Topical Bible: Skies

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "skies" in the Bible often refers to the heavens or the firmament, which is the expanse above the earth. It is a significant concept in Scripture, symbolizing God's creation, majesty, and the realm of His divine activity. The skies are frequently mentioned in both literal and metaphorical contexts, reflecting God's power, presence, and the order of His creation.

Creation and Order

The skies are first introduced in the creation narrative. Genesis 1:6-8 states, "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day." Here, the skies are part of the ordered universe God established, separating the waters and providing a space for life to flourish.

God's Majesty and Power

The skies are often depicted as a testament to God's majesty and power. Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." This verse emphasizes that the skies are a visible manifestation of God's creative power and glory, inviting humanity to recognize His sovereignty and craftsmanship.

Divine Activity and Revelation

Throughout Scripture, the skies are associated with divine activity and revelation. In the Old Testament, God often uses the skies as a medium for His messages and signs. For instance, in Exodus 19:9 , the Lord says to Moses, "I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and will always put their trust in you." The skies serve as a backdrop for God's presence and communication with His people.

Judgment and Deliverance

The skies also play a role in themes of judgment and deliverance. In the prophetic literature, the darkening of the skies is a common motif symbolizing God's judgment. Joel 2:10 describes such an event: "Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness." Conversely, the clearing of the skies can symbolize deliverance and restoration, as seen in Isaiah 60:19 : "No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor."

Eschatological Significance

In the New Testament, the skies hold eschatological significance, particularly in the context of Christ's return. Matthew 24:30 states, "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory." The skies are depicted as the stage for the culmination of God's redemptive plan, where Christ will return in glory.

Symbol of Hope and Promise

Finally, the skies are a symbol of hope and promise. The rainbow, set in the sky, is a sign of God's covenant with Noah and all living creatures, as recorded in Genesis 9:13 : "I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth." This enduring symbol in the skies serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and mercy.

In summary, the skies in the Bible are a multifaceted symbol representing God's creation, majesty, revelation, judgment, and promise. They invite believers to contemplate the divine and recognize the ongoing narrative of God's interaction with His creation.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Sky.

Strong's Hebrew

7834. shachaq -- dust, cloud
... 7833, 7834. shachaq. 7835 . dust, cloud. Transliteration: shachaq Phonetic
Spelling: (shakh'-ak) Short Definition: skies. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7834.htm - 6k

Library

When the Morning from the Skies
... MORNING IV When the morning from the skies. 7,7,7,7. When the morning from the skies.
Pours on earth its glorious rays,. Up, my soul, from slumber rise,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/iv when the morning from.htm

When Morning Gilds the Skies
... No. 42 When morning gilds the skies. OUR BLESSED LORD When morning gilds
the skies (May Jesus Christ be praised). Processional ...
/.../the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 42 when morning gilds.htm

Evening Cthe Darkness Deepens in the Skies,
... MORNING EVENING cThe darkness deepens in the skies,. tr., John Brownlie
8.8.4.8.8.4. I. The darkness deepens in the skies,. The light before the shadows ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the apostolic church/evening cthe darkness deepens in.htm

We Seek a Rest Beyond the Skies,
... AFTER SERMON. Hymn 98 We seek a rest beyond the skies,. John Newton
8,6,8,6. We seek a rest beyond the skies,. In everlasting day; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 98 we seek a.htm

Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Morning 4. Christ, whose glory fills the
skies. Six 7's ... Charles Wesley, 1740. Christ, whose glory fills the skies,. ...
/.../daily prayer morning 4 christ.htm

When Morning Gilds the Skies
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Through the Week 37. When morning gilds the
skies. Six 6's ... Tr. Edward Caswall, 1853. When morning gilds the skies,. ...
/.../daily prayer through the week 6.htm

Savior, when Night Involves the Skies
... Savior, when night involves the skies. LM [142]Hesperus: ... Thomas Gisborne, 1805. Savior,
when night involves the skies,. My soul, adoring, turns to thee; ...
/.../daily prayer through the week 8.htm

from all that Dwell Below the Skies
... From all that dwell below the skies. LM [966]Old Hundredth: ... Doxology, Thomas Ken,
1692. From all that dwell below the skies. Let the Creator's praise arise! ...
/.../sundays after trinity praise and 2.htm

Beyond the Clouds of Heaven
... The Lord of life ascends; Behold Him rise towards the skies,. Who for our race was
given. II. ... Hath made our vileness clean; That we may rise towards the skies,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/beyond the clouds of heaven.htm

Homer's Obligations to the Sacred Writers.
... There also, all the stars which round about,. As with a radiant frontlet, bind
the skies.". ... The gods they challenge, and affect the skies. ...
/.../chapter xxviii homers obligations to the.htm

Thesaurus

Skies (36 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Skies (36 Occurrences). ... Under his feet was like a paved
work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. (WEB). ...
/s/skies.htm - 15k

Reaches (26 Occurrences)
... Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (WEB NAS NIV). ... Psalms 57:10 For your great
loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies. ...
/r/reaches.htm - 13k

Drop (32 Occurrences)
... (Root in KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Job 36:28 Which the skies pour down and which
drop on man abundantly. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/d/drop.htm - 20k

Drip (12 Occurrences)
... Job 36:28 Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly. ... Proverbs
3:20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies. ...
/d/drip.htm - 10k

Canopy (8 Occurrences)
... Canopy (8 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 22:12 He made darkness pavilions around himself:
gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. (See RSV NIV). ...
/c/canopy.htm - 10k

Clouds (99 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 2 Samuel 22:12 He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of
waters, and thick clouds of the skies. ... The skies resounded with thunder. ...
/c/clouds.htm - 35k

Dew (35 Occurrences)
... The bright skies cause the heat of the day to radiate very quickly into space, so
that the nights are as cold as the day is the reverse, a peculiarity of ...
/d/dew.htm - 26k

Excellency (53 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT). Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is none like God, Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies. ...
/e/excellency.htm - 25k

Thick (129 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS RSV). 2 Samuel 22:12 He made darkness pavilions around
himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. ...
/t/thick.htm - 38k

Steadfast (194 Occurrences)
... Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (See RSV). ... Psalms 57:10 For your great loving
kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies. (See RSV). ...
/s/steadfast.htm - 33k

Resources

What is general revelation and special revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Is God real? How can I know for sure that God is real? | GotQuestions.org

What is natural revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Skies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Skies (36 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:23
You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.
(See NIV)

Luke 10:15
You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
(See NIV)

Exodus 24:10
They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness.
(WEB)

Deuteronomy 28:24
Yahweh will make the rain of your land powder and dust: from the sky shall it come down on you, until you are destroyed.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:26
"There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 22:12
He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Nehemiah 1:9
but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.
(See RSV)

Job 26:7
He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.
(See NIV)

Job 26:13
By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.
(See NIV)

Job 35:5
Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY)

Job 36:28
Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY RSV)

Job 37:18
Will you, with him, make the skies smooth, and strong as a polished looking-glass?
(BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Job 37:21
Now men don't see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 18:11
He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 19:1
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
(See NIV)

Psalms 36:5
Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS NIV)

Psalms 57:10
For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.
(WEB JPS ASV NIV)

Psalms 68:4
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye before him.
(See JPS)

Psalms 68:33
To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
(See NIV)

Psalms 68:34
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 71:19
Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you?
(See NIV)

Psalms 77:17
The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 78:23
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV NIV)

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 JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 89:37
It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." Selah.
(See RSV)

Psalms 108:4
For your loving kindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS NIV)

Psalms 148:1
Give praise to the Lord. Let the Lord be praised from the heavens: give him praise in the skies.
(BBE)

Psalms 148:4
Give praise to him, you highest heavens, and you waters which are over the heavens.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 3:20
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS)

Proverbs 8:28
When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,
(See JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV)

Isaiah 5:30
And they shall roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened in the clouds thereof.
(See JPS)

Isaiah 45:8
Distil, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren't you he, Yahweh our God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 51:9
We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go everyone into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 2:21
It will happen in that day, I will respond," says Yahweh, "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth;
(See NIV)

Nahum 3:16
You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips, and flees away.
(WEB)

Subtopics

Skies

Related Terms

Skies (36 Occurrences)

Skilful (38 Occurrences)

Reed (41 Occurrences)

Boats (11 Occurrences)

Ships (46 Occurrences)