hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens seeASTRONOMY;WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4;103:19-21;Isa 66:1;Re 4:2;5:11; compareDa 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).
SeeHEAVENLY.