In honor of Earth Day, April 22, I’ve compiled a list of Biblical passages about the earth.

The earth is mentioned 20 times in Genesis 1, the first chapter of the Bible.

Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (ESV)

In Genesis 2, after God finished his work of creation, the Bible says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” (ESV)

God intended his earth to be filled with life. In Genesis 1 he talks about the waters, the air and the land all being filled with life.

And after the Flood he tells Noah, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Genesis 9:1 (ESV)

But the reason God sent the Flood was because man had filled the earth with something foreign to it corruption and violence:

Genesis 6:11-12 “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” (ESV)

The book of Psalms has hundreds of references to the earth. Here are some of my favorites.

Psalm 8 begins and ends with the words, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”

Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Psalm 46 could be called the Earth Day psalm. It mentions the earth eight times:

[1] God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
[3] though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
[4] There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
[5] God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
[6] The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
[7] The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

[8] Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
[9] He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
[10] “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
[11] The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. (ESV)

Psalm 50:1 “The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” (ESV)

Psalm 98:4-9

[4] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
[5] Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
[6] With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
[7] Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
[8] Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
[9] before the LORD, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity. (ESV)

Psalm 103:11 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” (ESV)

And just as Genesis, the first book of the Bible is filled with references to the earth, so also Revelation, the last book of the Bible, has many references to the earth, including this beautiful passage:

Revelation 21:1-3 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

Perhaps the greatest passage about the earth from the Bible comes from Job 19:

[25] For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
[26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
[27] whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me! (ESV)

And, even though it’s not from the Bible, one of my favorite earth quotes is “Earth without art is just eh.”