שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim)
sha.ma.yim
heaven
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 345 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sha.ma.yim refers to the heavens, encompassing both the visible sky and the spiritual realm where God dwells. Its form is a dual plural, which lexicons suggest alludes to the two aspects of the sky: the lower atmosphere where clouds move and the higher expanse where celestial bodies revolve. This grammatical structure reflects an ancient understanding of the sky as a vaulted arch supported by foundations, separating the waters above from the earth below.
Scripture uses this word in diverse contexts, ranging from the physical firmament to God’s throne room. In Genesis 1:8, it names the expanse created on the second day, while Psalms frequently describe it as the place of divine residence, such as when Psalm 2:4 depicts God laughing from heaven. The phrase "heaven and earth" appears often to signify the entire created order, emphasizing that God’s authority extends over all space.
Translators render sha.ma.yim simply as "heaven" or "heavens," capturing its broad scope without needing to distinguish between the atmosphere and the divine abode. The term carries a sense of loftiness and majesty, pointing to a reality that is both physically observable and spiritually profound. It serves as a constant reminder in the biblical text of the vastness of God’s creation and His sovereign position above it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sha.ma.yim points to the vast expanse above us, encompassing both the blue sky we see and the spiritual realm where God resides. Its dual form suggests a layered reality: the immediate atmosphere that sustains life and the higher heavens that hold divine majesty. When Scripture speaks of heaven, it reminds us that our Creator is not distant or detached but sovereign over every part of creation.
This word invites a sense of wonder in your daily walk. Whether you look up at the stars or feel the wind on your face, sha.ma.yim connects the physical world to God’s throne. It assures us that the same God who ordered the cosmos is attentive to your life. You are not alone in this vast universe; He holds it all together and cares for you within it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 345 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ heavens213×
- [the] heavens33×
- heaven31×
- in the/ heavens28×
- the/ heavens/ towards11×
- from/ heaven9×
- [is] in the/ heavens6×
- to the/ heavens4×
- O heaven4×
- heavens/ your3×
- heavens3×
- and/ [the] heavens of3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שָּׁמַ֔יִם52×
- הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם34×
- הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם32×
- הַ/שָּׁמָֽיִם\׃21×
- הַ/שָּׁמַ֙יִם֙21×
- הַ/שָּׁמַ֣יִם16×
- שָׁמַ֣יִם11×
- שָׁמַ֙יִם֙11×
- הַ/שָּׁמַ֗יִם11×
- שָׁמַ֥יִם10×
- שָׁמַ֖יִם8×
- הַ/שָּׁמַ֜יִם8×
Key Verses
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Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
This opening verse establishes sha.ma.yim as part of the foundational act of creation, setting the stage for God’s authority over all existence.
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Genesis 14:19
He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
Here the phrase 'possessor of heaven and earth' links the physical sky directly to God’s supreme ownership and blessing upon Abram.
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Genesis 1:26
God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
The mention of birds of the sky highlights sha.ma.yim as the domain over which humanity is called to exercise stewardship under God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sha.ma.yim mean in the Bible?
Why is sha.ma.yim in a dual plural form?
How is sha.ma.yim different from erets?
Every Occurrence (345 verses across 31 books)
Genesis 39 verses
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:8God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Genesis 1:9God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so.
Genesis 1:14God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to…
Genesis 1:15and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so.
Genesis 1:17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth,
Genesis 1:20God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the…
Genesis 1:26God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over…
Genesis 1:28God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish…
Genesis 1:30To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there…
Genesis 2:1The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished.
Genesis 2:4This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh…
Genesis 2:19Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man…
Genesis 2:20The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there…
Genesis 6:7Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping…
Genesis 6:17I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the…
Genesis 7:3Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth.
Genesis 7:11In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the…
Genesis 7:19The waters rose very high on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered.
Genesis 7:23Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and…
Genesis 8:2The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.
Genesis 9:2The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything…
Genesis 11:4They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make a name for…
Genesis 14:19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
Genesis 14:22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
Genesis 15:5Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He…
Genesis 19:24Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.
Genesis 21:17God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you,…
Genesis 22:11Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:15Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,
Genesis 22:17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the…
Genesis 24:3I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son…
Genesis 24:7Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who…
Genesis 26:4I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and will give all these lands to your offspring. In your…
Genesis 27:28God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.
Genesis 27:39Isaac his father answered him, “Behold, your dwelling will be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the sky…
Genesis 28:12He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were…
Genesis 28:17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of…
Genesis 49:25even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above,…