Praise Yah!
Praise God in his sanctuary!
Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!
More key verses about the firmament
The firmament symbolizes the highest heaven where God is enthroned with His angelic host, symbolized by the stars in the sky, around Him.
The sky’s blue refers to the heavenly sea before God’s throne, as if under His feet. Presumably, this is what Moses and the elders saw at Sinai when they saw God during the Exodus.
Read more about this topic in The Waters Above the Firmament.
Exodus 24:10
They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness.
Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.
Ezekiel 1:22-23
Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above. Under the expanse, their wings were straight, one toward the other. Each one had two which covered on this side, and each one had two which covered their bodies on that side.
Ezekiel 1:25-28
25 There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood, they let down their wings. 26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. 27 I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
This was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s glory. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
Ezekiel 10:1
Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
Job 37:18
Can you, with him, spread out the sky,
which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
Job 38:18 (ESV)
Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.
Job 22:14 (ESV)
Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see,
and he walks on the vault of heaven.
Isaiah 40:22
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in,
Amos 9:6 (ESV)
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth;
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name.
Firmament verses in 2 Esdras (Apocrypha)
2 Esdras, also known as 4 Ezra, is an extra-Biblical apocrypha book used only in some Eastern Orthodox churches as part of the Old Testament. Even if you wouldn’t consider the book part of the Bible, it gives good background information into the 1st-century Jewish and Christian mindset where the New Testament originated.
Of the below three verses from 2 Esdras, verse 6:41 is the most interesting one as it depicts the events on the second creation day. It seems like the waters above and the waters below were together because the firmament separates the waters. The firmament moves the waters upward while the waters below stay where they are.
Before the dry land appeared on the third creation day, the earth consisted of water and firmament. So, everything above the sea level is part of the firmament.
2 Esdras 6:4
and before the heights of the air were lifted up, and before the measures of the firmaments were named, and before the footstool of Zion was established,
2 Esdras 6:20
When the seal is placed upon the age that is about to pass away, then I will show these signs: the books shall be opened before the face of the firmament, and all shall see my judgment together.
2 Esdras 6:41
“Again, on the second day, you created the spirit of the firmament, and commanded it to divide and separate the waters, so that one part might move upward and the other part remain beneath.