Greek word · G3321

μεσουράνημα

mesouranēma

midair

Literally 'mid-sky'. It is the point at the top of the sky, the meridian or zenith, where the sun stands at noon. Greek writers on astronomy and astrology used it for that highest point. The whole New Testament uses it only three times, all in Revelation (8:13; 14:6; 19:17).

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μεσουράνημα, -τος, τό

(μεσουρανέω, to be in mid-heaven, of the sun at the meridian),

the zenith, mid-heaven: Revelation 8:13 14:6 19:17.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 14:6

Range of meaning

Literally 'mid-sky'. It is the point at the top of the sky, the meridian or zenith, where the sun stands at noon. Greek writers on astronomy and astrology used it for that highest point. The whole New Testament uses it only three times, all in Revelation (8:13; 14:6; 19:17).

Against the English

KJV 'in the midst of heaven' can sound as if the angel is in the middle of God's dwelling place. Modern versions say 'midair', 'overhead', 'directly overhead' or 'midheaven', and most of these place him in the visible sky correctly. 'Midair' loses the idea of the highest point of the sky.

How it drifted

English 'heaven' has narrowed to mean mainly the afterlife or God's realm, while 'sky' covers the physical meaning. The Greek root ouranos covers both. This word, though, clearly means the physical zenith.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Revelation the zenith is where heralds address the whole earth. The eagle in 8:13 cries 'woe, woe, woe' from there to the earth's inhabitants. The angel in 19:17 calls from there to the birds 'flying in mid-heaven' to gather for God's great supper.

From the study of Revelation 19:17

Range of meaning

The middle of the sky, the zenith: the highest point overhead, where the sun stands at midday. In Greek astronomy and astrology it was a technical term for a celestial body's culmination.

Against the English

“Midair” (NIV), “overhead” (BSB), “directly overhead” (ESV), “midheaven” (NASB, YLT), “the midst of heaven” (KJV), “the sky” (WEB). “Midair” can suggest any altitude. The Greek means the highest point, the place from which everything below can be seen and heard.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it is found only in Revelation (8:13; 14:6; 19:17). It is used in Greek astronomical writing for the culmination of the sun or stars.

From the study of Revelation 8:13

Range of meaning

The 'mid-heaven' or zenith: the highest point of the sky, overhead, where the sun stands at midday. A technical word from Greek astronomy and astrology.

Against the English

KJV's 'the midst of heaven' can sound like the middle of God's heavenly throne room. NIV 'midair' is accurate but flat. 'Directly overhead' (ESV) and BSB's 'overhead' catch the idea of a point everyone can see.

How it drifted

English 'heaven' now mostly means God's dwelling or the afterlife. In Greek ouranos also means the visible sky, and this compound clearly means the sky.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek astronomical and astrological writers it is used for the highest point the sun or a star reaches. In the NT it appears only in Revelation (8:13; 14:6, where an angel in mid-heaven proclaims an eternal gospel to every nation; 19:17, where an angel calls the birds 'that fly in mid-heaven' to God's great supper).

Where it appears

Revelation · 3

  1. Revelation 8:13 μεσουρανήματι mid-heaven

    And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”

    Here: The highest point of the sky, where the sun stands at noon. It is the one place where something can be seen and heard by everyone below. It means the sky, not God's dwelling.

  2. Revelation 14:6 μεσουρανήματι mid-heaven

    Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.

    Here: The highest point of the sky, where the sun stands at noon. Everyone on earth can see a herald there and hear him. It means the sky overhead, not the middle of God's heavenly dwelling.

  3. Revelation 19:17 μεσουρανήματι· mid-heaven;

    Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

    Here: The highest point of the sky, directly overhead, where the sun stands at noon. In Revelation this zone is where proclamations are made to the whole earth: the eagle's “woe” (8:13) and the angel with the eternal gospel (14:6).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.