3771. ouranothen

Lexical Summary

ouranothen: from heaven

Original Word: οὐρανόθεν
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: ouranothen
Pronunciation: oo-ran-OTH-en
Phonetic Spelling: (oo-ran-oth'-en)
KJV: from heaven
NASB: heaven
Word Origin: [from G3772 (οὐρανός - heaven) and the enclitic of source]

1. from the sky

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

from heaven.

From ouranos and the enclitic of source; from the sky -- from heaven.

see GREEK ouranos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from ouranos
Definition
from heaven
NASB Translation
heaven (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3771: οὐρανόθεν

οὐρανόθεν (οὐρανός), adverb, from heaven: Acts 14:17; Acts 26:13. (Homer, Hesiod, the Orphica, 4 Macc. 4:10.) Cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 93f.

Topical Lexicon

Conceptual Overview

The adverb identifies origin or action that proceeds “from the heavenly realm.” Scripture employs it to mark events, provisions, or revelations whose source is unmistakably divine.

Occurrences in Acts

Acts 14:17 — Paul and Barnabas restrain Lystra’s crowd from idolatry by pointing to the living God “who in past generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons…” (Acts 14:16-17). The phrase underscores common grace: tangible evidence of God’s goodness descends from above, leaving humanity without excuse (compare Romans 1:20).

Acts 26:13 — Before King Agrippa Paul recounts his conversion: “About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions” (Acts 26:13). The heavenly light validates Paul’s apostolic commission and demonstrates that the risen Jesus still acts sovereignly from the Father’s presence.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Initiative
• Both passages stress that God makes the first move—through providential blessing or dramatic revelation.
• Salvation history is driven by what descends from above, not by human ascent (John 3:27; James 1:17).

2. Universal Witness
• Acts 14:17 affirms that natural gifts “from heaven” testify everywhere to the Creator.
• The principle aligns with Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:19-20.

3. Apostolic Authority
• Paul’s vision “from heaven” anchors his ministry in a supernatural mandate, guarding the church against merely human teaching (Galatians 1:12).

4. Christ’s Exaltation
• The heavenly light is Christ’s glory (Acts 26:15), pointing to His present reign at the Father’s right hand (Colossians 3:1).

Old Testament Backdrop

• Manna “rained down…from heaven” (Exodus 16:4) prefigures the divine provision highlighted in Acts 14.
• The voice at Sinai came “from heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:36), paralleling Paul’s revelatory encounter.
• Such antecedents prepare readers to recognize heavenly initiative in the New Covenant.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Evangelism can appeal to God’s kindness in creation as a bridge to the gospel, following Paul’s model at Lystra.
• Testimonies should emphasize God-initiated encounters rather than human achievement, mirroring Paul’s defense before Agrippa.
• Worship that acknowledges blessings “from heaven” cultivates gratitude and humility (Ephesians 1:3).

Doctrinal Summary

οὐρανόθεν crystallizes the conviction that all authentic revelation, provision, and authority originate in the heavenly realm. Whether through gentle rain or blinding glory, God speaks and acts “from heaven,” leaving humanity without excuse and summoning all to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

ουρανοθεν ουρανόθεν οὐρανόθεν ouranothen ouranóthen

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 14:17 Adv
GRK: ἀφῆκεν ἀγαθουργῶν οὐρανόθεν ὑμῖν ὑετοὺς
NAS: you rains from heaven and fruitful
KJV: us rain from heaven, and fruitful
INT: he left doing good from heaven to us rains

Acts 26:13 Adv
GRK: εἶδον βασιλεῦ οὐρανόθεν ὑπὲρ τὴν
NAS: a light from heaven, brighter
KJV: a light from heaven, above
INT: I saw O king from heaven above the

Strong's Greek 3771
2 Occurrences

οὐρανόθεν — 2 Occ.