Have you ever been in 7th heaven?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
November 29, 2015 2:31am CST
Are we allowed to put links to posts here, other than suggesting one? I read one by freelanzer. You'll need to add the ampersand at the front of her name if you want to read her post about 'wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole'. So I read her interesting post then, in a comment on another post, I wrote 'He'd be in 7th heaven'. So where did the phrase '7th heaven' come from?
It seems the Jewish religion recognised seven heavens. The seventh was the abode of God. Islam also has seven heavens with the last being a place of divine light. The seven divisions are based on astronomical theories. So that takes care of seventh heaven.
Anyone want to have a go at explaining why we talk about things being at 'sixes and sevens'? Or maybe 'dressed up to the nines'? I'd be interested in learning the origins of these.
16 people like this
13 responses
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
29 Nov 15
Thanks for that... I love looking these things up.... some of the origins are quite interesting and funny
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
29 Nov 15
I know it is of ancient origin, but the Bible mentions only one up to 3rd heaven. so I don't believe this 7 or 7th heaven kind of thing. I've read its origin and if you are interested, here is the link:
Where does the idea of seven heavens come from? Is the idea of a seventh heaven biblical? What are the ideas of the seven, or more, heavens in different cultures? Does the Bible support there being multiple heavens?
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16770)
• Canada
29 Nov 15
I don't see why we can not add a link to a post if it is related to our discussion and it is not a affiliated link. That is what the guidelines refer to when it comes to linking. Did you know there are some more detailed faq's coming in the future. I hope it doesn't get too burdensome with too many rules. It happens because there will be alway those that will abuse something. Life without burdensome rules is well just like being in 7th heaven.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16770)
• Canada
29 Nov 15
@JudyEv What do you mean in general, a society without rules? 
Or do you mean in an online community like myLot?
I think open linking is a great resource to have for quoting or making reference to other previous discussions. It would be a shame to loose it to a set of difficult rules is what I meant.
Or do you mean in an online community like myLot?
I think open linking is a great resource to have for quoting or making reference to other previous discussions. It would be a shame to loose it to a set of difficult rules is what I meant.1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
29 Nov 15
Taoism says there are 9 levels to heaven.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
30 Nov 15
@JudyEv They do indeed. rough translation:
level1: Transit
leve 2: Aspiration
level 3:To be
leve 4: Renewal
level 5 Rebirth
level 6: Formation
level 7; Mythical
level 8:Abyss
level 9; Fusion (here implies become one with universe)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@Drosophila Thanks for this information. Something else I've learnt today. I'll be a full bottle if I keep this up.
1 person likes this
@shellyjaneo (1076)
• United Kingdom
29 Nov 15
I'd never heard of where 7th heaven came from, it's interesting how much religion overlaps. I think there is a shop called 7th heaven isn't there x
1 person likes this
@shellyjaneo (1076)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 15
@JudyEv Yes I think it is pretty common place now, but I do like hearing about the origins of sayings and phrases x
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Nov 15
At sixes and sevens probably refers to a bad roll in a dice game, risking all of one's money on a roll, and is first seen in print in Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde. Dressed to the nines, is probably like a lot of other "nine" phrases, such as "being on cloud 9". That's just a guess, but I think we use scales of 1 to 10 and it seems boastful to count yourself a 10 in anything, so you are a 9, or at 9, being very close to perfection.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 15
That all sounds logical. I was impressed with the use of these particular phrases in Andrew Lloyd Webber's song Don't Cry For Me Argentina.
@Wordly1 (470)
• Kingston, New Hampshire
29 Nov 15
How' bout this one that seems to be trending among the 'cool' crowd nowadays: "I've got your 'six' ", or, "Watch my 'six' " ? This one originates from air force battle formation and it meant "watch/cover my 'rear'(being the six o'clock position in air force speak).
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 15
Thank you very much. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 15
We should never be bored. There is always something to learn, isn't there?
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
29 Nov 15
Seven is a very important number in many cultures and religions. There is no easy answer as to why, but it has something to do with it being the sum of three (dimensions on the vertical axis) and four (directions on the horizontal, the cross). There's more, but I won't bore you with it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 15
I know seven is a special number in many cultures. And I gather the explanation, which you kindly didn't bore me with, has been around since the year dot. It's incredible what the ancients knew. We are really arrogant to have ever thought of them as primitive.
has been around since the year dot. It's incredible what the ancients knew. We are really arrogant to have ever thought of them as primitive.