Dictionaries :: Thunder

Thunder:

often referred to in Scripture (Job 40:9; Psa 77:18; 104:7). James and John were called by our Lord "sons of thunder" (Mar 3:17). In Job 39:19, instead of "thunder," as in the Authorized Version, the Revised Version translates (ra'amah) by "quivering main" (marg., "shaking"). Thunder accompanied the giving of the law at Sinai (Exd 19:16). It was regarded as the voice of God (Job 37:2; Psa 18:13; 81:7; Jhn 12:29). In answer to Samuel's prayer (1Sa 12:17,18), God sent thunder, and "all the people greatly feared," for at such a season (the wheat-harvest) thunder and rain were almost unknown in Palestine.

Thunder:

thun'-der (ra‘am (1Sa 2:10; Job 26:14; 39:19; 40:9; Ps 77:18; 81:7; 104:7; Isa 29:6), qol, "a voice" (Ex 9:23; 1Sa 7:10; 12:17; Job 28:26; 38:25)): Thunder is the noise resulting from the lightning discharge. It is very common in the winter storms of Syria and Palestine and occurs in the extra-season storms. Thunder accompanied the storm of hail in Egypt at the time of the plagues: "The Lord sent thunder and hail" (Ex 9:23).

Lightning and thunder are indications of the power of Yahweh and His might. "The thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14); "The God of glory thundereth" (Ps 29:3). Yahweh also confused the Philistines with thunder (1Sa 7:10), and His foes were "visited of Yahweh of hosts with thunder" (Isa 29:6). Thunder was regarded as the voice of Yahweh: "God thundereth with the voice of his excellency" (Job 37:4), and God spoke to Jesus in the thunder (bronte, Joh 12:29).

Written by Alfred H. Joy

See LIGHTNING

Thunder: Sent as a Plague

Upon the Egyptians,

Exd 9:23-34;

the Philistines, in battle with the children of Israel,

1Sa 7:10.

Thunder: Sent as a Judgment

Isa 29:6

Thunder: On Mount Sinai

Exd 19:16; Psa 77:18; Hbr 12:18, 19

Thunder: A Sign of Divine Anger

1Sa 12:17, 18

Thunder: A Manifestation of Divine Power

Job 26:14; Psa 77:18

Thunder: Sons of Zebedee Called Sons Of

Mar 3:17

Thunder:

is hardly ever heard in Palestine form the middle of April to the middle of September; hence it was selected by Samuel as a striking expression of the divine displeasure toward the Israelites (1 Samuel 12:17). Rain in harvest was deemed as extraordinary as snow in summer (Proverbs 26:1) and Jerome states that he had never witnessed it in the latter part of June or in July. Comm. on (Amos 4:7). In the imaginative philosophy of the Hebrews, thunder was regarded as the voice of Jehovah (Job 37:2; 37:4-5; 40:9; Psalm 18:13; 29:3-9; Isaiah 30:30-31) who dwelt behind the thunder‐cloud (Psalm 81:7). Thunder was, to the mind of the Jew, the symbol of divine power (Psalm 29:3 etc.) and vengeance (1 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 22:14).