What are the windows of heaven (Genesis 7:11)?

Answer

In Noah’s time, when God brought the promised destruction of the earth by water, the floodwaters came from two sources: “All the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” «In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. », (Genesis 7:11, NKJV). When the rain stopped 40 days later, “The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed,” and “the rain from the heavens was restrained” «the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; », (Genesis 8:2, ESV). After that, the floodwaters prevailed over the earth for another 110 days «And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.», (Genesis 7:24).

The “fountains of the great deep” and “windows of heaven” are metaphors for underground springs gushing up with water and sudden torrential rains falling from above as if floodgates in the sky had opened. The phrase windows of heaven depicts the earth as surrounded and enclosed by a solid vaulted, dome or tent-like structure with openings in it. If the modern-day canopy theory is correct, the floodgates in the sky were more literal than figurative.

Elsewhere in the Bible, “windows of heaven” symbolize God’s way of communicating from heaven and interacting with people on earth. God’s avenue of deliverance for the people of Samaria is pictured as the Lord making windows in heaven «Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and sa

Behold, if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this happen? And he replied, “You will see it with your eyes, but you will not eat of it.” », (2 Kings 7:2,19) «and that Lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could such a thing happen? And he said, Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but you will not eat of it.” », (2 Kings 7:2,19). In Psalm 78:23, God mentions opening “the doors of heaven” to rain down manna in the desert to provide food for the Israelites cf: Exodus 16:4.

In Malachi 3:10, God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out abundant blessings on those who honor and obey Him: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’” (NLT). In contrast, the prophet Isaiah speaks of God’s judgment coming down through the opened windows of heaven «And it shall come to pass, that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. », (Isaiah 24:18).

At times, the heavens opened, and people saw or heard visions from God (Ezekiel 1:1;Revelation 4:1;Revelation 19:11). “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.”

ve and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy’” (Matthew 3:16-17;NLT;cp: Mark 1:10;Luke 3:21;John 1:51). Just before Stephen was stoned to death, “the heavens opened,” and he saw Jesus standing at the right of God «and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. », (Acts 7:56). The heavens also opened to reveal a vision to Peter (Acts 10:9-16).

The Hebrew imagery of the “windows of heaven” opening always seems to convey a sense of abundant outpouring, whether in torrents of rain, extreme judgment, plenty of food, or a profusion of blessings. In every instance, God is the One responsible for opening and closing the windows of heaven.