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more about heaven
heaven |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Heaven \Heav"en\ (h[e^]v"'n), n. [OE. heven, hefen, heofen AS heofon akin to OS hevan, LG heben, heven, Icel. hifinn of uncertain origin, cf D. hemel, G. himmel, Icel. himmin Goth. himins perh. akin to or influenced by the root of E. heave, or from a root signifying to cover, cf Goth. gaham[=o]n to put on clothe one's self G. hemd shirt, and perh. E. chemise.] 1. The expanse of space surrounding the earth; esp., that which seems to be over the earth like a great arch or dome; the firmament; the sky; the place where the sun, moon, and stars appear; -- often used in the plural in this sense I never saw the heavens so dim by day --Shak. When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven. --D. Webster. 2. The dwelling place of the Deity; the abode of bliss; the place or state of the blessed after death. Unto the God of love, high heaven's King. --Spenser. It is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. --Shak. New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. --Keble. Note: In this general sense heaven and its corresponding words in other languages have as various definite interpretations as there are phases of religious belief. 3. The sovereign of heaven; God; also the assembly of the blessed, collectively; -- used variously in this sense as in No 2. Her prayers, whom Heaven delights to hear. --Shak. The will And high permission of all-ruling Heaven. --Milton. 4. Any place of supreme happiness or great comfort; perfect felicity; bliss; a sublime or exalted condition; as a heaven of delight. ``A heaven of beauty.'' --Shak. ``The brightest heaven of invention.'' --Shak. O bed! bed! delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head! --Hood. Note: Heaven is very often used esp. with participles, in forming compound words most of which need no special explanation; as heaven-appeasing, heaven-aspiring, heaven-begot, heaven-born, heaven-bred, heaven-conducted, heaven-descended, heaven-directed, heaven-exalted, heaven-given, heaven-guided, heaven-inflicted, heaven-inspired, heaven-instructed, heaven-kissing, heaven-loved, heaven-moving, heaven-protected, heaven-taught, heaven-warring, and the like From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Heaven \Heav"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Heavened}; p. pr & vb n. {Heavening}.] To place in happiness or bliss, as if in heaven; to beatify. [R.] We are happy as the bird whose nest Is heavened in the hush of purple hills. --G. Massey. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Heaven n 1: the abode of God and the angels and the souls of those who have gained salvation [syn: {Heaven}] [ant: {Hell}] 2: any place of complete bliss and delight and peace [syn: {eden}, {paradise}, {nirvana}, {promised land}, {Shangri-la}] From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Heaven (1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, a The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Gen. 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lam. 4:19), etc b The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29). c "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deut. 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, a The usual Hebrew word for heavens" is _shamayim_, a plural form meaning "heights," elevations" (Gen. 1:1; 2:1). b The Hebrew word _marom_ is also used (Ps. 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to _shamayim_, "high places," "heights." c Heb. galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). d Heb. shahak, rendered sky" (Deut. 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. e Heb. rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our firmament" (Gen. 1:6; Deut. 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa. 14:13, 14; "doors of heaven" (Ps. 78:23); heaven shut" (1 Kings 8:35); opened" (Ezek. 1:1). (See 1 Chr. 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. The place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. a Christ calls it his "Father's house" (John 14:2). b It is called paradise" (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7). c "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Gal. 4: 26; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 3:12). d The "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 25:1; James 2:5). e The "eternal kingdom" (2 Pet. 1:11). f The "eternal inheritance" (1 Pet. 1:4; Heb. 9:15). g The "better country" (Heb. 11:14, 16). h The blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22; Matt. 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2 Tim. 2:12); and to enjoy rest" (Heb. 4:10, 11). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2 Cor. 5:1, 2) and from the society of the wicked (2 Tim. 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Luke 20:36; 2 Cor. 4:16, 18; 1 Pet. 1:4; 5:10; 1 John 3:2). The believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place prepared" for them (John 14:2). From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: HEAVEN, n. A place where the wicked cease from troubling you with talk of their personal affairs, and the good listen with attention while you expound your own
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