From ouranos (G3772, heaven). Ouranios means heavenly, of or belonging to heaven — describing that which originates in, belongs to, or is characteristic of heaven. Distinct from earthly or human categories.
The word ouranios appears in Matthew's Gospel as one of the distinctive descriptors of God — 'your heavenly Father' (Matt. 5:48; 6:14, 26, 32; 15:13; 18:35; 23:9). This is more than a geographical designation; it is a relational-ontological declaration: the God who invites human beings to call Him 'Father' is at the same time the transcendent ouranios God — sovereign over all creation, above all earthly limitation. Jesus bridges this: He reveals the ouranios Father through the incarnate Son, making heavenly intimacy available on earth. Acts 26:19 uses ouranios for Paul's Damascus Road experience — 'I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision' — a vision from above that reoriented an entire life. The ouranios calling of the believer is developed in Hebrews 3:1: 'Holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling' — our lives are now anchored to a reality above, even while we live below (Col. 3:1-2).