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thunder in the Bible

Hebrew: רַעַם —transliteration: raam —meaning: thunder

Hebrew: קוֹל —transliteration: qol —meaning: sound or voice (sometimes referring to the sound of lightning)

Greek: βροντή —transliteration: bronté —meaning: thunder

Thunder is often referred to in Scripture (Job 40:9; Psalm 77:18; 104:7).

Thunder accompanied the giving of the law at Sinai (Exodus 19:16).

A supernatural thunderstorm caused a panic among the Philistines at Eben-ezer (1 Samuel 7:10-12)

Deadly hail mingled with fire and thunder came from God (Exodus 9:13-33) after a warning was given of its coming upon Egypt (compare Psalm 18:13; 105:32-33).

Thunder was sometimes regarded as the voice of God (Job 37:2; Psalm 18:13; 81:7; compare John 12:29).

ALSO SEE

Sons of Thunder

Christ gave the Aramaic name Boanérges (Greek translation: Βοανεργές) to James and John, sons of Zebedee. Boanérges means “Sons of Thunder” (Greek: Υἱοὶ Βροντῆς —transliteration: Huioi Brontēs) (Mark 3:17).

Job 39:19

In the King James Version of Job 39:19, God asks Job,

“Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?”

Is God poetically referring to the strong neck’s connection to the galloping of motion of horses which makes a thunderous sound?

The Hebrew word the KJV translates as “thunder” here is רַעְמָה —transliteration: ramah. However, the Hebrew word for thunder is רַעַם —transliteration: raam.

Many scholars believe the quivering or vibrating mane of the horse is referred to by this word, not thunder.

NASB and ESV— “Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?”

NIV— “Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?”

WEB— “Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?”

RSV— “Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with strength?”

NKJV—“Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder?”

Article Version: September 23, 2019