King James Bible Dictionary

1. Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Genesis 1:1; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Genesis 2:19; 7:3, 23; Psalms 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lamentations 4:19), etc. (b) The starry heavens (Deuteronomy 17:3; Jeremiah 8:2; Matthew 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalms 115:16; 148:4; 2 Corinthians 12:2).

2. Meaning of words in the original, (a) The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Genesis 1:1; 2:1). (b) The Hebrew word marom is also used (Psalms 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb. galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Psalms 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb. shahak, rendered "sky" (Deuteronomy 33:26; Job 37:18; Psalms 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Psalms 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" (Genesis 1:6; Deuteronomy 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse.

3. Metaphorical meaning of term. Isaiah 14:13, 14; "doors of heaven" (Psalms 78:23); heaven "shut" (1 Kings 8:35); "opened" (Ezekiel 1:1). (See 1 Chronicles 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 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12). (d) The "kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 25:1; James 2:5). (e) The "eternal kingdom" (2 Peter 1:11). (f) The "eternal inheritance" (1 Peter 1:4; Hebrews 9:15). (g) The "better country" (Hebrews 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; Matthew 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2 Timothy 2:12); and to enjoy "rest" (Hebrews 4:10, 11).

In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2 Corinthians 5:1, 2) and from the society of the wicked (2 Timothy 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Luke 20:36; 2 Corinthians 4:16, 18; 1 Peter 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).

God's dwelling place
Deuteronomy 26:15; Zech 2:13; 1 Kings 8:30; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Kings 8:43; 1 Kings 8:49; 2 Chronicles 6:18; 2 Chronicles 6:21; 2 Chronicles 6:27; 2 Chronicles 6:30; 2 Chronicles 6:33; 2 Chronicles 6:35; 2 Chronicles 6:39; Jeremiah 23:24; 1 Chronicles 16:31; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Nehemiah 9:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; 2 Chronicles 30:27; Job 22:12; Job 22:14; Psalms 2:4; Psalms 11:4; Psalms 20:6; Psalms 33:13; Psalms 102:19; Psalms 103:19; Psalms 135:6; Daniel 4:35; Psalms 113:5; Psalms 123:1; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 63:15; Isaiah 66:1; Lamentations 3:41; Lamentations 3:50; Daniel 5:23; Matthew 5:34; Matthew 5:45; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 18:14; Mark 11:25-26; Matthew 10:32-33; Matthew 11:25; Matthew 12:50; Matthew 16:17; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:49; Romans 1:18; Hebrews 8:1; Revelation 8:1; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 21:22-27; Revelation 22:1-5

The future dwelling place of the righteous

Called:

A Garner
Matthew 3:12

The Kingdom of Christ and of God
Ephesians 5:5

The Father's House
John 14:2

A Heavenly Country
Hebrews 11:16

A Rest
Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 14:13

Paradise
2 Corinthians 12:2; 2 Corinthians 12:4

The wicked excluded from
Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15

Unclassified scriptures relating to
2 Kings 2:11; Job 3:17; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 23:6; Psalms 24:3; Psalms 24:7; Psalms 73:24; Isaiah 33:17; Daniel 12:3; Malachi 3:17; Matthew 5:3; Matthew 5:8; Matthew 5:12; Matthew 5:20; Matthew 6:20; Luke 12:33; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 13:30; Matthew 13:43; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 25:34; Matthew 25:46; Luke 10:20; Luke 12:32; Luke 15:6-7; Luke 15:10; Luke 15:32; Luke 16:22; Luke 20:34-36; Matthew 22:30; Luke 22:29-30; Luke 23:43; John 5:28-29; John 10:28; John 12:26; John 13:36; John 14:2-3; John 17:22; John 17:24; Acts 7:55-56; Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:5-6; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 12:22-24; Hebrews 12:28; Hebrews 13:14; 1 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 3:21; Luke 12:8; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 7:13-17; Isaiah 49:9-10; Revelation 14:1-3; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 21:9-11; Revelation 21:18-19; Revelation 21:21-25; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:1-5
Righteous, Promises to, Expressed or Implied, to the Righteous

The physical heavens:

General references
Genesis 1:1; Psalms 19:1; Psalms 50:6; Psalms 68:33; Psalms 89:29; Psalms 97:6; Psalms 103:11; Psalms 113:4; Psalms 115:16; Jeremiah 31:37; Ezekiel 1:1; Matthew 24:29-30; Acts 2:19-20

Physical heavens, creation of

General references
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:1; 1 Chronicles 16:26; 2 Chronicles 2:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 9:8; Psalms 8:3; Psalms 19:1; Psalms 33:6; Psalms 33:9; Psalms 148:4-6; Proverbs 8:27; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 40:22; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 45:18; Isaiah 45:12; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 32:17; Jeremiah 51:15; Acts 4:24; Acts 14:15; Hebrews 1:10; Revelation 10:6; Revelation 14:7
Heaven, New Heavens; Creation; God, Creator

Physical heavens, destruction of
Job 14:12; Psalms 102:25-26; Isaiah 34:4; Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; Hebrews 1:10-12; 2 Peter 3:10; 2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 6:12-14; Revelation 20:11; Revelation 21:1; Revelation 21:4

New heavens
Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4

There are four Hebrew words thus rendered in the Old Testament which we may briefly notice.

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.

HEAVEN, noun 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. Deuteronomy 26:15.

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 Jeremiah 9:10. Job 35:11.

Their cities are walled to heaven Deuteronomy 1:10.

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 15:7.

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.

HEAVEN-ASPI'RING,adjective Aspiring to heaven.

HEAV'EN-BANISHED, adjective Banished from heaven.

HEAVEN-BEGOT', adjective Begot by a celestial being.

HEAV'EN-BORN, adjective Born from heaven; native of heaven, or of the celestial regions; as heaven-born sisters.

HEAV'EN-BRED, adjective Produced or cultivated in heaven; as heaven-bred poesy.

HEAV'EN-BUILT, adjective Built by the agency or favor of the gods; as a heaven-built wall.

HEAVEN-DIRECT'ED, adjective Pointing to the sky; as a heaven-directed spire.

1. Taught or directed by the celestial powers; as heaven-directed hands.

HEAV'EN-FALLEN, adjective Fallen from heaven; having revolted from God.

HEAV'EN-GIFTED, adjective Bestowed by heaven.

HEAVEN-INSPI'RED, adjective Inspired by heaven.

HEAVEN-INSTRUCT'ED, adjective Taught by heaven.

HEAVENIZE, verb transitive hev'nize. To render like heaven. [Unauthorized.]

HEAV'EN-KISSING, adjective Touching as it were the sky.

HEAV'ENLINESS, noun [from heavenly.] Supreme excellence.

HEAV'EN-LOVED, adjective Beloved by heaven.

HEAV'ENLY, adjective 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.

HEAVENLY-MINDED, adjective Having the affections place on heaven, and on spiritual things.

HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS, noun The state of having the affections placed on heavenly things and spiritual objects.

HEAVEN-SALU'TING, adjective Touching the sky.

HEAV'ENWARD, adverb Toward heaven.

HEAV'EN-WARRING, adjective Warring against heaven.