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stands in the A.V. as the rendering only of ùִׁçִ÷ . shachak (Deu_33:26; 2Sa_22:12; Psa_18:11; Psa_77:17; Isa_45:8; Jer_51:9), the thick black clouds (as elsewhere rendered) spread over the whole firmament; and thrice (Mat_16:2-3; Heb_11:12) of ïὐñáíüò , the visible expanse of air (elsewhere “heaven”). In Scripture phraseology the heavens ( ùָׁîִéַ í ), as the opposite of the earth (Gen_1:8; Gen_1:10), constitute with it the world (Gen_1:1; Gen_2:1; Deu_30:19; Psa_1:4), for which idea the Heb. had no other proper expression. According to the Mosaic cosmogony, the sky seems to have been regarded as physical, being a space between the upper and lower waters, or rather as a fixed expanse ( øָ÷ַéòִ , “firmament”) which separates these (Gen_1:6; Gen_1:8; Psa_104:3; Psa_148:4). Through this oceanic heaven were poured upon the earth rains, dews, snow, and hail (Job_38:2) by means of openings, which were under the divine control, and which are sometimes called windows ( àִøְáּåֹú , Gen_7:11; Gen_8:2; 2Ki_7:2; 2Ki_7:19) or doors ( ãְּìָúִéַ í , Psa_78:23). In the sky hung the sun, moon, and stars as lights for the inhabitants of the earth (Gen_1:14 sq.), and above it sat Jehovah as on a throne (Psa_10:3; comp. 29:3; Eze_1:26). These, however, were rather poetical than literal representations (comp. Exo_24:10; Dan_12:3; Job_37:18; Eze_1:22; Rev_4:6), for there are not wanting evidences of a truer conception of the cosmical universe (Job_26:7; Job_36:7). SEE EARTH.