In the biblical context, "thunderings" often signify the powerful and awe-inspiring voice of God, His divine presence, and His judgment. Throughout Scripture, thunder is frequently associated with God's majesty and authority, serving as a reminder of His omnipotence and the reverence due to Him.

Old Testament References

1. Mount Sinai: One of the most significant occurrences of thunderings is found in the account of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 19:16 , it is written, "On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled." Here, thunderings accompany the divine revelation, emphasizing the holiness and seriousness of God's covenant with Israel.

2. Theophany and Divine Judgment: Thunderings are often present in theophanies, where God reveals Himself to humanity. In 1 Samuel 7:10 , during the battle between Israel and the Philistines, "As Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel." This passage illustrates how thunderings can symbolize God's intervention and judgment against His enemies.

3. Psalms and Prophetic Literature: The Psalms frequently use thunder as a metaphor for God's voice. Psalm 29:3 states, "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters." This imagery portrays God's voice as powerful and commanding, echoing His sovereignty over creation. Similarly, in prophetic literature, thunderings often accompany visions of God's judgment and the end times, as seen in passages like Isaiah 29:6.

New Testament References

1. Revelation: The Book of Revelation contains several instances of thunderings, often in the context of divine judgment and the unfolding of God's eschatological plan. Revelation 4:5 describes the scene around God's throne: "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." Here, thunderings are part of the heavenly vision, underscoring the majesty and authority of God.

2. Symbolism of Divine Authority: In Revelation 10:3-4 , the mighty angel cries out with a loud voice, and "when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices. And when the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.'" This passage highlights the mystery and authority of God's voice, as well as the divine control over revelation.

Theological Significance

Thunderings in the Bible serve as a powerful symbol of God's presence, authority, and judgment. They remind believers of the awe-inspiring nature of God and the importance of reverence and obedience to His will. Thunderings also emphasize the reality of divine intervention in human history, both in the past and in the eschatological future. Through these manifestations, Scripture communicates the transcendence and immanence of God, who is both above creation and actively involved in its redemption.

The Meaning of the Seventh Seal, that Is, of the Seven Trumpets.
... immediately obtained an answer; for "there were," says he, (that is, from the Throne,
or inmost recess of the temple,) "voices, and thunderings, and lightnings ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/the meaning of the seventh.htm

Of the Law and a Christian
... 2. When he gave it the first time, it was with thunderings and lightnings, with
blackness and darkness, with flame and smoke, and a tearing sound of the trumpet ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/miscellaneous pieces/of the law and a.htm

The Mediator --The Interpreter
... And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the
trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the mediatorthe interpreter.htm

And what am I to Say with Respect to Men...
... There will be earthquakes in every city, and plagues in every country; and monstrous
[1902] thunderings and frightful lightnings will burn up both houses and ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece viii and what am.htm

Moses, the Mighty Intercessor
... The mighty thunderings and hail in their alarming and destructive fury extorted
from this wicked king the very same earnest appeal to Moses, "Entreat the Lord ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/iv moses the mighty intercessor.htm

Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
... 2. When he gave it the first time, it was with thunderings and lightnings, with
blackness and darkness, with flame and smoke, and a tearing sound of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of the trinity and a.htm

The Ark of his Covenant
... And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an ... Listen: "There were
lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.". ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/the ark of his covenant.htm

The Impotence of the Law.
... Lastly, the moral law, proclaimed amidst the thunderings and lightnings of Sinai,
had no power to secure obedience, but only a fearful power to produce the ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the impotence of the law.htm

The Use of Fear in Religion.
... It cuts into human depravity with a more keen and terrible edge, than does the law
proclaimed amidst thunderings and lightnings. Let us see if it does not. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/the use of fear in.htm

The Book of the Covenant
... previously. When God had come down on Mount Sinai in thunderings and
lightnings to give the law, they were greatly afraid. They ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/chapter xii the book of.htm

Thunderings (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Thunderings (6 Occurrences). Revelation 8:5 And
the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the ...
/t/thunderings.htm - 8k

Thundering (16 Occurrences)
... BBE). Job 36:29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and
the thunderings of his pavilion? (Root in WEB ASV NAS RSV). ...
/t/thundering.htm - 11k

Voices (76 Occurrences)
... 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast
it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings ...
/v/voices.htm - 29k

Noise (126 Occurrences)
... Psalm 98:4), "break forth"; for "maketh a noise" (Jeremiah 4:19), "is disquieted";
for "the noise of his tabernacle" (Job 36:29), "the thunderings of his ...
/n/noise.htm - 41k

Thunder (48 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 9:28 Pray to Yahweh;
for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. ...
/t/thunder.htm - 25k

Omnipotent (1 Occurrence)
... Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the
voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia ...
/o/omnipotent.htm - 7k

Lightnings (17 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). Exodus 20:18 All the people perceived the
thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. ...
/l/lightnings.htm - 11k

Ice-storm (14 Occurrences)
... Exodus 9:28 Make prayer to the Lord; for there has been enough of these thunderings
of God and this ice-storm; and I will let you go and will keep you no longer ...
/i/ice-storm.htm - 10k

Ice (20 Occurrences)
... temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of
his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an ...
/i/ice.htm - 13k

Flames (54 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:18 And all the people were watching the thunderings and the flames and
the sound of the horn and the mountain smoking; and when they saw it, they ...
/f/flames.htm - 22k

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