Why does the KJV use the singular heaven rather than the plural heavens in Genesis 1:1?
There are many differences in between the KJV and modern versions of the Bible. When reading the Bible it doesn’t take long before we get to a disagreement between them. In fact, our first difference can be found in the very first verse of the first very chapter of the very first book of the Old Testament.
Let’s have a look at the verse in the KJV and a few of the modern versions.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. KJV
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. NIV
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ESV
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. NASB
The texts read very similar, apart from one minor, yet major difference. The KJV reads heaven, singular, while most modern versions read heavens, plural.
Even the NKJV uses heavens, which proves that there are clear differences between the KJV and NKJV
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. NKJV
So why the difference?
The Hebrew word translated as heaven/heavens is הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם haš-šā-ma-yim,
The Yim suffix is actually a plural suffix and so it can be argued that it is in fact correct to use the plural heavens and the KJV translators were incorrect in translating it in the singular. Those who say that the reading should be singular will point to the fact that the KJV itself often translates this in the plural as heavens, which we shall demonstrate in just a moment.
It must also be pointed out that there are some nouns that are always written in the plural in Hebrew. šā-ma-yim just happens to be one of them. The most likely reason for this is to signify abundance or vastness. In English we might use the plurality of sky and say that the bird took to the skies. Only one sky is being referenced but the use of the plurality highlights the size. This plurality can also be found for water the Hebrew being mayim and also is always used in the plural form.
The prefix ha simply means “the”, so its “the” šā-ma-yim or “the heaven” or “the heavens” depending on the translation.
I will just highlight that the JPS Tanakh 1917 Also uses the singular form heaven
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. JPS Tanakh 1917
The KJV is not the only Bible that reads heaven singular in this verse. All English versions that preceded the KJV read singular also.
Genesis 1:1 In ye begynnynge God created heauen & earth: Coverdale Bible
Genesis 1:1 In the beginnynge GOD created heauen and erth. Matthews Bible
Genesis 1:1 In the begynnynge God created heauen and earthe. Great Bible
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth. Geneva Bible
Genesis 1:1 In the beginnyng GOD created ye heauen and the earth Bishops Bible
This also included the Wycliffe Bible, although this was translated from the Latin Vulgate not from Greek.
Genesis 1:1 In the bigynnyng God made of nouyt heuene and erthe. Wycliffe
Now in Genesis 2:1 the same Hebrew word is used haš-šā-ma-yim
However, here, the KJV translates this as plural heavens, just as the modern versions also do.
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. KJV
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. NIV
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ESV
So does this prove that it should be translated plural everytime?
Well if we only had these 2 occurrences then it could very well be argued as such but the word šā-mā-yim without the prefix ha or “the” is also used in Genesis 1:8. The KJV again translates this as the singular heaven
Genesis 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. KJV
Many modern versions read singular heaven in this verse.
Genesis 1:8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. ESV
Genesis 1:8 God called the expanse “heaven.” And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. NASB
Interestingly though the NIV does not use the plural heavens in this verse but chooses to go with sky and sky in the singular and not the plural skies
Genesis 1:6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. NIV
The JPS Tanakh 1917 also renders this singular heaven
Genesis 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
The NIV does the very same thing again in genesis 1:14
Genesis 1:14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, NIV
The KJV again has heaven singular.
Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: KJV
Both the KJV and the NIV (as an example of the modern versions) clearly change from plural to singular and in Genesis 21:17 the NIV even translates the Hebrew haš-šā-ma-yim into the singular heaven.
Genesis 21:17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. NIV
The KJV also uses the singular heaven here.
Genesis 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. KJV
The ESV and NASB also read heaven singular as does the JPS Tanakh 1917
So it cannot be argued that the NIV is correct to use the plural form on the basis the Hebrew is plural and that it must always be translated in the plural form, as we have seen the Hebrew does not demand that the meaning is plural as in many verses modern versions read in the singular where the meaning is clearly singular.
It may seem trivial to some people and you may be asking why this is even important. Does it matter if the singular or the plural is used. Its apparent that the English translators interchangeably used singular and plural so why is the KJVs rendering of the singular in genesis 1:1 and 1:8 correct and more to the point, why is it important. The reason why it is correctly translated as heaven in verse 1:1 and 1:8 in the KJV and incorrectly in the NIV is because there were 2 heavens created, one in verse 1:1 and another in 1:8 and only one heaven is being referenced in each verse.
The use of the plural heavens in Genesis 1:1 by the NIV actually creates a contradiction in the Bible in Genesis 1:1 as only 1 heaven had been created at this time so the plural heavens is factually incorrect.
In verse 1:8 another “heaven” is created making this two heavens. This is on day 2
In verse Genesis 2:1 the 2 heavens are being referenced collectively and so the KJV correctly translates this as heavens plural and thus it distinguishes when singular and plural are being referenced in the Hebrew and changes from the English singular to plural where this distinction is needed.
The KJV is correct yet again and there is NO contradiction.
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