οὐρανός (ouranos)
ouranos
heaven
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 261 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word ouranos refers to the sky or heaven, encompassing both the physical vault above the earth and the spiritual realm where God dwells. In the New Testament, it frequently appears in contrast with the earth (ge), describing the created universe as seen in Matthew 5:18. This dual usage reflects its Hebrew counterpart, shamayim, which similarly bridges the gap between the visible atmosphere and the invisible divine presence.
A notable feature of ouranos is its use as a reverent circumlocution for God’s name, a practice common in later Jewish tradition to avoid speaking the divine name directly. Jesus employs this respectful form when referring to “the Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Additionally, the phrase “kingdom of heaven,” particularly in Matthew, serves as a synonym for the kingdom of God, emphasizing its divine origin and authority rather than introducing a separate theological concept.
The word also carries metaphorical weight, appearing in phrases like “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20) to signify eternal value. Its plural form, ouranoi, occasionally appears to denote multiple levels or aspects of the heavenly realm, as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:2. This rich vocabulary allows Scripture to express both the immediacy of God’s presence and the vastness of His creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ouranos bridges the gap between the sky you see above and the spiritual realm where God dwells. It reminds us that the Creator is both near and vast, watching over the birds of the air while reigning in majesty. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began by addressing the Father in heaven, grounding their daily needs in a relationship with a sovereign who cares for every detail of life.
This term also points to an eternal perspective. Treasures stored in heaven endure beyond the decay of earth, offering hope that our faithful actions have lasting significance. Whether referring to the physical sky or God’s throne, ouranos invites us to look upward with trust, knowing that our lives are held within His purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 261 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- heaven112×
- heavens36×
- heavens.24×
- heaven,19×
- heaven.16×
- heavens,12×
- [the] heavens10×
- air7×
- of heaven6×
- of heaven.5×
- heaven;5×
- sky4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- οὐρανοῦ68×
- οὐρανὸν31×
- οὐρανῷ21×
- οὐρανῶν21×
- οὐρανοῖς17×
- οὐρανοῦ,13×
- οὐρανῶν.9×
- οὐρανὸς8×
- οὐρανοῦ.8×
- οὐρανοῖς.7×
- οὐρανῷ,6×
- οὐρανοῖς,6×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:9
Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
This verse establishes the intimate address to God as Father in heaven, framing prayer as a personal connection rather than a distant ritual.
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Matthew 5:18
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
Here ouranos is paired with earth to emphasize the permanence of Scripture, showing that divine authority spans both physical and spiritual realities.
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Matthew 6:20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
The phrase treasures in heaven uses the word to signify eternal value that cannot be lost to time or theft.
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Matthew 3:16
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
The opening of the heavens at Jesus’ baptism signals divine approval and the inauguration of His public ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ouranos mean in the New Testament?
Why does Matthew use Kingdom of Heaven instead of Kingdom of God?
How is ouranos different from the word for sky?
Every Occurrence (261 verses across 20 books)
Matthew 72 verses
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 3:16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the…
Matthew 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 4:17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who…
Matthew 5:16Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke…
Matthew 5:19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the…
Matthew 5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter…
Matthew 5:34but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Matthew 5:45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and…
Matthew 6:1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from…
Matthew 6:9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
Matthew 6:10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break…
Matthew 6:26See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds…
Matthew 7:11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven…
Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my…
Matthew 8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the…
Matthew 8:20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his…
Matthew 10:7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
Matthew 10:32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 11:11Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the…
Matthew 11:12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:23You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom…
Matthew 11:25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise…
Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Matthew 13:11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
Matthew 13:24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
Matthew 13:31He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took,…
Matthew 13:32which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that…
Matthew 13:33He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of…
Matthew 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and…
Matthew 13:45“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
Matthew 13:47“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,
Matthew 13:52He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a…
Matthew 14:19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to…
Matthew 16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
Matthew 16:2But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
Matthew 16:3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to…
Matthew 16:17Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father…
Matthew 16:19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven;…
Matthew 18:1In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
Matthew 18:3and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the…
Matthew 18:4Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:10See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of…
Matthew 18:14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:18Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you…
Matthew 18:19Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be…
Matthew 18:23Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Matthew 19:12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by…
Matthew 19:14But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to…
Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure…
Matthew 19:23Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with…
Matthew 20:1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire…
Matthew 21:25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,…
Matthew 22:2“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,
Matthew 22:30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
Matthew 23:13“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers.…
Matthew 23:22He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.
Matthew 24:29“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the…
Matthew 24:30and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will…
Matthew 24:31He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the…
Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Matthew 24:36“But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew 25:1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 26:64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the…
Matthew 28:2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the…
Matthew 28:18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.