Grounding Examples in Scripture and Biblical Text
The concept of "ground" in biblical texts often carries significant symbolic weight, extending beyond its literal meaning to represent stability, origin, and the consequences of divine action. Literally, ground refers to the earth, the lowest part of a building, or the surface upon which things rest [1].
The creation narrative in Genesis describes God as originally creating the grass of the earth [2]. This ground is depicted as capable of drinking rain and bringing forth vegetation, a sign of blessing when productive [5]. Conversely, unproductive land that yields thorns and thistles is an image of a curse, with burning such a field symbolizing judgment [7]. This imagery is evident in God's curse upon the ground after Adam's sin, as noted by Abraham Ibn Ezra, referencing Genesis 3:17 [8].
Figuratively, "ground" can represent the foundation of various entities. It is applied to the heavens, the earth, the world, mountains, and even the ocean [1]. Foundations are described as being made of stone, laid deep, and strongly joined by cornerstones [1]. Cities, walls, houses, temples, and towers all have foundations [1]. The prophet Micah speaks of Samaria's foundations being uncovered as a sign of judgment [3]. The stability of these foundations can be a metaphor for divine power; when God moves mountains and the foundations of the earth tremble, it signifies His presence as lawgiver, judge, or rescuer [9]. Poetically, the earth is sometimes described as resting on pillars that tremble during an earthquake [12].
The concept of "ground" also appears in parables and wisdom literature. For instance, the righteous are compared to a well-laid and firm foundation [13]. In agricultural contexts, the ground is prepared for planting various crops like dill, cumin, wheat, barley, and spelt [4]. Grass, a common feature of the ground, is described as a green herb that God causes to grow and that adorns the earth [2]. However, grass on housetops, having little earth, fades quickly, symbolizing transience [11].
The consequences of human actions are often tied to the ground. For example, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, where the ground became salt pits, serves as an example of God's severe judgment, making the ground barren [10]. The idea of "early rising" is exemplified by numerous biblical figures, including Christ, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, and Mary, often implying diligence in devotion or daily duties [6].
The biblical understanding of "ground" thus encompasses its physical reality as the basis for life and structures, while also serving as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment, blessing, stability, and the transient nature of earthly things.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Foundation — The lowest part of a building, and on which it rests -- Lu 14:29; Ac 16:26. Figuratively applied to The heavens. -- 2Sa 22:8. The earth. -- Job 38:4; Ps 104:5. The world. -- Ps 18:15; Mt 13:35. The mountains. -- De 32:22. The ocean. -- Ps 104:8. Kingdoms. -- Ex 9:18. Laid for Cities. -- Jos 6:26; 1Ki 16:34. Walls. -- Ezr 4:12; Re 21:14. Houses. -- Lu 6:48. Temples. -- 1Ki 6:37; Ezr 3:10. Towers. -- Lu 14:28,29. Described as Of stone. -- 1Ki 5:17. Deep laid. -- Lu 6:48. Strongly laid. -- Ezr 6:3. Joined together by corner stones. -- Ezr 4:12; 1Pe 2:6; Eph”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Grass — A green herb -- Mr 6:39. Called Grass of the earth. -- Re 9:4. Grass of the field. -- Nu 22:4. Springs out of the earth -- 2Sa 23:4. God Originally created. -- Ge 1:11,12. The giver of. -- De 11:15. Causes to grow. -- Ps 104:14; 147:8. Adorns and clothes. -- Mt 6:30. Often grew on the tops of houses -- Ps 129:6. When young, soft and tender -- Pr 27:25. Refreshed by rain and dew -- De 32:2; Pr 19:12. Cattle fed upon -- Job 6:5; Jer 50:11. Ovens often heated with -- Mt 6:30. Destroyed by Locusts. -- Re 9:4. Hail and lightning. -- Re 8:7. Drought. -- 1Ki 17:1; 1”
- Micah “Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations. -- Micah 1:6”
- Isaiah “When he has leveled its surface, doesn’t he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place? -- Isaiah 28:25”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 6:7 (NASB) — For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:7: 6:7-8 ground: Good, productive land is an image of blessing, contrasted with the curse of unproductive land that bears thorns and thistles. To burn such a field is an image of judgment (2 Sam 23:4-7; Isa 10:17; 33:12; Ezek 19:12-13; Matt 3:10).”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 8:21: [I WILL NOT AGAIN CURSE THE GROUND.] As I did on account of Adam, as it is written, cursed is the ground for thy sake (Gen. 3:17).”
- Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 9:5: 9:5-6 When God moves the mountains and when the foundations of the earth tremble, it is a sign of his presence as lawgiver (Exod 19:18), judge (Jer 4:24), or rescuer (Ps 18:7; Isa 13:13; 29:6).”
- Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 2:9: 2:9 The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as an example of God’s severe judgment of sin, both in the Old Testament (Deut 29:23; Isa 1:9; Jer 23:14; Amos 4:11) and in the New Testament (Luke 10:12; Rom 9:29; 2 Pet 2:6). • salt pits: A ruinous waste (Deut 29:23; Ps 107:34; Jer 17:6). Sowing the earth with salt was a mark of permanent judgment (see Judg 9:45) because it made the ground barren.”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 37:27: Therefore--not because of thy power, but because I made them unable to withstand thee. grass--which easily withers (Isa 40:6; Psa 37:2). on . . . housetops--which having little earth to nourish it fades soonest (Psa 129:6-8). corn blasted before it be grown up--SMITH translates, "The cornfield (frail and tender), before the corn is grown."”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 9:6: The earth is regarded, poetically, as resting on pillars, which tremble in an earthquake (Psa 75:3; Isa 24:20). The literal truth as to the earth is given (Job 26:7).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 10:25: (Compare Psa 1:4; Psa 37:9-10, Psa 37:36). righteous . . . foundation--well laid and firm (Mat 7:24-25).”