What are “the foundations" of the earth?

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof (Job 38:4-6)

God is challenging Job here to explain whether he has even the slightest inkling as to how this universe came into existence. When one reads this passage it gives the impression that this earth sits upon foundations, just like a house sits upon a foundation. But when we see that the earth is a planet hanging in space, then that cannot possibly be the meaning.

So from the Bible as well as natural science, we see that the metaphorical foundations of the earth are (1) the power of God which keeps the universe in place in an orderly manner, (2) gravity, (3) inertia, and (4) velocity.

The power of God
Of old hast thou [God, but a refercnce to Christ] laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalms 102:25-27 cf. Hebrews 1:10-12)

The other forces are described in the article shown below:

"Many people know that the planets in Earth's solar system move around the sun in orbits. This orbit creates the days, years and seasons on the Earth. However, not everyone is aware of why the planets orbit around the sun and how they remain in their orbits. There are two forces that keep the planets in their orbits.

Gravity
Gravity is the primary force that controls the orbit of the planets around the sun. While each planet has its own gravity based on the size of the planet and the speed at which it travels, orbit is based on the gravity of the sun. The sun's gravity is just strong enough to keep the planets pulled toward it to create an orbit pattern but not strong enough to pull the planets into the sun. This is similar to the effect of the Earth on the orbit of the moon and satellites. The lesser gravity of the planets also helps to keep the planets from falling toward the sun.
The force of gravity is defined as:F = Gm1m2 / r2

The m1 and m2 refer to the masses of the two objects involved in the interaction, G is the universal gravitational constant and r is the separation between the two objects. This shows that gravity gets stronger for bigger objects, and weaker the farther away they are from each other.

If planets were bigger, the force between them and the sun would be larger and it would alter their orbits. Similarly, the equation shows that the distance of the planet from the sun is also a crucial factor in establishing an orbit.

Inertia
The physical law that states that objects in motion have a tendency to remain in motion also plays a role in keeping the planets in orbit. According to Eric Christian, who works for NASA, the solar system was formed from a spinning gas cloud. This set the planets into motion from their birth. Once the planets were in motion, the laws of physics keep them in motion by virtue of inertia. The planets continue to move at the same rate in their orbits.

Gravity Working with Inertia
The gravity of the sun and the planets works together with the inertia to create the orbits and keep them consistent. The gravity pulls the sun and the planets together, while keeping them apart. The inertia provides the tendency to maintain speed and keep moving. The planets want to keep moving in a straight line because of the physics of inertia. However, the gravitational pull wants to change the motion to pull the planets into the core of the sun. Together, this creates a rounded orbit as a form of compromise between the two forces.

Velocity and Gravity
The speed, or velocity, of the planets plays a big role in their orbits, including the shape of the orbit. For a planet to remain in orbit around the sun and not fall into it, the planet must have a speed fast enough to keep it at a certain distance from the sun. The faster a planet moves, the further away from the sun it remains. If the planet travels too fast, though, the orbit may become more elliptical in shape, resulting in varying orbit shapes based on the varying speeds of the planets. However, none of the planets travel fast enough to break away from the sun's gravitational pull."

https://sciencing.com/two-planets-motion-around-sun-8675709.html

I would look at it more of a spiritual matter not of us flesh and blood.

I don't think in one sense he was challenging Job as to the knowledge of how? But rather a rhetorical question. . . Where was Job when the planing of his faithfulness before he performed it faithfully "let there be"?

The foundation in that way is the good soil he plants his seed in. You could say the lord said where were you when those things were happening . .asleep? If not part of the planning be part of the listening and doing.

I tell my wife .Yes dear...LOL

David in the Psalms would seem to be speaking on the doctrines of God as foundations of His word. They can be destroyed through the oral traditions of men spoken of as arrows below.

Psalm 11:2-4 King James Version (KJV) For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

The undercrust, I do presume.

Good read I liked it, one small thing I’d add to it is the just the tilt of the earth and seasons

It has occurred to me in the past- what if 'the earth' doesn't mean 'the planet'.
But the top of the earth, the crust which has a foundation of many layers under it?

Or the 4 spiral arms of the Milky Way, 😆

That could be, but since that term is associated with the creation of the earth as a planet in the Bible, it would be applicable to the planet.

I always assumed the laws of nature, time, space, matter.

Those are definitely included. And that automatically shows atheists that they have absolutely no basis for their atheism. Where there are laws there must be a Lawgiver. Where there is design and architecture, there must be a Designer and an Architect.

The Bible even states the earth is suspended upon nothing

Many new scientists believe there was a under ground water chasm which was full of what they call heavy water. The crust of the earth rose on this water and their were pillars which helped to hold the crust ion these
Pillars would be called the foundation of what we call earth

Yes, then we have the description of God "hanging the earth over nothing" (Job 26:7)
Which does rather sound like a description of the planet in space.

There is a Flat Earth Society around, but most people (including Christians) accept the fact that the earth is a globe. One could not have the day/night cycle with a flat earth, but it is feasible with a globe.

He uses that parable to speak of the unseen foundations of faith. God cannot be proven by or disproved by the literal things seen. Neither with a microscope or telescope .

We do not know him after the rudiments of this world or the philosophies as oral traditions.

In that way Christ is the corner stone the elect the many lively-stones that does make up the spiritual house the church

She is not seen

Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

The foundations of the earth is likely referring to the gravitational field and strings and particles that hold the Universe together. We cannot see these forces and building blocks but we can detect they exist.

The Flat Earth Society is not by any means the best "representative" of 'Flat Earth'.

Some Christians accept what the Bible says about the earth even if it does not agree with what they have been taught all of their life.

These Christians understand that Satan has, in fact, deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9).

The Bible does not actually say that the earth is flat (per se); however, it does indicate that it is not spinning and "flying through space" at high speeds.

Satan is the ruler of the current world. He controls and directs modern science. He has had supreme influence in what we were all taught in school while growing up.

What are you more inclined to believe - the true Word of God or the false lies of Satan?

Who do you want to believe?

Are you willing to do what is required to determine the [real] truth?

Each of us has to decide.

The day/night cycle is absolutely most certainly "feasable" in the Flat Earth model.

When I am on the telephone to family or friends in the US, it is usually after sundown here yet daytime in the US.

This is true with my online friends in the Orient, including India and Australiea to the south. Is there a different sun and moon for each day and each night (new moon exluded of course.?

The Bible states that God Created the sun and the moon (indicating one of each)

Not sure exactly what you are asking . . . ?