Hebrew word for heavens or sky, appearing over 420 times. Always plural in form (shamayim). The opening verse pairs shamayim with erets (earth) — 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.' Encompasses atmospheric sky, celestial realm, and God's throne.
'The heavens declare the glory of God' (Ps 19:1) — the visible shamayim testify to invisible majesty. 'Heaven is my throne' (Isa 66:1) — the transcendent shamayim is God's dwelling. Prophetic vision extends: 'new heavens and new earth' (Isa 65:17) — eschatological renewal encompasses all creation.
The plural form may suggest fullness or may reflect ancient cosmology of multiple tiers. Phrases like 'heaven of heavens' (Deut 10:14) use intensive plural. While erets is humanity's domain, shamayim is God's — yet the two intersect in worship, prayer, and divine revelation.