שָׁמַיִם

“Heaven” in Hebrew is Shamayim (שָׁמַיִם), pronounced “sha-MA-yim.” Shamayim appears in the dual form, possibly from a root meaning 'to be lofty' or combining 'sham' (there) with 'mayim' (water), referencing the ancient understanding of waters above the firmament. The dual ending may indicate the visible sky and God's invisible dwelling.

Shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) means “Heaven, sky, heavens” in Biblical Hebrew. Shamayim appears approximately 420 times in the Hebrew Bible. It encompasses the physical sky (Genesis 1:8), the cosmic heavens (Psalm 19:1), and God's dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30). The phrase 'shamayim va'aretz' (heaven and earth) is a merism for 'everything that exists.'

Shamayim is pronounced “sha-MA-yim.” The word comes from the Hebrew root שׁ-מ-ם.

Both. Hebrew uses shamayim for the visible sky, the cosmic realm of stars, and the spiritual realm where God dwells. Context determines which is meant. This layered meaning reflects the Hebrew worldview that the physical and spiritual realms are not separate but overlapping — the sky above is a visible reminder of the invisible God who reigns above all.

Shamayim is always in the dual or plural form in Hebrew. This may reflect the multiple layers of heaven (atmospheric, cosmic, divine), the ancient concept of 'waters above' mirroring 'waters below,' or simply the vastness of the heavenly realm. Paul's mention of a 'third heaven' (2 Corinthians 12:2) resonates with this Hebrew plurality.

Matthew's 'Kingdom of Heaven' (malchut hashamayim) uses 'shamayim' as a reverential substitute for God's name, a common Jewish practice. It is identical in meaning to 'Kingdom of God.' The phrase does not mean a kingdom located in the sky but rather God's sovereign reign breaking into the earth — heaven invading earth.