Earth - Biblical and Theological Dictionary

is used for that gross element which sustains and nourishes us by producing plants and fruits; for the continent as distinguished from the sea, “God called the dry land earth,” Gen 1:10; for the terraqueous globe, and its contents, men, animals, plants, metals, waters, &c, “The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof,” Psa 24:1; for the inhabitants of the earth, or continent, “The whole earth was of one language,” Gen 11:1; for Judea, or the whole empire of Chaldea and Assyria. Thus Cyrus says, Ezr 1:2, “The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth.” The restriction of the term “earth” to Judea is more common in Scripture than is usually supposed; and this acceptation of it has great effect on several passages, in which it ought to be so understood.

Earth in a moral sense is opposed to heaven, and to what is spiritual. “He that is of the earth is earthy, and speaketh of the earth; he that cometh from above is above all.” Joh 3:31. “If ye then be risen with Christ, set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth,” Col 3:1,