Difference between revisions of "Sky"

<p> stands in the A.V. as the rendering only of שִׁחִק . ''Shachak'' (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 33:26; &nbsp;2 Samuel 22:12; &nbsp;Psalms 18:11; &nbsp;Psalms 77:17; &nbsp;Isaiah 45:8; &nbsp;Jeremiah 51:9), the thick black [[Clouds]] (as elsewhere rendered) spread over the whole firmament; and thrice (&nbsp;Matthew 16:2-3; &nbsp;Hebrews 11:12) of οὐρανός, the visible expanse of air (elsewhere "heaven"). In [[Scripture]] phraseology the heavens (שָׁמִיַ ם ), as the opposite of the earth (&nbsp;Genesis 1:8; &nbsp;Genesis 1:10), constitute with it the world (&nbsp;Genesis 1:1; &nbsp;Genesis 2:1; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 30:19; &nbsp;Psalms 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 (רָקַיעִ, "firmament") which separates these (&nbsp;Genesis 1:6; &nbsp;Genesis 1:8; &nbsp;Psalms 104:3; &nbsp;Psalms 148:4). Through this oceanic heaven were poured upon the earth rains, dews, snow, and hail (&nbsp;Job 38:2) by means of openings, which were under the divine control, and which are sometimes called windows (אִרְבּוֹת, &nbsp;Genesis 7:11; &nbsp;Genesis 8:2; &nbsp;2 Kings 7:2; &nbsp;2 Kings 7:19) or doors (דְּלָתִיַ ם, &nbsp;Psalms 78:23). In the sky hung the sun, moon, and stars as lights for the inhabitants of the earth (&nbsp;Genesis 1:14 sq.), and above it sat [[Jehovah]] as on a throne (&nbsp;Psalms 10:3; comp. 29:3; &nbsp;Ezekiel 1:26). These, however, were rather poetical than literal representations (comp. &nbsp;Exodus 24:10; &nbsp;Daniel 12:3; &nbsp;Job 37:18; &nbsp;Ezekiel 1:22; &nbsp;Revelation 4:6), for there are not wanting evidences of a truer conception of the cosmical universe (&nbsp;Job 26:7; &nbsp;Job 36:7). (See [[Earth]]). </p>