Topic
Lightning
31 passages cited, from 3 classic reference works.
These works date from 1896–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Job 28:26Easton · ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
- Psalms 135:7Easton · ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
- Zechariah 9:14Easton · ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
- Revelation 4:5Easton · ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
- Job 37:3ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
- Job 38:35ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
- Psalms 18:14ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
- Psalms 97:4ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
- Psalms 144:6Easton · Nave General scriptures concerning
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
- Jeremiah 10:13ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
- Ezekiel 1:14ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
- Daniel 10:6ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Show 19 more
- Nahum 2:4 ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
- Zechariah 10:1 ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
- Matthew 24:27 ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
- Revelation 8:5 ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
- Revelation 16:18 ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
- Exodus 9:24 ISBE
- 2 Samuel 22:15 Easton
- Job 36:32 ISBE
- Job 37:4 Easton
- Job 38:25 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Psalms 77:18 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Psalms 78:48 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Jeremiah 51:16 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Ezekiel 1:13 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Nahum 1:3–6 Easton
- Matthew 28:3 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Luke 10:18 Nave General scriptures concerning
- Luke 17:24 ISBE
- Revelation 11:19 Nave General scriptures concerning
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 9 references
Frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nah. 1:3-6). Thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God’s wrath (2 Sam. 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Ps. 135:7; 144:6; Zech. 9:14). They represent God’s glorious and awful majesty (Rev. 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (20:9).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 20 references
lit'-ning (baraq, chaziz; astrape): Lightning is caused by the discharge of electricity between clouds or between clouds and the earth. In a thunder-storm there is a rapid gathering of particles of moisture into clouds and forming of large drops of rain. This gathers with it electric potential until the surface of the cloud (or the enlarged water particles) is insufficient to carry the charge, and a discharge takes place, producing a brilliant flash of light and the resulting thunder-clap. Thunder-storms are common in Syria and Palestine during the periods of heavy rain in the spring and fall and are often severe. Lightning is usually accompanied by heavy rainfall or by hail, as at the time of the plague of hail (Ex 9:24).
See HAIL.
In the Scriptures it is used:
(a) indicating the power of God: The power of God is shown in His command of the forces of Nature, and He is the only one who knows the secrets of Nature: "He made .... a way for the lightning" (Job 28:26); "He directeth .... his lightning" (Job 37:3 the King James Version); "Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go?" (Job 38:35); "Ask ye of Yahweh .... that maketh lightnings" (Zec 10:1). See also Ps 18:14; 97:4; 135:7; Job 36:32; Jer 10:13;
(b) figuratively and poetically: David sings of Yahweh, "He sent .... lightnings manifold, and discomfited them" (Ps 18:14); used for speed: "The chariots .... run like the lightnings" (Na 2:4): "His arrow shall go forth as the lightning" (Zec 9:14); "The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning" (Eze 1:14). The coming of the kingdom is described by Jesus as the shining of the lightning from one part of heaven to another, even "from the east unto the west" (Mt 24:27; Lu 17:24);
(c) meaning bright or shining: Daniel in his vision saw a man and "his face (was) as the appearance of lightning" (Da 10:6). See also Re 4:5; 8:5; 16:18.
Alfred H. Joy
In the topical indexes
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.