'Heavens' in the Bible

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;

and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,

Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven.

The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.

And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”

This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear the report of you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you.’

You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the very heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud and thick gloom.

“Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.

Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.

so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.

“Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak;And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

“There is none like the God of Jeshurun,Who rides the heavens to your help,And through the skies in His majesty.

“So Israel dwells in security,The fountain of Jacob secluded,In a land of grain and new wine;His heavens also drop down dew.

“Lord, when You went out from Seir,When You marched from the field of Edom,The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,Even the clouds dripped water.

“Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;Against them He will thunder in the heavens,The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;And He will give strength to His king,And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

“He bowed the heavens also, and came downWith thick darkness under His feet.

“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them,

Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs will eat. And he who dies in the field the birds of the heavens will eat; for the Lord has spoken it.”’

Anyone of Baasha who dies in the city the dogs will eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens will eat.”

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,But the Lord made the heavens.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?

“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them;

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,

and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.

but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’

“You alone are the Lord.You have made the heavens,The heaven of heavens with all their host,The earth and all that is on it,The seas and all that is in them.You give life to all of themAnd the heavenly host bows down before You.

Who alone stretches out the heavensAnd tramples down the waves of the sea;

“They are high as the heavens, what can you do?Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.

So man lies down and does not rise.Until the heavens are no longer,He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.

“Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones,And the heavens are not pure in His sight;

“Though his loftiness reaches the heavens,And his head touches the clouds,

“The heavens will reveal his iniquity,And the earth will rise up against him.

“By His breath the heavens are cleared;His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent.

“For He looks to the ends of the earthAnd sees everything under the heavens.

“Look at the heavens and see;And behold the clouds—they are higher than you.

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earthAnd makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens,Or fix their rule over the earth?

“Who can count the clouds by wisdom,Or tip the water jars of the heavens,

He who sits in the heavens laughs,The Lord scoffs at them.

For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.O Lord, our Lord,How majestic is Your name in all the earth,Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

He bowed the heavens also, and came downWith thick darkness under His feet.

The Lord also thundered in the heavens,And the Most High uttered His voice,Hailstones and coals of fire.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.The heavens are telling of the glory of God;And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Its rising is from one end of the heavens,And its circuit to the other end of them;And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

He summons the heavens above,And the earth, to judge His people:

And the heavens declare His righteousness,For God Himself is judge. Selah.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;Let Your glory be above all the earth.

For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavensAnd Your truth to the clouds.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;Let Your glory be above all the earth.

The earth quaked;The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.

For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,You who have done great things;O God, who is like You?

They have set their mouth against the heavens,And their tongue parades through the earth.

He caused the east wind to blow in the heavensAnd by His power He directed the south wind.

They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.

For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever;In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”

The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;The world and all it contains, You have founded them.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,But the Lord made the heavens.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;Let the sea roar, and all it contains;

The heavens declare His righteousness,And all the peoples have seen His glory.

“Of old You founded the earth,And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,And His sovereignty rules over all.

Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;They lift up their voices among the branches.

They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;Their soul melted away in their misery.

For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens,And Your truth reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,And Your glory above all the earth.

The Lord is high above all nations;His glory is above the heavens.

But our God is in the heavens;He does whatever He pleases.

The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

A Song of Ascents.To You I lift up my eyes,O You who are enthroned in the heavens!

To Him who made the heavens with skill,For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.

Who covers the heavens with clouds,Who provides rain for the earth,Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord from the heavens;Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, highest heavens,And the waters that are above the heavens!

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,By understanding He established the heavens.

“When He established the heavens, I was there,When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.For wealth certainly makes itself wingsLike an eagle that flies toward the heavens.