Topical Bible: Heavenly

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The term "heavenly" in the Bible is used to describe that which pertains to heaven, the dwelling place of God, and the realm of divine presence and glory. It is often contrasted with earthly things, highlighting the distinction between the temporal and the eternal, the corruptible and the incorruptible.

Heavenly Realms and Beings

The Bible frequently refers to heavenly realms as the abode of God and His angels. In Ephesians 1:3, the Apostle Paul writes, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms." This passage emphasizes the spiritual blessings believers receive, which are rooted in the heavenly sphere.

Heavenly beings, such as angels, are depicted as messengers and servants of God. Hebrews 12:22 speaks of "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem," where innumerable angels reside. These beings are often involved in carrying out God's will and ministering to His people.

Heavenly Bodies and Creation

The term "heavenly" is also used to describe celestial bodies. In 1 Corinthians 15:40, Paul contrasts earthly bodies with heavenly ones: "There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another." This distinction underscores the glory and permanence of the heavenly compared to the transient nature of the earthly.

Heavenly Citizenship and Inheritance

Believers in Christ are described as having a heavenly citizenship. Philippians 3:20 states, "But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." This citizenship implies a belonging to God's kingdom and a future hope that transcends earthly existence.

The concept of a heavenly inheritance is a recurring theme in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 1:4, believers are promised "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." This inheritance is secure and eternal, contrasting with the fleeting nature of earthly possessions.

Heavenly Wisdom and Calling

James 3:17 describes heavenly wisdom as "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere." This wisdom is characterized by its divine origin and moral excellence, setting it apart from earthly wisdom, which is often self-centered and divisive.

Believers are also called to a heavenly calling. Hebrews 3:1 exhorts, "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." This calling involves a life dedicated to following Christ and living according to the values of God's kingdom.

Heavenly Worship and Glory

The book of Revelation provides vivid imagery of heavenly worship. Revelation 4:8-11 depicts the heavenly throne room where creatures and elders worship God, proclaiming His holiness and glory. This scene reflects the ultimate purpose of creation: to glorify God and enjoy His presence forever.

In summary, the concept of "heavenly" in the Bible encompasses a wide range of themes, including the nature of God's kingdom, the character of spiritual blessings, and the eternal hope of believers. It serves as a reminder of the divine reality that transcends the physical world and calls believers to live in light of their heavenly identity and future.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting heaven; celestial; not earthly; as, heavenly regions; heavenly music.

2. (a.) Appropriate to heaven in character or happiness; perfect; pure; supremely blessed; as, a heavenly race; the heavenly, throng.

3. (adv.) In a manner resembling that of heaven.

4. (adv.) By the influence or agency of heaven.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HEAVENLY

hev'-'n-li (ouranios, epouranios): Pertaining to heaven or the heavens. See HEAVENS. The phrase ta epourania, translated "heavenly things" in John 3:12 Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:23, but in Ephesians "heavenly places" (John 1:3, 10; John 2:6; John 3:10; John 6:12), has shades of meaning defined by the context. In John 3:12, in contrast with "earthly things" (i.e. such as can be brought to the test of experience), it denotes truths known only through revelation (God's love in salvation). In Hebrews the sense is local. In Ephesians it denotes the sphere of spiritual privilege in Christ, except in 6:12, where it stands for the unseen spiritual world, in which both good and evil forces operate. It is always the sphere of the super-earthly.

James Orr

Greek

5502. Cheroubin -- Cherubim, heavenly beings who serve God
... Cherubim, heavenly beings who serve God. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Cheroubin Phonetic Spelling: (kher-oo-beem') Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5502.htm - 6k

2419. Ierousalem -- Jerusalem, the capital of united Isr. and ...
... and Judah, also a future heavenly city. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Ierousalem Phonetic Spelling: (hee-er-oo-sal-ame') Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2419.htm - 7k

2032. epouranios -- of heaven
... of heaven. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: epouranios Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-oo-ran'-ee-os) Short Definition: heavenly, celestial Definition: heavenly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2032.htm - 7k

3770. ouranios -- of or in heaven
... of or in heaven. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ouranios Phonetic Spelling:
(oo-ran'-ee-os) Short Definition: heavenly Definition: in heaven ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3770.htm - 6k

32. aggelos -- a messenger, angel
... 32 -- properly, a or -- either human (Mt 11:10; Lk 7:24, 9:52; Gal 4:14; Js 2:25)
or heavenly (a celestial ); someone (by God) to proclaim His message. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/32.htm - 8k

3962. pater -- a father
... Noun, Masculine Transliteration: pater Phonetic Spelling: (pat-ayr') Short Definition:
father, Father, ancestor Definition: father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3962.htm - 8k

1537. ek -- from, from out of
... among (18), based (5), basis (2), because (10), belonged* (1), belonging* (1), depends
(1), depends* (1), derived (1), grudgingly* (1), heavenly* (1), inspired ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1537.htm - 7k

4747. stoicheion -- one of a row, hence a letter (of the alphabet) ...
... the elements (of knowledge). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: stoicheion
Phonetic Spelling: (stoy-khi'-on) Short Definition: a heavenly body, an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4747.htm - 8k

5043. teknon -- a child (of either sex)
... 5043 -- properly, a ; (figuratively) anyone living in on the heavenly , ie fully ()
relying upon the Lord in . This prompts God to them into . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5043.htm - 7k

2886. kosmikos -- pertaining to the world
... kos-mee-kos') Short Definition: earthly, worldly Definition: earthly, worldly
(belonging to the present earthly world as opposed to the heavenly and future). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2886.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

3685. Kesil -- a heavenly constellation
... 3684, 3685. Kesil. 3686 . a heavenly constellation. Transliteration:
Kesil Phonetic Spelling: (kes-eel') Short Definition: Orion. ...
/hebrew/3685.htm - 6k

8064. shamayim -- heaven, sky
... 1), compass (1), earth (1), heaven (191), heaven and the highest (2), heaven and
the highest heavens (1), heaven of heavens (1), heavenly (3), heavens (151 ...
/hebrew/8064.htm - 6k

Library

On the Heavenly Hierarchy
On the Heavenly Hierarchy. <. On the Heavenly Hierarchy Dionysius. Table of
Contents. Title Page. DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE ON THE HEAVENLY HIERARCHY. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/on the heavenly hierarchy/

The Heavenly Way.
... THE HEAVENLY WAY. There is a heaven. There is a place of rest and happiness.
I have not gone to heaven, but heaven has come to me ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/the heavenly way.htm

'The Heavenly vision'
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END 'THE HEAVENLY VISION'. 'Whereupon, O King Agrippa,
I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.' Acts 26:19. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the heavenly vision.htm

Whether the Will is Moved by a Heavenly Body?
... OF THAT WHICH MOVES THE WILL (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the will is moved by
a heavenly body? Objection 1: It would seem that the human ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is moved 5.htm

Heavenly Worship
... Heavenly Worship. A Sermon (No.110). Delivered ... so. I. In the first place, then,
we wish to take a view of THE OBJECT OF HEAVENLY WORSHIP. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly worship.htm

The Heavenly Race
... The Heavenly Race. A Sermon (No.198). ... We must, in running the heavenly race, set
nothing less before us than that which Christ did set before him. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the heavenly race.htm

Heavenly Rest
... Heavenly Rest. A Sermon (No.133). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, May 24, 1857, by
the. REV. CH SPURGEON. at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly rest.htm

Whether the Heavenly Bodies are the Cause of Human Actions?
... OF THE ACTION OF THE CORPOREAL CREATURE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the heavenly
bodies are the cause of human actions? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the heavenly bodies are 2.htm

Whether the Heavenly Bodies are the Cause of what is Produced in ...
... OF THE ACTION OF THE CORPOREAL CREATURE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the heavenly
bodies are the cause of what is produced in bodies here below? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the heavenly bodies are.htm

The Heavenly vision
... X THE HEAVENLY VISION. Acts xxvi.19. ... He saw a heavenly vision and was not
disobedient unto it. But this is not the common way of life. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/x the heavenly vision.htm

Thesaurus

Heavenly (51 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting heaven;
celestial; not earthly; as, heavenly regions; heavenly music. ...
/h/heavenly.htm - 22k

Realms (6 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crowned
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ; (WEY ...
/r/realms.htm - 8k

Origin (25 Occurrences)
... had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. ...
Mark 11:30 John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? ...
/o/origin.htm - 13k

John's (27 Occurrences)
... had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. ...
Mark 11:30 John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? ...
/j/john's.htm - 13k

Debated (7 Occurrences)
... Debated (7 Occurrences). Matthew 21:25 John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a
heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. ...
/d/debated.htm - 8k

Celestial (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Belonging to the aerial regions, or visible heavens.
2. (a.) of or pertaining to the spiritual heaven; heavenly; divine. ...
/c/celestial.htm - 8k

Argued (20 Occurrences)
... Argued (20 Occurrences). Matthew 21:25 John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a
heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. ...
/a/argued.htm - 12k

Earthly (39 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence
on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys ...
/e/earthly.htm - 22k

Matter (263 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Matthew 21:25 John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a heavenly or
a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. ...
/m/matter.htm - 39k

Rudiments (5 Occurrences)
... sounds, as the elements of speech; (2) the material elements of the universe, the
physical atoms of which the world is composed; (3) the heavenly bodies; (4 ...
/r/rudiments.htm - 13k

Resources

What are the heavenly hosts? | GotQuestions.org

What are the heavenly places/realms? | GotQuestions.org

Is there a heavenly mother? | GotQuestions.org

Heavenly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Heavenly (51 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:48
You however are to be complete in goodness, as your Heavenly Father is complete.
(WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 6:14
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 6:26
See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 6:32
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 15:13
But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 18:35
So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 21:25
John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. "If we say 'a heavenly origin,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
(WEY)

Matthew 23:9
And call no one on earth your Father, for One alone is your Father--the Heavenly Father.
(WEY)

Matthew 24:29
And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken;
(See NIV)

Matthew 25:31
"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
(See NIV)

Mark 11:30
John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."
(WEY)

Mark 11:31
So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
(WEY)

Mark 13:25
and the stars of the heaven shall be falling, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.
(See NIV)

Luke 2:13
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Luke 20:4
"was John's baptism of Heavenly or of human origin?"
(WEY)

Luke 20:5
So they debated the matter with one another. "If we say 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'
(WEY)

Luke 21:26
men fainting at heart from fear, and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
(See NIV)

John 3:12
If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 7:42
and God did turn, and did give them up to do service to the host of the heaven, according as it hath been written in the scroll of the prophets: Slain beasts and sacrifices did ye offer to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
(See NIV)

Acts 26:19
"Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Corinthians 15:40
And there are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but different is the glory of the heavenly, different that of the earthly:
(DBY YLT NAS NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:48
As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Corinthians 15:49
As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's also bear the image of the heavenly.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

2 Corinthians 5:2
for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,
(See RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:4
For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
(See NIV)

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 1:20
which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 2:6
and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 3:10
to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 6:12
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
(WEB WEY ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Philippians 2:10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and infernal beings,
(DBY)

Philippians 2:15
so that you may always prove yourselves to be blameless and spotless--irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as heavenly lights in the world,
(WEY)

2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 6:4
For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 8:5
who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, "See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hebrews 9:23
It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 12:22
But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 1:17
Every good and true thing is given to us from heaven, coming from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or any shade made by turning.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 4:19
and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 17:3
and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have commanded not;
(See NAS)

Nehemiah 9:6
Thou art the LORD, even Thou alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth Thee.
(See NAS)

Psalms 8:5
And causest him to lack a little of Godhead, And with honour and majesty compassest him.
(See NIV)

Psalms 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD, His throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.
(See NIV)

Psalms 29:1
A Psalm by David. Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
(See RSV)

Psalms 89:6
For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 103:21
Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.
(See NIV)

Psalms 148:2
Give praise to him, all you his angels: give praise to him, all his armies.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 19:13
and the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, have been -- as the place of Tophet -- defiled, even all the houses on whose roofs they have made perfume to all the host of the heavens, so as to pour out oblations to other gods.'
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Heavenly

Heavenly Realms

Related Terms

Realms (6 Occurrences)

Origin (25 Occurrences)

John's (27 Occurrences)

Debated (7 Occurrences)

Celestial (3 Occurrences)

Argued (20 Occurrences)

Earthly (39 Occurrences)

Matter (263 Occurrences)