Text: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The King James council chose the singular word heaven to translate from the Hebrew word shamayim in Genesis 1. Shamayim is translated 420 times in the Bible. Over half of the verses were translated heaven. About a fourth of the verses use the plural heavens.
Why did the translators prefer the singular rather than the plural in Genesis 1:1? Genesis 1:1 is referring to the physical creation, and physical heaven is being referred to in verse one. On the first day of creation, there was earth, and there was heaven around it.
Some prefer to interpret Genesis 1:1 as meaning the heavens to include the three heavens mentioned by Paul in Second Corinthians 12:2. Since the second heaven was not created until day two with the firmament, then verse one is thought by some to be a summarization of the creation week.
However, the third heaven already existed. It was not created. We know this because heaven is the dwelling and throne of God (Mt 5:34; 1Pe 3:22). And because God is eternal, then His throne and dwelling in heaven are also eternal.
Genesis 1:1 is best understood as God creating the earth with a heaven around it on day one.
Great insight, Thank You! I believe this could also be because the plural word elohim is translated as singular God in the sentence; which is correct. Therefore avoiding the confusion of many gods creating many heavens.
There are other places in the King James version where heaven is in the plural. Then, why Genesis 1:1 uses singular?
Some words are spelled the same for plural and singular form. For example, deer. There can be one deer, or there can be many deer. The meaning is understood by the context.
This is such an old post but would like to add to it. The verse says “in the beginning” it doesnt differentiate between which heaven was created when therefore saying heavens should also be acceptible because it is simply stating in the beginning (day1-7) not the 1st day. Please let me know your insight.
Thank you
11
Because the Heaven is ‘singular’ like Elohim is singular, “these” ‘heaven’ are the elect saints as ‘one’ body in Christ, joined together as Adam and his bride Eve…(the mother of all living) and the mystery mentioned by the apostle in the letter to the Ephesians church. And in another place that apostle said that we were before the foundation of the world, elect, and ordained by the “everlasting covenant”. The gospel of John explains (in the past tense) that all that the Father gave me I have not lost any. Thus the Shama-yim (the Lord and his bride) like the Shamah (Deuteronomy 6:4)…”hear O Israel the LORD our GOD is one…” And to ‘complete’ the ‘teaching’ Genesis 2:1 the ‘same’ shamayim (heavens) is plural because the whole “works” are declared finished, including the new heaven(s) and the new earth….as declared elsewhere in scripture “….the works were finished from the foundation of the world”.
in my own opinion the word heaven refers to the place where God and angels live while heavens refer to the places surrounding the earth. The heaven and formless earth were created in the beginning, that is from eternity, while heavens and the orderly earth were created during the six days of creation work. Just my views
Consider this
It’s a trinity of trinities
In the beginning-time is past, present, future
The heaven is height, width, depth
The earth is solid, liquid, gas
If it was heavens then it would not be a trinity of trinities
And also remember that for the word elohim, it denotes that there wasn’t anything made that was made without Jesus as stated in John 1:1-3.
That being said: the initial heaven of creation + God’s habitation (3rd heaven) = 2 plural// I’ll stick to heavens; for heaven would exclude God’s habitation.
The third heaven was not created. It is eternal even as is God. He dwells in heaven from eternity past to eternity future. Therefore, it could not be included as something created in Genesis 1:1. Thus, the KJV choice of heaven singular on day one of physical creation is correct.
Hello,
If the Hebrew word for the heaven(s) “hashamayim” is the Hebrew word for sky, then, objectively, it wasn’t created as a separate object since the sky becomes part of a planet’s formation, especially when there is an atmosphere that has a color and looks like a dome, which changes appearance from day to night, from the sun and clouds positioned on the underside during day, to studded stars and a moon at night. That’s what ancient peoples conceived when they looked up. So they thought it was an object that was created separately, but it wasn’t. The actual heaven though was created separately from earth, since what was seen by ancient peoples was the universe, everything else that was not earth. If put retroactively into modern understanding, the heaven is space, containing stars and galaxies, and preceded the formation of earth. But as I understand it, the Hebrew word means sky, not the universe, and that was their understanding at that point in history.
Because 2 Chronicles 6:21 says there is a third heaven, we must account for three. Genesis 1:1 says heaven was created on day one with earth. The second heaven was formed on day two.
God bless you sir. Your insight on this subject is refreshing. Too many people are not that deep, and therfore are relegated to their own limited reason.
God’s habitation was not created on day 1 because God is not created. That leaves 1 heaven to be created on day 1. The KJV translators are correct.
So if the third heaven is God’s dwelling place and the first heaven is the one God created on day one Gen. 1:1, then which one is the second heaven?
First heaven: On day one. Genesis 1:1
Second heaven: On day two. Genesis 1:8
Third heaven: Always existed. 2 Corinthians 12:2
Thank you Doctor Briney. I understood what you have said the first time you explained “heaven” as opposed to “heavens”. I don’t know why people are not understanding that the 3rd heaven is where God resides. God is not a created being…HE. is eternal, therefore HIS dwelling place is not created but eternal as well and should not be included in Genesis 1:1. Not sure why people want to belabor the obvious.
Heavens here is a bad translation, just simply means the sky.
(as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move,)
God created the sky and the land (earth)
Yes, if heaven was a bad translation, it would not have been chosen by the experts, who had impeccable credentials. Heaven is the best word choice and most accurately describes the first event.
Thank you Dr. Briney. Our gainsaying approach to ignorantly dissecting a masterpiece is brash at best. Even Spurgeon stated in Lectures to My Students that he dared not to venture into Greek too much during his preaching because of his lack of mastery in it. Although we know he had an education in Greek (to what extent we know not), I find it interesting that he would respect the language enough not to act masterfully where he was possibly on an intermediate level.
Be not many masters Mr. Santos. Know the feel of when you are in deep waters.
I thank Mr Patrick R. Briney for True explanation
Yet every other translation goes with heavens. These translations we’re made by experts with impeccable credentials.
The impeccable credentials of the KJV translators are unquestionable, and the text from which they translated better than those of the 19th century.
List the translators to which you refer and their credentials. Then compare them to the translators of the King James Bible. An honest inspection will prove the ones whom God entrusted to translate His Word were King James’ scholars.
You are wrong. The King James Bible translators were exceptional Bible scholars. Translators of other publications are not; they do not even all agree on the basic doctrines of the Bible, including salvation.
Hey Dr. Briney!
I think you misunderstood Darren!!!
I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think he was trying to agree with you!!!
Not sure about your stance on “the sky” as a possibility (sounded ok to me lol)…
but Darren said “Heavens (plural) is a bad translation”.
Sorry to stick my nose in!
Hope y’all have an awesome day!!
stay blessed!!!!
“Heavens (plural) here” ***… is a bad translation.
lol
so I think y’all somewhat agree?
If so, I would just “veto” my comments and tell him on the public thread lol
I was just cruising through ;D
Blessings!!!
Why do insist the 3rd heaven was not created. It seems to me the 3rd heaven as the abode of God where the angels and heavenly creatures worship Him could very well be a created spiritual realm while only God Himself is eternal. I hate to think of heaven as part of the eternal Godhead. That seems confusing at best.
I insist purely on the logic of God’s habitation being His eternal dwelling. It is straightforward and simple without the perplexing question of where God dwelt before He created His habitation.
Yes this is the question many people asked .”Where is God during creation ” you said it all.
I will be more interested in where is God now in your life? In heaven or in your heart ?
Thank you. I love to tell the story. http://patrickbriney.com/about/
AMEN!!!!!
Plz tell me
I guess it would be like asking ourself, what is more plausible
in regards to angelic creation in answering the question of
Heaven or Heaveans ?
Does it make more sense or less sense, God would already have a dwelling place that Angels would recognize as there ”new home” because God created the 3rd heaven simultaneously with the Angels, or does it make more sense, that God’s dwelling place was already in existence when they were created ?
It makes more sense that God has dwelled in heaven since eternity past. The angels and all believing people came later.
Yes, Rev 21:1 tells us that the first heaven (and earth) will pass away and be replaced by a new heaven (and earth) which suggests it is not eternal. Also, King Solomon declared in 1 Kings 8:27 that “…. heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you.” Just as Solomon’s temple could not contain God either, but He nevertheless chose to dwell there, He is bigger than all created places in heaven and earth where He chooses to be present so that created angelic beings and human beings can fellowship with Him. After all, He fills all in all (is omnipresent), whether in heaven, in hell, in the sea (Psalm 139), in Christian believers (temples of the Holy Spirit), or with His people for eternity in the coming New Jerusalem of Rev 21:3 – the mystery and paradox of how the infinite God can dwell in a finite space.
Foolish people! Your interpretation of the creation is out of man and not what the Holy Spirit teaches. I will pray that it will be revealed to you. Whether it be on this side of the grave or the other side of the grave. God bless.
The translation in Genius 1:1 is wrong in most English bibles.
The Word can mean heaven of it can mean Sky
And in context It has to mean God Created the Sky and the Earth.
I forgot to mention Genesis 1:20 “and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
This work is the same word from Genesis 1:1
God Created the Sky and the Earth.
In the beginning on day 1 God created the universe/space the 1 st heaven and the earth…, then day 2 he created the 2nd heaven for the earth being our sky.
God did not need time , space, and mater to exist. God is. Since God created time space and matter, they had to be created at the exact same moment. If there was time and no space, where would God put it. If there was space and no time , when would God put it. But hey, let’s deny the trinity from the onset atheist say. Lol.
Right on, Keith!
Thank you Dr Briney,
Thought provoking article.
It’s a little off topic but could you possibly share some thoughts on why Matthew uses both singular and plural for “heaven” as in Kingdom of?
Also, scripture says heaven and earth cannot contain GOD. Any thoughts?
in sincere appreciation
Annette
Thank you for writing Annette.
The term kingdom of heaven can only be found in the book of Matthew. This is one of the reasons why I use Matthew 4:17 as the theme verse for the book of Matthew. This term is unique to this one book, and the verse explains the purpose of Jesus while He was on earth as well as the purpose of the book of Matthew.
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The kingdom of heaven is always at hand for anyone willing to repent. This refers to being authorized and accepted before the throne of God from which He rules His kingdom (Revelation 4-5). The invitation of the Gospel is eternal life in the kingdom of heaven with Christ. There is one kingdom of heaven, which is all-encompassing of creation. It is this heaven spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 2Co 12:2. The kingdom of heaven has no boundaries. It is wherever God rules. The kingdom of heaven is also referred to as the kingdom of God. Luke 17:21 explains,
“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
As for plural heavens mentioned in Matthew, these verses refer to the physical heaven and the spiritual heaven). For example, Matthew 3:16 says, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.” This indicates that the Spirit of God was descending physically as a dove from the sky of physical heaven above, and He was sent from the throne of God in spiritual heaven.
Matthew 24:29 uses both the singular and plural terms of heaven and heavens. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” The physical stars (meteorites, shooting stars) will streak across the sky in the physical heaven. The powers of the heavens refer to everything that has power of any kind in physical and spiritual heaven. Everything will be shaken and unable to stand before the Lord on judgment day.
As for God and the heaven and earth, all things are contained by Him. Nothing can contain Him.
many thx Dr Briney for your comprehensive answer
A
I wonder if the original Greek readers had any difficulty in grasping meaning from the plural “heavens” in the Greek manuscript. Was Matthew mistaken to use the plural — of course we’d say absolutely not.
The issue is not with the language being Hebrew or Greek. For example, Isaiah 45:18 says, “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens.” And the issue is not whether God created only a heaven or heavens. The issue is whether the KJV translators were correct in choosing heaven, rather than heavens for Genesis 1:1. In the beginning, on day one, one heaven was created. On day 2, a firmament was created, and on day 4 the sun, moon, and stars were created. With a correct understanding of when the heavens were created, there is no contradiction between verses, there is no need to debate one heaven in Genesis 1:1, there is no need to second guess the KJV translators, and there is no need to be concerned about the Hebrew and Greek languages.
The word in Genesis1:1 should be heaven, singular later described as atmosphere, or sky. God hovered over an object that was void & without form. This object was changed to support life forms about 6000 years ago, according to the Bible. A method was devised to keep this account accurate as it was copied.
However we were made in the image of God, able to create, & have gained much knowledge. Our bodies require elements created in outer space, in the second heaven according to Paul. Scientists today are able to age these elements, finding they are aged in millions or billions of earth years. This does not change the original story of creation according to the Bible.
When God created the heaven and the earth in verse 1, there was no atmosphere. Earth and the space around it was referred to as the heaven and the earth. The earth’s atmosphere was created on day 2. Genesis 1:14 explains that the firmament on day 2 also includes the space in which the sun and stars are placed on day 4.
Genesis 2:7 says God made man from the dust of the earth, not from elements in outer space. Earth existed before the sun, the stars, and the alleged nucleogenesis in the universe. Further, Genesis 1:10 says God called the dry land earth on day three. The sun and the stars were created on day four. Therefore, according to the Bible, earth was not made from the elements in outer space on day four. It already existed on day 1.
As for what scientists say about the age of the earth, scientists also say the fossils of living organisms date older than 6,000 years. If such a claim can be rejected, it is also logical to reject the claim that the earth is dated to be billions of years old.
Attempts to change the Bible to fit the narrative of evolution theory always fail. One must make a choice to believe God or to believe evolutionists, to accept God’s Word or to reject God’s Word. The two do not agree.
Thank you Mr Briney for your concise arguments that support the Translation of the King James Authorised Bible as written.
Well done.
The 1st chapter of John’s Gospel suggests that nothing – not one thing came into being without him (God).
When Apostle Paul speaks of being caught up in the 3rd Heaven it is an expression of proof
that there is more than one level of Heaven. Therefore, Genesis 1 is speaking of exactly what God inspired to the writer when He said, the Heavens…. We can not define what God
meant to say!!!
Fortunately, in this case, we can determine what He did not mean.
What is your understanding of when angels were created. My understanding is that all creation happened in the 6 days of creation including angels. There is teaching that they were created before Genesis 1:1 which does not make sense to me. Though we were not there when God laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4-7), the morning stars (angels) were. One verse that I thought supported angels being created in creation week, perhaps on day 1, is Exodus 20:11 “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,…” I believe all includes angels but some teach that “heaven” (singular) is talking about one heaven and angels dwell outside of this and are not included in the all. Anyway it’s a side question with heaven (singular) related in Exodus.
I think the angels were created during the week of creation. Exodus 20:11 is a good reason to draw that conclusion. There is no reason to think otherwise.
Too much to type, but…here it goes in a nutshell.
Genesis 1:1-5 ISN’T physical, it’s spiritual creation.
Day and Night are the seasons of ‘TIME’, not light and dark.
If you notice continuing in Genesis, it goes this way: ‘God said- “let there BE…and it was so…” Then continues to say- ‘then God MADE…and it was good…’
He speaks in the Spirit first to ‘CREATE’ it in the ‘Heaven’ first, and then He ‘MAKES’ it on the Earth.
Read all of Genesis one again with this concept and you will see it.
The term Heaven in 1:1 is singular for a reason. He makes a ‘template’ of earth so to speak in the Spirit of how the earth is supposed to be.
Remember, Jesus said “Let your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”.!
Please consider the following verses to test whether your pattern of create and make is true.
Genesis 1:1-5 describes the creation of the physical earth, waters, and light. These three things are very physical. Light and darkness were called day and night, which distinguishes evening from morning as the sun sets and rises. Genesis 1:5, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”
After reading the Genesis account one more time, my thinking was confirmed again that earth, heaven, water, and light were created physically and are the things we see today in the physical world.
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God
Ex 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Re 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The answer lies in Genesis chapter 1 verse 0, where you will find nothing (except the godhead). The true definition of Creator is one who makes something out of nothing, everything else is simply rearranging ingredients that already exist. Therefore, God does not need heaven to exist, he told Moses, I Am (I self-exist).
I think the answer lies in the written Word of God.
2 Chronicles 6:21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
2Ch 6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
2Ch 30:27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.
The plural translation of the heavens is justified, because if the earth is mentioned, the earth cannot precede the creation of the sun and the planets, so when he created the heavens, he means all that preceded the creation of the earth. So he created many things plus the earth. The plural of heavens is completely justified because it is made up of many components.
The earth was created on day one. The sun, moon, and stars were created on day four. (Genesis 1:1-2; 14-19)
looking for simple understanding of heaven 1. Understanding that 3rd heaven is where God’s throne is and His dwelling place, A spiritual heaven For God is spirit, where Jesus went to prepare a place for those in the book of life to be called at the time only known by God.
The 2nd heaven on day 2 is the (expanse, firmament, separation of waters) or what we refer to today as the sky / atmosphere.
Would the following 3 thoughts be correct for what heaven in day 1 is/was:
A.)The area above the waters of the earth created on day 1.
B.) Part of the area which then would be turned into atmosphere/sky on day 2.
C.) The area (Space) we know that is there today that contains all the galaxy’s that we know are out there. While understanding that the stars and planets where created that fills that space on day 4?
D.) Something else? if so what would you say the heaven in day 1 would be to a 10 year old.
The word expanse requires more understanding by me as well, as the stars are in the expanse of the heavens.
A. Yes. On day one, there was earth and heaven. Earth was the ball of water. Heaven was the space around it.
B. Yes. The space around the earth was divided into inner space of earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
C. Yes. On day four, God created the sun, planets, moons, and stars in outer space (expanse, firmament).
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the [heavens or heaven] and the earth.
If the original Hebrew for “heavens” is šāmayim, dual plural, how can we justify translating it to singular?
I agree this term šāmayim cannot refer to the sky expanse definition, for it is made later, in Genesis 1:7.
I agree this term šāmayim refers at least to the outer space definition.
I question why the dual plural term šāmayim can’t also refer to God’s dwelling place, called the “third heaven.” If God created all, isn’t it likely His dwelling place has a beginning? The other places God has dwelt have a beginning, including the Jewish tabernacle, the temple, and the hearts of Christians. There are even many “eternal” things that have an infinite future, but have a finite beginning, like angels, or the life of a Christian. I cannot find or recall any Scripture that implies that God’s dwelling place, the “third heaven,” has an infinite beginning.
Genesis 1:1 is best understood as God creating the earth with a heaven around it on day one.
This is your quote but the earth was created on day 3
The rock material of earth was revealed on day three when the waters were gathered together in one place.
Thank you Dr Briney for standing up for KJB.
I found this page because I was trying to research the use of Heaven and Heavens in the Bible. You have explained a lot but I have a question I hope you could answer.
The Greek word “ουρανοις” and “ουρανων” is said to be a plural word. I find that modern translator sometime choose to translate it in plural where KJB translate it in singular. Now I trust the translators of KJB but I would like to know what was their thinking. And you seem to know a lot so here is a example and my question:
In Matthew 18:14 Jesus say “…your Father which is in heaven…”. The TR Greek is “πατρος υμων του εν ουρανοις”. Now I saw another modern TR translation saying “your Father, which is in the heavens”. What is your take on why KJB choose to use singular “heaven”?
I was thinking maybe “ουρανοις” is note definite in this place, and it would be grammatically incorrect to say “in heavens”, or maybe the KJB translators saw “ουρανοις” as a specific home of God and therefore it was correct to translate it as a singular.
Regards
Samuel
My take is that the KJB translators determined “heaven” was the best translation grammatically and theologically. There is nothing incorrect about their translation, it fits the context of the passage, and it agrees with the narrative of creation throughout the Bible.
The Heavens created are in plural because the earth is part of the heavens which is part of the essence and territory of God. It should have read and “God created the heavens and the heaven called earth too”. Just because a person lived in Georgia and another lives in New York makes them not part of American. If we are on the moon, and we look up to the heavens or sky around the moon, we will see the our earth which is also in the heavens when viewed from the moon. Thanks. Just my observation.
God created in the beginning heaven. Singular. This is the space/ time continuum.
Hebrew: Breshiyt Bara Elohim et haShamayim et Haratz
Breshiyt – out of nothing – was created- beginning.
Bara – the existence of—
Elohim – a plural noun – used here a noun in a plural sense. Triune nature of One God.
haShamayim – ha Shamayim – heaven. used here as a plural noun in the singular sense.
conclusion: heaven, singular is the correct.