Thunder

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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.

Scripture References

ISBE

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)

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 37:2,4,5; 40:9; Psalms 18:13; 29:3-9; Isaiah 30:30,31) who dwelt behind the thunder-cloud. (Psalms 81:7) Thunder was, to the mind of the Jew, the symbol of divine power (Psalms 29:3) etc., and vengeance. (1 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 22:14)

Scripture References