Quake
Jump to: Webster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "quake" often refers to a shaking or trembling of the earth, typically associated with divine intervention, judgment, or significant spiritual events. Earthquakes in the Bible are frequently depicted as manifestations of God's power and presence.

Old Testament References

1. Mount Sinai: One of the earliest mentions of a quake occurs during the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:18 states, "Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently." This event underscores the awe-inspiring presence of God as He establishes His covenant with Israel.

2. The Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah: The prophet Amos references a significant earthquake during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah. Amos 1:1 notes, "The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel." This earthquake is also mentioned in Zechariah 14:5, indicating its lasting impact on the collective memory of the people.

3. Theophany and Judgment: Earthquakes are often associated with theophanies and divine judgment. In Psalm 18:7 , David describes a theophany: "Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger." This imagery is used to convey God's might and His response to the cries of His people.

New Testament References

1. The Crucifixion of Jesus: A significant quake occurred at the moment of Jesus' death. Matthew 27:51-54 records, "At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'" This quake signifies the profound spiritual and cosmic significance of Christ's sacrificial death.

2. The Resurrection of Jesus: Another earthquake is described at the resurrection of Jesus. Matthew 28:2 states, "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it." This event marks the triumph of Jesus over death and the grave, heralding the new covenant.

3. The Apostles' Imprisonment: In Acts 16:26 , an earthquake serves as a divine intervention for Paul and Silas: "Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose." This miraculous event leads to the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household, demonstrating God's power to deliver and transform lives.

Symbolism and Theology

In biblical theology, earthquakes symbolize God's direct involvement in the world, often accompanying significant redemptive acts or judgments. They serve as reminders of God's sovereignty and the ultimate shaking of the heavens and the earth, as prophesied in Haggai 2:6 and reiterated in Hebrews 12:26-27 : "At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.' The words, 'Once more,' signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain."

Throughout Scripture, quakes are a powerful testament to the reality of God's presence and His active role in the unfolding of His divine plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To be agitated with quick, short motions continually repeated; to shake with fear, cold, etc.; to shudder; to tremble.

2. (v. i.) To shake, vibrate, or quiver, either from not being solid, as soft, wet land, or from violent convulsion of any kind; as, the earth quakes; the mountains quake.

3. (v. t.) To cause to quake.

4. (n.) A tremulous agitation; a quick vibratory movement; a shudder; a quivering.

Greek
1790. entromos -- terrified
... quake, tremble. From en and tromos; terrified -- X quake, X trembled. see GREEK
en. see GREEK tromos. (entromos) -- 3 Occurrences. 1789, 1790. entromos. 1791 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1790.htm - 6k

4579. seio -- to shake
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to shake NASB Word Usage shake (1),
shaken (1), shook (2), stirred (1). move, quake, shake. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4579.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
7493. raash -- to quake, shake
... to quake, shake. Transliteration: raash Phonetic Spelling: (raw-ash) Short Definition:
shake. ... make afraid, remove, quake, make to shake, make to tremble. ...
/hebrew/7493.htm - 6k

7264. ragaz -- to be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited ...
... 7263, 7264. ragaz. 7265 . to be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed.
Transliteration: ragaz Phonetic Spelling: (raw-gaz') Short Definition: tremble ...
/hebrew/7264.htm - 6k

2727. charag -- to quake
... to quake. Transliteration: charag Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-rag') Short Definition:
trembling. ... root Definition to quake NASB Word Usage come trembling (1). ...
/hebrew/2727.htm - 5k

7460. raad -- to tremble, quake
... 7459, 7460. raad. 7461 . to tremble, quake. Transliteration: raad Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-ad') Short Definition: trembling. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7460.htm - 5k

2111. zua -- to tremble, quake
... 2110, 2111. zua. 2112 . to tremble, quake. Transliteration: zua Phonetic Spelling:
(zoo'-ah) Short Definition: tremble. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2111.htm - 6k

1607. gaash -- to shake, quake
... 1606, 1607. gaash. 1608 . to shake, quake. Transliteration: gaash Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-ash') Short Definition: shaken. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1607.htm - 6k

2151a. zalal -- to shake
... zalal. 2151b . to shake. Transliteration: zalal Short Definition: quake. Word
Origin a prim. root Definition to shake NASB Word Usage quake (1), quaked (1). ...
/hebrew/2151a.htm - 5k

2729. charad -- to tremble, be terrified
... be make afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray away, quake, tremble. A primitive
root; to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also ...
/hebrew/2729.htm - 6k

5975. amad -- to take one's stand, stand
... 1), make a stand (1), oppose (1), opposed (2), persists (1), place (1), placed
(2), present (3), presented (1), presented* (1), propped (2), quake (1), raise ( ...
/hebrew/5975.htm - 7k

5120. nut -- to dangle, shake
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to dangle, shake NASB Word Usage shake (1).
be moved. To quake -- be moved. 5119, 5120. nut. 5121 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5120.htm - 5k

Library

"We Shall See Verily the Cause of all Things that He Hath Done ...
... creatures shall have to God so great reverent dread, overpassing that which hath
been seen and felt before, that the pillars of heaven shall tremble and quake. ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxxv we shall see.htm

Hebrews xii. 18-24
... [3424] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.)
But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the ...
/.../homily xxxii hebrews xii 18-24.htm

The Evil and Its Remedy
... shall there hear its thunders rolling; ye shall behold the flashing of its terrible
lightnings, till, like Moses, ye shall exceedingly fear and quake, and come ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the evil and its remedy.htm

The Rent Veil
... It seems natural enough that the earth should quake, that tombs should be opened,
and that the veil of the temple should be rent, when He who only hath ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/the rent veil.htm

A Strain of the Judgment of the Lord.
... Whence the sea fluctuates with wave immense: What power [1285] moves the solid lands
to quake; ... The clouds, and the stars move and quake from height. ...
/.../unknown/fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/4 a strain of the.htm

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... Ps.104:32.) "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence
of the Lord of the whole earth." (Ps.97:5.) "The mountains quake at him ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 129 the cause and.htm

Of the Law and a Christian
... 3. When he gave it the first time, Moses was called to go up to receive it through
the fire, which made him exceedingly fear and quake: but when he went to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/miscellaneous pieces/of the law and a.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling
... we are not buried in a present darkness of despair; we are not tossed about with
a tempest of horror; and, therefore, we do not exceedingly fear and quake. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the blood of sprinkling.htm

First Part.
... [Sidenote: Hope.]. Mine eyes are dimme with wayting: how doe I long for thy salvation?
[Sidenote: Feare.]. Thy judgements are terrible, I tremble and quake, etc ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/first part.htm

Of his Cross what Shall I Speak, what Say? this Extremest Kind of ...
... of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord." [1780] When we read what great trials
Job endured, it makes one shudder, it makes one shrink, it makes one quake. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the creeds/section 9 of his cross.htm

Thesaurus
Quake (23 Occurrences)
... To shake, vibrate, or quiver, either from not being solid, as soft, wet land, or
from violent convulsion of any kind; as, the earth quakes; the mountains quake...
/q/quake.htm - 12k

Quaked (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Quake. Multi-Version Concordance
Quaked (13 Occurrences). Matthew 27:51 Behold, the veil ...
/q/quaked.htm - 10k

Trembling (72 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 22:8 Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations of heaven did
tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth. (See NAS). ...
/t/trembling.htm - 29k

Quails (4 Occurrences)

/q/quails.htm - 8k

Quiver (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.) Nimble; active. 2. (vi) To shake or move with
slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver. ...
/q/quiver.htm - 11k

Quaking (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Quake. 2. (a. & n.) from
Quake. Multi-Version Concordance Quaking (6 Occurrences). ...
/q/quaking.htm - 8k

Quakes (6 Occurrences)
... You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes. (WEB). Proverbs 30:21 For three
things the earth doth quake, and for four it cannot endure: (See NAS). ...
/q/quakes.htm - 8k

Upheaved (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved
at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. ...
/u/upheaved.htm - 6k

Watchers (16 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Watchers (16 Occurrences). Matthew 28:4 and for fear
of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. (ASV). ...
/w/watchers.htm - 11k

Trembles (17 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The
earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it. ...
/t/trembles.htm - 11k

Resources
What does it mean to be still and know that I am God? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible teach that the earth is flat? | GotQuestions.org

What does Revelation mean when it says, “There was no longer any sea”? | GotQuestions.org

Quake: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Quake (23 Occurrences)

Matthew 27:51
Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV YLT)

Matthew 28:4
and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
(ASV)

Hebrews 12:21
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
(KJV ASV)

Revelation 16:18
There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 2:25
This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples under the whole heaven; who will hear report of thee, and will tremble, and quake because of thee.
(DBY)

2 Samuel 22:8
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Job 26:11
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.
(See NIV)

Psalms 18:7
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 46:3
though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.
(See NAS NIV)

Psalms 60:2
You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes.
(Root in WEB NAS RSV)

Psalms 75:3
The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars. Selah.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 99:1
Jehovah reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth above the cherubim; let the earth be moved.
(See JPS RSV)

Proverbs 30:21
For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear:
(See JPS NAS)

Isaiah 64:1
Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence,
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Isaiah 64:2
While you do acts of power for which we are not looking, and which have not come to the ears of men in the past.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 64:3
When you did awesome things which we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 27:28
At the sound of the cry of your pilots the suburbs shall shake.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 29:7
When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke, and paralyzed all of their thighs."
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the lower parts of the earth.
(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 38:20
so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
(See RSV)

Joel 2:10
The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Amos 8:8
Won't the land tremble for this, and everyone mourn who dwells in it? Yes, it will rise up wholly like the River; and it will be stirred up and sink again, like the River of Egypt.
(See NAS)

Nahum 1:5
The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Quake

Related Terms

Quake (23 Occurrences)

Trembled (43 Occurrences)

Shook (33 Occurrences)

Reeled (3 Occurrences)

Rocked (2 Occurrences)

Foundations (49 Occurrences)

Shake (68 Occurrences)

Tremble (92 Occurrences)

Shaken (62 Occurrences)

Yon (2 Occurrences)

Quakes (6 Occurrences)

Kiln (5 Occurrences)

Outposts (2 Occurrences)

Wrapped (40 Occurrences)

Tremendous (9 Occurrences)

Torn (100 Occurrences)

Ravagers (2 Occurrences)

Raiding (11 Occurrences)

Rocks (48 Occurrences)

Raiders (12 Occurrences)

Parties (13 Occurrences)

Billowed (1 Occurrence)

Bottom (33 Occurrences)

Curtain (60 Occurrences)

Altogether (56 Occurrences)

Ascended (48 Occurrences)

Spoilers (19 Occurrences)

Split (36 Occurrences)

Smoked (1 Occurrence)

Mountains (221 Occurrences)

Immediately (141 Occurrences)

Garrison (15 Occurrences)

Sinai (38 Occurrences)

Violently (92 Occurrences)

Trembling (72 Occurrences)

Smoke (98 Occurrences)

Furnace (35 Occurrences)

Descended (64 Occurrences)

Awesome (47 Occurrences)

Veil (67 Occurrences)

Terror (137 Occurrences)

Exceeding (101 Occurrences)

Covered (325 Occurrences)

Grew (133 Occurrences)

Wouldest (66 Occurrences)

Behold (1513 Occurrences)

Thereof (845 Occurrences)

Sanctuary (250 Occurrences)

Mountain (298 Occurrences)

Territory (140 Occurrences)

Mount (311 Occurrences)

Temple (614 Occurrences)

Quails
Top of Page
Top of Page