Topic
Thunder
31 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 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 They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently.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.
- 1 Samuel 12:17Easton · Smith · ISBE · Nave A sign of divine anger
Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
- Job 40:9Easton · Smith · ISBE
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
- Psalms 77:18Easton · ISBE · Nave On Mount Sinai
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
- Psalms 81:7Easton · Smith · ISBE
Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
- Exodus 19:16Easton · Nave On Mount Sinai
¶ And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
- 1 Samuel 2:10Smith · ISBE
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
- 1 Samuel 7:10ISBE · Nave The Philistines, in battle with the people of Israel
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
- 1 Samuel 12:18Easton · Nave A sign of divine anger
So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
- Job 26:14ISBE · Nave A manifestation of divine power
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
- Job 37:2Easton · Smith
Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
- Job 37:4Smith · ISBE
After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
- Job 39:19Easton · ISBE
Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
Show 19 more
- Psalms 18:13 Easton · Smith
- Psalms 29:3 Smith · ISBE
- Psalms 104:7 Easton · ISBE
- Isaiah 29:6 ISBE · Nave Sent as a judgment
- Mark 3:17 Easton · Nave Sons of Zebedee called sons of
- John 12:29 Easton · ISBE
- Exodus 9:23 ISBE
- Exodus 9:23–34 Nave Sent as a plague upon the Egyptians
- 2 Samuel 22:14 Smith
- Job 28:26 ISBE
- Job 37:5 Smith
- Job 38:25 ISBE
- Psalms 29:3–9 Smith
- Proverbs 26:1 Smith
- Isaiah 30:30 Smith
- Isaiah 30:31 Smith
- Amos 4:7 Smith
- Hebrews 12:18 Nave On Mount Sinai
- Hebrews 12:19 Nave On Mount Sinai
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 12 references
Often referred to in Scripture (Job 40:9; Ps. 77:18; 104:7). James and John were called by our Lord “sons of thunder” (Mark 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 (Ex. 19:16). It was regarded as the voice of God (Job 37:2; Ps. 18:13; 81:7; comp. John 12:29). In answer to Samuel’s prayer (1 Sam. 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.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 15 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 20 references
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).
See also LIGHTNING.
Alfred H. Joy
In the topical indexes
Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 12 references, grouped by sub-topic
- → Sent as a plague upon the Egyptians Ex 9:23-34
- → The Philistines, in battle with the people of Israel 1Sa 7:10
- → Sent as a judgment Isa 29:6
- → On Mount Sinai Ex 19:16; Ps 77:18; Heb 12:18,19
- → A sign of divine anger 1Sa 12:17,18
- → A manifestation of divine power Job 26:14; Ps 77:18
- → Sons of Zebedee called sons of Mr 3:17
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); 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.