"heavenly, in respect of locality, Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:10; τὰ ἐπουράνια, the upper regions of the air, Eph. 6:12; heavenly, in respect of essence and character, unearthly, 1 Cor. 15:48, 49; met. divine, spiritual, Jn. 3:12"
Definition and meaning
heavenly, in respect of locality, Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:10; τὰ ἐπουράνια, the upper regions of the air, Eph. 6:12; heavenly, in respect of essence and character, unearthly, 1 Cor. 15:48, 49; met. divine, spiritual, Jn. 3:12
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπουράνιος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epouranios (G2032) across the King James Bible.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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Common questions
Strong's G2032 (epouranios) is a Greek word that means: heavenly, in respect of locality, Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:10; τὰ ἐπουράνια, the upper regions of the air, Eph. 6:12; heavenly, in respect of essence and character, unearthly, 1 Cor. 15:48, 49; met. divine,... It appears 18 times in the King James Bible.
The word epouranios (G2032) appears 18 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2032 is epouranios, a Greek word defined as: heavenly, in respect of locality, Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:10; τὰ ἐπουράνια, the upper regions of the air, Eph. 6:12; heavenly, in respect of essence and ch. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epouranios is a Greek word found in the New Testament.