In the account of the Book of Chronicles in the Bible, it says: “Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.” (2 Chronicles 4:2) A question has arisen: did the Bible get Pi wrong?
The mathematics in this verse seems to be incorrect at first reading. The verse says, from brim to brim it measured ten cubits and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round. That means the diameter was 10 cubits while the circumference was 30 cubits. In mathematics, we calculate pi (π) as the circumference divided by the diameter.
π = Circumference ÷ Diameter and the correct value of pi (π) = 3.1415. But 30 divided by 10 is 3 and not 3.1415…
So, it seems the math is wrong and, consequently, the Bible is flawed! Well, it’s not, and we’ll tell you why.
There are two solutions to this seeming mathematical problem. Understanding verses three to five of the same chapter is important for both solutions. [Context!]
Verse five states: “It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained three thousand baths.” (2 Chronicles 4:5). The verse states that the thickness of the container’s sides was a handbreadth. So, this “problem” can be solved in two ways:
First Explanation:
The verse says it looked like a lily blossom. This means that the cup may have looked like this: (see diagram)
Second Explanation:
The verse says that the thickness was a hand’s breadth. This means that the cup may have looked like this: (see diagram)
The diagonal is given from the inside and the circumference from the outside. If you now subtract two hand widths from the circumference (left and right because of the symmetry) or add two hand widths to the diagonal, then a new calculation results in exactly π = 3.1415…
Conclusion:
So, no, the Book of Chronicles in the Bible did not get pi (π) wrong. Although the Bible was written over 2,000 years ago, it contains absolutely no errors, either scientific or historical. That alone is clear proof of the infallibility of the Bible.
See our other articles covering topics considered contradictions within the Bible:
