Shamayim

– Heavens (שָּׁמיִם) The plural of an unused root - "to be lofty". In Hebrew thought, there are THREE heavens: the visible sky; the higher ether of the stars and planets; and the spiritual realm above (the "heaven of heavens"). This 3rd heaven is also found in

2 Corinthians 12:2

, and Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in the plural "heavens" (

Matthew 6:10

).