The term "quaketh" is an archaic form of the verb "quake," which means to tremble or shake, often due to fear, awe, or a physical disturbance. In the context of the Bible, "quaketh" is used to describe both literal and metaphorical trembling, often in response to the presence or actions of God. This term is found in older translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version, but is not commonly used in modern translations like the Berean Standard Bible .

Biblical Context and Usage:

1. Divine Presence and Power:
The concept of quaking is frequently associated with the manifestation of God's presence. In Exodus 19:18 , Mount Sinai quakes greatly as God descends upon it in fire: "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 physical trembling signifies the awesome power and holiness of God, which instills fear and reverence in those who witness it.

2. Human Response to God:
The reaction of individuals to God's presence or revelation often involves quaking. In Habakkuk 3:16 , the prophet describes his own response to God's impending judgment: "I heard and my heart pounded; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay crept into my bones, and I trembled where I stood." This trembling reflects a deep awareness of God's majesty and the seriousness of His judgments.

3. Judgment and Cataclysmic Events:
Quaking is also used to describe the earth's response to divine judgment or significant events. In Isaiah 13:13 , the prophet speaks of a future time of judgment: "Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts, in the day of His burning anger." Such imagery underscores the cosmic impact of God's actions and the inevitable upheaval that accompanies His judgment.

4. Symbolic and Prophetic Imagery:
The imagery of quaking is employed in prophetic literature to convey the dramatic changes and upheavals associated with the end times. In Joel 2:10 , the prophet describes a scene of cosmic disturbance: "Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness." This apocalyptic language serves to emphasize the total transformation that will occur when God intervenes in human history.

Theological Implications:

The use of "quaketh" and its related imagery in the Bible highlights the transcendence and omnipotence of God. It serves as a reminder of the appropriate human response to the divine—one of reverence, awe, and humility. The trembling of the earth and its inhabitants before God underscores the reality that all creation is subject to His will and power. This theme is consistent throughout Scripture, reinforcing the belief in a God who is both immanent and transcendent, actively involved in the world He created and sovereign over all things.

The Resurrection.
... gates of the city. Death quaketh, and destruction falleth down dead at our
feet. What then can stand before us? We shall then carry ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxv the resurrection.htm

What Meekness is in Itself, and when it is Perfect and when it is ...
... Another is the over?abundant love and the worthiness of God in Himself; in beholding
of the which all nature quaketh, all clerks be fools, and all saints and ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the thirteenth chapter.htm

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... thief. The earth quaketh before them; The heavens tremble: The sun and the
moon are darkened, And the stars withdraw their shining. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
... itself, in the description of the former judgment; compare ii.2: "Day of darkness
and gloominess, day of clouds and mist;" ii.10: "Before Him quaketh the earth ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/exposition of chap iii ii.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... the Lord marches at the head of a great army to destroy the whole earth, may here
be compared; and on Joel 2:10, "Before him the earth quaketh, the heavens ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... and the bars of the grave are now carried away on our shoulders, as Samson carried
away the gates of the city (Judges 16:3). Death quaketh, and destruction ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Quaketh (4 Occurrences)
...Quaketh (4 Occurrences). ... Joel 2:10 The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble;
the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. ...
/q/quaketh.htm - 7k

Quakes (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 51:29 And the land quaketh and is in pain; for the purposes of the LORD
are performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation ...
/q/quakes.htm - 8k

Quaking (6 Occurrences)

/q/quaking.htm - 8k

Quaked (13 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV NAS RSV). Jeremiah 49:21 The earth quaketh at the noise of their fall;
there is a cry, the noise whereof is heard in the Red Sea. (See NAS). ...
/q/quaked.htm - 10k

Black (52 Occurrences)
... Joel 2:10 The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon
are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. (See JPS YLT). ...
/b/black.htm - 24k

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