HEAVENS

hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY, I ; WORLD, COSMOLOGICAL . Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Psalms 11:4; 103:19-21; Isaiah 66:1; Revelation 4:2; 5:11; compare Daniel 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1 Kings 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 (2 Corinthians 12:2).

See HEAVENLY .

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.