Heaven

Heaven - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens,

(a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Gen. 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps. 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lam. 4:19), etc.

(b) The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29).

(c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deut. 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2).

(2.) Meaning of words in the original,

(a) The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Gen. 1:1; 2:1).

(b) The Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps. 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights."

(c) Heb. galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps. 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind").

(d) Heb. shahak, rendered "sky" (Deut. 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps. 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps. 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament.

(e) Heb. rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Gen. 1:6; Deut. 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse.

(3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa. 14:13, 14; "doors of heaven" (Ps. 78:23); heaven "shut" (1 Kings 8:35); "opened" (Ezek. 1:1). (See 1 Chr. 21:16.)

(4.) Spiritual meaning. The place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits.

(a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (John 14:2).

(b) It is called "paradise" (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7).

(c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Gal. 4: 26; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 3:12).

(d) The "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 25:1; James 2:5).

(e) The "eternal kingdom" (2 Pet. 1:11).

(f) The "eternal inheritance" (1 Pet. 1:4; Heb. 9:15).

(g) The "better country" (Heb. 11:14, 16).

(h) The blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22; Matt. 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2 Tim. 2:12); and to enjoy "rest" (Heb. 4:10, 11).

In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2 Cor. 5:1, 2) and from the society of the wicked (2 Tim. 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Luke 20:36; 2 Cor. 4:16, 18; 1 Pet. 1:4; 5:10; 1 John 3:2). The believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (John 14:2).

Heaven - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

HEAVEN, n. hev'n.

1. The region or expanse which surrounds the earth, and which appears above and around us, like an immense arch or vault, in which are seen the sun, moon and stars.

2. Among christians, the part of space in which the omnipresent Jehovah is supposed to afford more sensible manifestations of his glory. Hence this is called the habitation of God, and is represented as the residence of angels and blessed spirits. Deu 26.

The sanctified heart loves heaven for its purity, and God for his goodness.

3. Among pagans, the residence of the celestial gods.

4. The sky or air; the region of the atmosphere; or an elevated place; in a very indefinite sense. Thus we speak of a mountain reaching to heaven; the fowls of heaven; the clouds of heaven; hail or rain from heaven. Jer 9. Job 35.

Their cities are walled to heaven. Deu 1.

5. The Hebrews acknowledged three heavens; the air or aerial heavens; the firmament in which the stars are supposed to be placed; and the heaven of heavens, or third heaven, the residence of Jehovah.

6. Modern philosophers divide the expanse above and around the earth into two parts,the atmosphere or aerial heaven, and the etherial heaven beyond the region of the air, in which there is supposed to be a thin, unresisting medium called ether.

7. The Supreme Power; the Sovereign of heaven; god; as prophets sent by heaven.

I have sinned against heaven. Luke 15.

Shun the impious profaneness which scoffs at the

institution of heaven.

8. The pagan deities; celestials.

And show the heavens more just.

9. Elevation; sublimity.

O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend

The brightest heaven of invention.

10. Supreme felicity; great happiness.

Heavenly - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

HEAV'ENLY, a. Pertaining to heaven; celestial; as heavenly regions; heavenly bliss.

1. Resembling heaven; supremely excellent; as a heavenly lyre; a heavenly temper.

The love of heaven makes one heavenly.

2. Inhabiting heaven; as a heavenly race; the heavenly throng.

Sky - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

SKY, n.

1. The aerial region which surrounds the earth; the apparent arch or vault of heaven, which in a clear day is of a blue color.

2. The heavens.

3. The weather; the climate.

4. A cloud; a shadow.

hev'-'n.

See ASTRONOMY.

hev'-'n-li (ouranios, epouranios): Pertaining to heaven or the heavens. See HEAVENS. The phrase ta epourania, translated "heavenly things" in Joh 3:12; Heb 8:5; 9:23, but in Ephesians "heavenly places" (Joh 1:3,10; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12), has shades of meaning defined by the context. In Joh 3:12, in contrast with "earthly things" (i.e. such as can be brought to the test of experience), it denotes truths known only through revelation (God's love in salvation). In Hebrews the sense is local. In Ephesians it denotes the sphere of spiritual privilege in Christ, except in 6:12, where it stands for the unseen spiritual world, in which both good and evil forces operate. It is always the sphere of the super-earthly.

James Orr

hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY; WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4; 103:19-21; Isa 66:1; Re 4:2; 5:11; compare Da 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).

See HEAVENLY.

ski (shachaq, "fine dust" or "cloud," apparently from [?] shachaq, "to rub," "to pulverize"; Samaritan: shechaqayyah instead of Hebrew shamayim; sachq = "cloud," "small dust"):

1. In the Old Testament:

The Revised Version (British and American) has "skies" for the King James Version "clouds" in Job 35:5; 36:28; 37:21; Ps 36:5; 57:10; 68:34; 78:23; 108:4; Pr 3:20; 8:28, in which passages BDB supports the rendering of King James Version. In Ps 89:6,37 Revised Version (British and American) has "sky" for King James Version "heaven." English Versions has "sky" in De 33:26; 2Sa 22:12; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11; 77:1; Isa 45:8; Jer 51:9. The word occurs mainly in poetical passages.

2. In the New Ttestament:

In the New Testament ouranos, is translated "heaven" (the King James Version "sky") in connection with the weather in Mt 16:2,3; Lu 12:56. In Heb 11:12 we find "the stars of heaven" ("the sky") as a figure of multitude. The conception, however, that the visible "sky" is but the dome-like floor of a higher world often makes it hard to tell whether "heaven" in certain passages may or may not be identified with the sky.

See HEAVEN; COSMOGONY.

Alfred Ely Day

1. Raki’a , Authorized Version, firmament. [FIRMAMENT]
2. Shamayim . This is the word used in the expression "the heaven and the earth," or "the upper and lower regions." (Genesis 1:1)
3. Marom , used for heaven in (Psalms 18:16; Isaiah 24:18; Jeremiah 25:30). Properly speaking it means a mountain as in (Psalms 102:19; Ezekiel 17:23)
4. Shechakim , "expanses," with reference to the extent of heaven. (33:26; Job 35:5) St. Paul’s expression "third heaven," (2 Corinthians 12:2) had led to much conjecture. Grotius said that the Jews divided the heaven into three parts, viz.,
5. The air or atmosphere, where clouds gather;
6. The firmament, in which the sun, moon and stars are fixed;
7. The upper heaven, the abode of God and his angels, the invisible realm of holiness and happiness the home of the children of God.

Definition

The term that is translated as “heaven” usually refers to where God lives. The same word can also mean “sky,” depending on the context.

• The term “heavens” refers to everything we see above the earth, including the sun, moon, and stars. It also includes the heavenly bodies, such as far-off planets, that we cannot directly see from the earth.
• The term “sky” refers to the blue expanse above the earth that has clouds and the air we breathe. Often the sun and moon are also said to be “up in the sky.”
• In some contexts in the Bible, the word “heaven” could refer to either the sky or the place where God lives.

Translation Suggestions

• For “kingdom of heaven” in the book of Matthew, it is best to keep the word “heaven” since this is distinctive to Matthew’s gospel.
• The terms “heavens” or “heavenly bodies” could also be translated as “sun, moon, and stars” or “all the stars in the universe.”
• The phrase, “stars of heaven” could be translated as “stars in the sky” or “stars in the galaxy” or “stars in the universe.”

(See also: kingdom of God)

Bible References

• 1 Kings 8:22-24
• 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10
• 1 Thessalonians 4:17
• Deuteronomy 9:1
• Ephesians 6:9
• Genesis 1:1
• Genesis 7:11
• John 3:12
• John 3:27
• Matthew 5:18
• Matthew 5:46-48

Examples from the Bible stories

• __4:2 They even began building a tall tower to reach heaven__.
• __14:11 He (God) gave them bread from heaven__, called “manna.”
• __23:7 Suddenly, the skies were filled with angels praising God, saying, “Glory to God in heaven__ and peace on earth to the people he favors!”
• __29:9 Then Jesus said, “This is what my heavenly__ Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
• __37:9 Then Jesus looked up to heaven__ and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.”
• __42:11 Then Jesus went up to heaven__, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1534, H6160, H6183, H7834, H8064, H8065, G09320, G20320, G33210, G37700, G37710, G37720