Number of Heavens in the Bible and Theology
The Bible uses the term "heaven" in several ways, often referring to different layers or aspects of the cosmos. The most common Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, which is always plural [1, 2, 10].
Jewish tradition, as noted in Easton's Bible Dictionary, identifies three distinct heavens:
- The Firmament: This refers to the visible sky, where birds fly [1]. Genesis 1:8 states, "And God called the firmament Heaven" [4].
- The Starry Heavens: This encompasses the celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars [1]. Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist scholar, noted that the firmament is divided into eight parts, with seven spheres for the planets and one for the constellations [9]. He also suggested a heaven above the visible firmament, containing the spheres of planets and constellations, and an even higher heaven as the abode of angels [10].
- The Heaven of Heavens (or Third Heaven): This is understood as God's dwelling place, a concept also referred to as "the third heaven" in 2 Corinthians 12:2 [1]. Passages like Deuteronomy 10:14 and 1 Kings 8:27 speak of "the heaven of heavens" [1]. This "third heaven" is often associated with paradise [8].
The Bible also speaks of "heaven and earth" as encompassing the entire universe [1]. God is described as the creator of heaven and earth [3]. Heaven is depicted as God's dwelling place and throne [3]. The concept of "new heavens and a new earth" appears in prophetic texts like Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22, and in the New Testament in 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 [5, 7]. This new creation signifies a renewed community and home for God's people [7]. In this new heaven and earth, precious earthly materials are depicted as common building materials [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heaven — (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”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Heaven — There are four Hebrew words thus rendered in the Old Testament which we may briefly notice. + Raki'a, Authorized Version, firmament. [[602]Firmament] + Shamayim . This is the word used in the expression "the heaven and the earth," or "the upper and lower regions." (Genesis 1:1) + 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) + Shechakim, "expanses," with reference to the extent of heaven. (33:26; Job 35:5) St. Paul's expression "third heaven," (2 Corinthians 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heaven — Created by God -- Ge 1:1; Re 10:6. Everlasting -- Ps 89:29; 2Co 5:1. Immeasurable -- Jer 31:37. High -- Ps 103:11; Isa 57:15. Holy -- De 26:15; Ps 20:6; Isa 57:15. God's dwelling-place -- 1Ki 8:30; Mt 6:9. God's throne -- Isa 66:1; Ac 7:49. God Is the Lord of. -- Da 5:23; Mt 11:25. Reigns in. -- Ps 11:4; 135:6; Da 4:35. Fills. -- 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:24. Answers his people from. -- 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 9:27; Ps 20:6. Sends his judgments from. -- Ge 19:24; 1Sa 2:10; Da 4:13,14; Ro 1:18. Christ As Mediator, entered into. -- Ac 3:21; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24. Is all-po”
- Genesis “Genesis 1:8 (ASV) — And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 12:4: Caught up into paradise - The Jewish writers have no less than four paradises, as they have seven heavens; but it is needless to wade through their fables. On the word paradise see the note on Gen 2:8. The Mohammedans call it jennet alferdoos, the garden of paradise, and say that God created it out of light, and that it is the habitation of the prophets and wise men. Among Christian writers it generally means the place of the blessed, or the state of separate spirits. Whether the third heaven and paradise be the same place we cannot absolutely say; they proba”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 1:14: AND LET THEM BE FOR SIGNS. A prominent Spanish sage 108 Ibn Janah (Krinsky). stated that the firmament is divided into eight parts, seven for the seven spheres of the seven stars and one for the constellations. 109 The eighth sphere is a sphere of the constellations. The seven “planets” are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Each “planet” has its own sphere (Krinsky). Hence the firmament consists of eight parts. Heaven consists of the seven planets and the constellations. Thus according to the Spanish sage the firmament and heaven are”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 1:1: THE HEAVEN. The definite article ( ha ) is placed before heaven ( shamayim ) to indicate that Scripture speaks of the heaven visible to man. 40 That is, the firmament. According to I.E. there is a heaven above the firmament which is invisible to man. This heaven is eternal. It contains the spheres in which the planets and constellations are embodied. Above this heaven is the abode of the angels. Cf. Husik, p. 190. Heaven ( shamayim ) is always written in the plural. 41 The word shamayim (heaven) is a plural. It is possible that its dominion in Knowest thou the ”