Thunder

THUNDER thun'-der (ra`am (1 Samuel 2:10; Job 26:14; 39:19; 40:9; Psalms 77:18; 81:7; 104:7; Isaiah 29:6), qol, "a voice" (Exodus 9:23; 1 Samuel 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" (Exodus 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" (Psalms 29:3). Yahweh also confused the Philistines with thunder (1 Samuel 7:10), and His foes were "visited of Yahweh of hosts with thunder" (Isaiah 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, John 12:29).

See also LIGHTNING.

Alfred H. Joy

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Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'THUNDER'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.