Question about Gensis 1:1

[ben0r]

How come some translations say "heavens" while others just say "heaven"?

If the former is true, does this mean there are more than one heaven? Or are there different levels/layers of heaven that would need separation?

Help a brotha out!

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.King James Bible
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American King James Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American Standard Version
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Bible in Basic English
At the first God made the heaven and the earth.
Darby Bible Translation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
English Revised Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
World English Bible
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Young's Literal Translation
In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth --

 

[chosenpath]

Strong's Number H8064 matches the Hebrew שמים (shamayim), which occurs 420 times in 395 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV

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)

Yes, God created different heavens. That which is seen and unseen.
In Genesis 1;2 it is the start of developing the heaven that is seen and unseen.
Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:6
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

The heaven that is unseen is above the firmament.
Genesis 1:7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament: and it was so.

In Genesis 1:8 it is referring to the heaven that is seen
Genesis 1;8
And God called the firmament Heaven And the evening and the morning were the second day.

The word firament:
Strong's Number H7549 matches the Hebrew רקיע (raqiya`), which occurs 17 times in 15 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV

1) extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament
a) expanse (flat as base, support)
b) firmament (of vault of heaven supporting waters above)
1) considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting 'waters' above

Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:



compared with the heaven that is unseen as the below scriptures indicates.

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

2 Chronicles 6:27
then hear [in] heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.


I used scripture from NKJV.

 

[oldsage]

How come some translations say "heavens" while others just say "heaven"?

If the former is true, does this mean there are more than one heaven? Or are there different levels/layers of heaven that would need separation?

Help a brotha out!

Hebrew the word is in the plural but plurals don't always mean multiple but can mean very, very large.

 

[Seve]

How come some translations say "heavens" while others just say "heaven"?

If the former is true, does this mean there are more than one heaven? Or are there different levels/layers of heaven that would need separation?

Help a brotha out!

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.King James Bible
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American King James Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American Standard Version
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Bible in Basic English
At the first God made the heaven and the earth.
Darby Bible Translation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
English Revised Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
World English Bible
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Young's Literal Translation
In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth --

There are several reasons why I believe that the word used in Gen. 1:1 is Heaven and not Heavens. In the context of the text, I see the narrative as saying:

In the beginning God Created the heaven (Air) and the Earth (Ground). And the Earth (Ground) was without form, (Dust) and void; (Empty) and darkness (Death) was upon the face of the deep, (Water) and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The 3 elements necessary for all physical form are shown... Air, Dust, and Water. Everything which is physical is composed of these 3 elements. The text is correct in showing that the water was not directly created, or spoken into being, because it consists of elements of the Air or Atmosphere. Water is Hydrogen and Oxygen and came from the Atmosphere and is not shown as a separate creation.

This is correct in today's scientific knowledge, but IF the Bible were written by Ancient men, Moses would not have known this. He would have written that in the beginning God created the Air, Dust, and Water, but since God Himself is the Author, He correctly shows that the Atmosphere and Ground were created, and the Water was not a separate creation but instead, came from the Atmosphere.

But that's just my humble opinion - based on the Scripture, of course.

 

[St_Worm2]

How come some translations say "heavens" while others just say "heaven"? If the former is true, does this mean there are more than one heaven? Or are there different levels/layers of heaven that would need separation?

Some other examples:

“Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it." Deut. 10:14

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven." 2 Cor. 2:12

He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things. Ep. 4:10
​

 

[A Brother In Christ]

How come some translations say "heavens" while others just say "heaven"?

If the former is true, does this mean there are more than one heaven? Or are there different levels/layers of heaven that would need separation?

Help a brotha out!

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.King James Bible
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American King James Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American Standard Version
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Bible in Basic English
At the first God made the heaven and the earth.
Darby Bible Translation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
English Revised Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
World English Bible
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Young's Literal Translation
In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth --

2 cor 12:2 ....third heaven ....