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שָׁמַיִן

𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤍

shâmayin

H8065 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁמם / שׁמה (uncertain) to be high, lofty, fixed place (root sense uncertain)

Definition

The expanse above the earth, understood as 'sky' or 'heavens', encompassing both the visible atmospheric sky where clouds, weather, and birds are observed, and the higher realm perceived as the domain of celestial bodies. In many contexts, it denotes the entire upper region (the heavens), while at times it can refer broadly to the abode of divine beings or the cosmic order above the earth, depending on context.

Semantic Range

sky, heavens, the atmospheric region, the realm of celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars), domain of divine beings or powers, cosmic order above earth

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root שמים (shamayim), meaning 'heavens, sky.' The Aramaic שָׁמַיִן (shâmayin) is the dialectal equivalent. The underlying root (שׁמה or שמם) is uncertain in meaning, with some scholars connecting it to roots meaning 'high' or 'lofty.' The form appears as a dual in Hebrew (שָׁמַיִם) but carries plural or collective sense. The Aramaic ending -ין (-in) matches Hebrew -ים (-im) for masculine plural/dual.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁמַיִן is the Aramaic form encountered primarily in biblical books written in Imperial Aramaic, such as Daniel and Ezra. The word properly denotes the heavens or sky, in a manner nearly identical to Hebrew שָׁמַיִם. In context, it can signify the physical sky, the weather region, the realm of celestial bodies, or by extension, the abode of deities. In post-exilic texts where Aramaic predominates, שָׁמַיִן retains its physical and cosmic associations, paralleling Hebrew usage. Later translations sometimes use 'heaven' in theological senses, but the original term includes the full range from visible sky to invisible heavenly realms. Unlike modern English, where 'heaven' can mean specifically an afterlife destination, the ancient Near Eastern context did not generally invest the term with such connotations — its focus was on the physical and cosmic order above earth. English translations' use of 'heaven' matches some but not all ancient connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁמַיִם; {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)}; heaven.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁמם / שׁמה (š-m-m / š-m-h) — to be high, lofty, elevated place

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8065-03 שְׁמַיָּ֥/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td of heaven the high heavens 32
H8065-02 לִ/שְׁמַיָּ֔/א lishemaya AR/Ncmpd/Td to the heavens to the high heavens 4
H8065-01 בִּ/שְׁמַיָּ/א֙ bishemaya AR/Ncmpd/Td in heaven in the lofty heavens 2

Occurrences in Scripture

38 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8065-03 Jeremiah 10:11 שְׁמַיָּ֥/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td the heavens the high heavens
H8065-03 Jeremiah 10:11 שְׁמַיָּ֖/א shemaya-2 ANcmpd/Td the heavens the high heavens
H8065-03 Daniel 2:18 שְׁמַיָּ֔/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td of heaven the high heavens
H8065-03 Daniel 2:19 שְׁמַיָּֽ/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td of heaven the high heavens
H8065-01 Daniel 2:28 בִּ/שְׁמַיָּ/א֙ bishemaya AR/Ncmpd/Td in heaven in the lofty heavens
H8065-03 Daniel 2:37 שְׁמַיָּ֔/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td of heaven the high heavens
H8065-03 Daniel 2:38 שְׁמַיָּ/א֙ shemaya ANcmpd/Td of heaven the high heavens
H8065-03 Daniel 2:44 שְׁמַיָּ֤/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td of heaven the high heavens
H8065-02 Daniel 4:8 לִ/שְׁמַיָּ֔/א lishemaya AR/Ncmpd/Td to-the-heavens to the high heavens
H8065-03 Daniel 4:9 שְׁמַיָּ֔/א shemaya ANcmpd/Td the-heavens the high heavens
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