Dict: smith - HEAVEN

smith:

HEAVEN - H>@ - There are four Hebrew words thus rendered in the Old Testament which we may briefly notice. Raki’a , Authorized Version, firmament. FIRMAMENT Shamayim . This is the word used in the expression "the heaven and the earth," or "the upper and lower regions." kjv@Genesis:1:1) Marom , used for heaven in kjv@Psalms:18:16; kjv@Isaiah:24:18; kjv@Jeremiah:25:30). Properly speaking it means a mountain as in kjv@Psalms:102:19; kjv@Ezekiel:17:23) Shechakim , "expanses," with reference to the extent of heaven. (33:26; kjv@Job:35:5) St. Paul’s expression "third heaven," ( kjv@2Corinthians:12:2) had led to much conjecture. Grotius said that the Jews divided the heaven into three parts, viz., The air or atmosphere, where clouds gather; The firmament, in which the sun, moon and stars are fixed; The upper heaven, the abode of God and his angels, the invisible realm of holiness and happiness the home of the children of God.