In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word Adamah' . In Genesis 9:20 "husbandman" is literally "man of the ground or earth." Altars were to be built of earth ( Exodus 20:24 ). Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17 ), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil. (2). As the rendering of 'Erets , It means the whole world ( Genesis 1:2 ); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets Also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel ( 2 Chronicles 13:9 ). In the New Testament "the earth" denotes the land of Judea (Matthew 23:35 ); also things carnal in contrast with things heavenly (John 3:31; Colossians 3:1,2 ).
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Earth'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/e/earth.html. 1897.