UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: in the sky, celestial

Semantic entry: 1.8

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Regions Above the Earth

Definition: (derivative of οὐρανός[a] ‘sky,’ 1.5: οὐρανός) related to or located in the sky

Notes: For ἐπουράνιος as part of an idiom, see 1.26: ἐπουράνιος / 1.26: σῶμα.

Sense 2: heavenly, in heaven, pertaining to heaven

Semantic entry: 1.12

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Regions Above the Earth

Definition: (derivative of οὐρανός [source selector 000001][b] heaven, 1.11: οὐρανός) related to or located in heaven

Notes: The derivatives οὐράνιος and ἐπουράνιος[b] are essentially equivalent to semantic compounds in that they combine a semantic element of heaven as a celestial abode with another semantic element specifying location or relationship. Frequently such terms are translated as ‘in heaven’ or ‘from heaven’ or ‘belonging to heaven.’

Sense 3: from God

Semantic entry: 12.17

Semantic domains: Supernatural Beings and Powers

Subdomains: Supernatural Beings

Definition: (derivative of οὐρανός [source selector 000002][c] ‘God,’ 12.16: οὐρανός) pertaining to being derived from God

Notes: Though it is possible to interpret RV HEB 3:1 · LV HEB 3:1 · Read together HEB 3:1 as a ‘calling which comes from heaven,’ it seems more appropriate in terms of the frequent references to ‘calling’ to recognize that the use of ἐπουράνιος in this context is simply a substitute for a direct reference to God. Accordingly, the passage may be effectively rendered as ‘those who have been called by God’ or ‘those whom God has called.’

Sense 4: heavenly body

Semantic entry: 1.26

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Heavenly Bodies

Definition: (an idiom, literally: heavenly body, occurring in the NT only in the plural{N:002}) the luminous objects in the sky: sun, moon, and other planets and stars

Notes: See also 1.8: ἐπουράνιος.|The phrase σῶμα ἐπουράνιον is a highly generic expression which in the plural is sometimes translatable as ‘lights in the sky,’ but more often than not it may be necessary to identify the various heavenly bodies as ‘sun, moon, and stars.’ In certain contexts one may also wish to identify the planets, often spoken of as ‘wandering stars’ or ‘moving stars’ (reflecting the etymology of the English word planet, which is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘wanderer’). These are, of course, not to be confused with shooting stars and comets in the sky.

Collocations: σῶμα ἐπουράνιον