Resh Lakish Teaches That the Earth Has a Body Like a Human

"And it covered the eye of the land" (Exodus 10:5). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: everything the Holy One, blessed be He, created in a human being, He created in the earth. A human has a head, and the earth has a head, as it is said, "and the chief part of the dust of the world" (Proverbs 8:26). A human has eyes, and the earth has eyes, as it is said, "and it covered the eye of the whole land" (Exodus 10:15). A human has ears, and of the earth it is written, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth." A human has a mouth, and the earth, "and the earth opened its mouth" (Numbers 16:32). A human has hands, and the earth, "and behold, the land is broad on both sides (literally, broad of hands)." A human has an arm, and it is written, "and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27). A human has a navel, and it is written, "those who dwell at the navel of the earth" (Ezekiel 38:12). A human has thighs, and the earth, "and I will gather them from the thighs (uttermost parts) of the earth." A human has feet, and it is written, "but the earth abides forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4). A human eats, and it is written, "a land that devours its inhabitants" (Numbers 13:32). A human drinks, and the earth, "it drinks water from the rain of heaven" (Deuteronomy 11:11). A human shakes, and the earth, "and the earth quaked." A human becomes drunk, and it is written, "the earth reels to and fro like a drunkard" (Isaiah 24:20). A human vomits, and it is written, "and the land vomited out its inhabitants." And just as a woman gives birth, so does the earth, as it is said, "Shall a land be brought forth in one day? Shall a nation be born at once?" (Isaiah 66:8) -- these are Israel, for in a single moment the Holy One, blessed be He, brings them and gathers them into Jerusalem, as it is said, "and you shall say in your heart, Who has borne me these?" (Isaiah 49:21). The Holy One, blessed be He, says to her: By your life, in a brief moment I will gather your exiles, for so said Isaiah, "Lift up your eyes round about and see."