In biblical literature, thunderbolts are often associated with the power and majesty of God, serving as a symbol of His divine authority and judgment. The imagery of thunder and lightning is frequently used to convey the awe-inspiring presence of the Almighty and His ability to intervene in the natural world.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains several references to thunderbolts, often in the context of God's revelation or judgment. In the Book of Exodus, during the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, the presence of God is accompanied by thunder and lightning, emphasizing the solemnity and divine authority of the Law. Exodus 19:16 states, "On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled."

In the Psalms, thunderbolts are depicted as instruments of God's power. Psalm 18:14 describes God's intervention in battle: "He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them." This passage illustrates the belief that God actively participates in the affairs of humanity, using the forces of nature to achieve His purposes.

Prophetic Literature

The prophetic books also utilize the imagery of thunderbolts to convey messages of divine judgment. In the Book of Ezekiel, the prophet describes a vision of God's glory, where lightning is a component of the divine chariot. Ezekiel 1:13 states, "The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it."

Similarly, in the Book of Nahum, the power of God is depicted through natural phenomena, including thunderbolts, as a means of executing judgment upon the enemies of Israel. Nahum 1:3-6 highlights the Lord's might: "The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; even the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers."

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not frequently mention thunderbolts, the imagery of thunder and lightning continues to symbolize divine revelation and authority. In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John describes the throne room of God, where thunder and lightning emanate from the throne, signifying God's sovereign rule and the impending judgment upon the earth. Revelation 4:5 states, "From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven lamps of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God."

Theological Significance

Throughout the Bible, thunderbolts serve as a powerful metaphor for God's omnipotence and His active role in the world. They remind believers of the awe-inspiring nature of God and His ability to control the forces of creation. The use of thunder and lightning in biblical narratives underscores the seriousness of divine encounters and the reality of God's judgment, encouraging reverence and obedience among the faithful.

How Love Makes Use of Natural, Servile and Mercenary Fear.
... Lightning, thunder, thunderbolts, tempests, inundations, earthquakes, and other
such unforeseen accidents, excite even the most indevout persons to fear God ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xviii how love makes.htm

What the Mind Should Take up First, what Last...
... Or [4292] did Jupiter alone have knowledge of this"for from him the thunderbolts
fall"how training in some kind of knowledge should avert impending dangers ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/2 what the mind should.htm

On the Faith and Piety of Theodosius Augustus.
... And the thunderbolts of these statues, which were made of gold, he mirthfully and
graciously presented to his couriers who (as the joy of the occasion permitted ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 26 on the faith and.htm

Tales by the Way
... In the mountainous passes he had placed statues of Jupiter, with his right hand
uplifted as though to strike, and armed with golden thunderbolts. ...
/.../chapter xvi tales by the.htm

Concerning Felicity, whom the Romans, who Venerate Many Gods, for ...
... as we read in their own authors, the ancient Romans paid greater honors to I know
not what Summanus, to whom they attributed nocturnal thunderbolts, than to ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 23 concerning felicity whom the.htm

Matt. xxiii. 14
... not where thou dinest, nor where thou sleepest, but in the members of Christ: and
art thou not afraid lest a thousand lightnings and thunderbolts be hurled ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxiii matt xxiii 14.htm

Moreover, it Has Been Reported to us that a Thing Has Happened in ...
... Dispatch ye commissioners into the country, lest the thunderbolts of heaven fall
all too surely upon those who perpetrate such deeds. Footnotes: ...
/.../canonical epistle of gregory thaumaturgus/canon vi moreover it has.htm

The True Doctrine is to be Sought in the Prophets.
... There is one God, who sends rains, and winds, and earthquakes,. Thunderbolts,
famines, plagues, and dismal sorrows,. And snows and ice. ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter viii the true doctrine is.htm

A Blast of the Trumpet against False Peace
... In the great day when Jehovah shall launch his thunderbolts, methinks he will reserve
one more dread and terrible than the rest, for some arch-traitor to the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a blast of the trumpet.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... Jupiter was their chief god, the King of gods and men, who held thunderbolts in
his hand, and they had eleven other principal gods; but by the time they had ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

Thunderbolts (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Thunderbolts (1 Occurrence). Psalms 78:48 He gave over
their livestock also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. ...
/t/thunderbolts.htm - 6k

Naomi (25 Occurrences)
... The priests threw down great stones "like thunderbolts" from above, killed
the king and his state and then cut off their heads. ...
/n/naomi.htm - 17k

Nanaea
... The priests threw down great stones "like thunderbolts" from above, killed
the king and his state and then cut off their heads. ...
/n/nanaea.htm - 8k

Thunderbolt (2 Occurrences)

/t/thunderbolt.htm - 7k

Thundercloud (1 Occurrence)

/t/thundercloud.htm - 6k

Bolts (14 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Psalms 78:48 He gave over their livestock also to the hail, and their
flocks to hot thunderbolts. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/b/bolts.htm - 10k

Fiery (47 Occurrences)
... fire. (See RSV). Psalms 78:48 He gave over their cattle also to the hail,
And their flocks to hot thunderbolts. (See JPS). Isaiah ...
/f/fiery.htm - 21k

Lightning (49 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 78:48 He gave over their
livestock also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. ...
/l/lightning.htm - 24k

Ahab (85 Occurrences)
... Like thunderbolts the words of Elijah strike home. Ahab "fasted, and lay in sackcloth,
and went softly." But the die was cast. Yahweh is vindicated. ...
/a/ahab.htm - 52k

Hail (42 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 78:48 He gave over their livestock
also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. ...
/h/hail.htm - 25k

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