Genesis 1:1

[Yitzchak]

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

In the King James version it is translated heaven but in some other versions it is translated heavens.

Now I know that in the hebrew the word for heaven is plural "Et Ha shamayim" which is "the heavens" But I also looked this up in a orthodox jewish commentary and they also translated it singular in the english.

My thinking is that the King James tranlators ( I believe there were 43 of them) were scholars whose hebrew knowledge exceeded mine and to make such a huge oversight in the very first verse of the bible is highly unlikely to be accidental. Certainly they were aware that the hebrew word was plural as were the orthodox jewish commentary writters who translated it singular also.

So here is my question. What is the bible refering to when it says heaven/heavens in verse 1. Paul talks somewhere about the third heaven. Also in verse 8 the firmament is called heaven???

 

[Serapha]

Hi there!





The first heaven is the area in the atmosphere, the air we breath and to include the area where birds might fly.

The second heaven is the area of the space around this earth beyond the first heaven, the realm of the stars and galaxy.

The third heaven is that area beyond all that ... "heaven", the presence of God.


(BLB)
shamayim


1) heaven, heavens, sky

a) visible heavens, sky

1) as abode of the stars

2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

I hope this helps in your understanding.


~serapha~

 

[JohnStevenson]

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

So here is my question. What is the bible refering to when it says heaven/heavens in verse

The Hebrew word ALWAYS appears in the plural. There are several Hebrew words that are like that. The Hebrew word for "water" is the same way. It is always plural.

My own personal opinion is that the Hebrew Shamayim ("heaven/heavens") is taken from the Hebrew word Sham ("there") and merely referred to the "up there place" as opposed to the "down here place."

 

[lands21]

H8064

שׁמה / שׁמים

shâmayim / shâmeh

BDB Definition:

1) heaven, heavens, sky

1a) visible heavens, sky

1a1) as abode of the stars

1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc

1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

 

[Dad Ernie]

Strong's Definition:
sha^mayim sha^meh

shaw-mah'-yim, shaw-meh'

The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[JMRE5150]

H8064

שׁמה / שׁמים

shâmayim / shâmeh

BDB Definition:

1) heaven, heavens, sky

1a) visible heavens, sky

1a1) as abode of the stars

1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc

1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

Well said...that nails it on the head.

I have the same definitions.

 

[A Brethren IN CHRIST]

2 cor 12:2 states third heaven

But when JC resurected He went beyond the third heaven to talk to the Father!