A thunderstorm is a meteorological phenomenon characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. In the Bible, thunderstorms are often depicted as manifestations of God's power and majesty, serving as both literal and symbolic expressions of His presence and authority.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Divine Power and Majesty: Thunderstorms in the Bible frequently symbolize the awe-inspiring power of God. In the book of Job, Elihu speaks of God's voice as thunder, illustrating His might and sovereignty over creation. Job 37:2-5 states, "Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth. Then there comes the sound of His roar; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend."

2. Judgment and Revelation: Thunderstorms are also associated with divine judgment and revelation. In the book of Exodus, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai is accompanied by thunder and lightning, signifying the seriousness and holiness of God's covenant with Israel. Exodus 19:16 describes this event: "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."

3. God's Voice and Communication: Thunder is often equated with the voice of God, conveying His messages to humanity. In Psalm 29, the psalmist vividly describes the voice of the Lord as thunder, emphasizing its power and authority over nature. Psalm 29:3-4 declares, "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty."

4. Protection and Deliverance: Thunderstorms can also symbolize God's protection and deliverance of His people. In 1 Samuel 7:10 , during a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines, God intervenes with a thunderstorm to confuse and defeat the enemy: "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."

5. End Times and Eschatology: In the apocalyptic literature of the Bible, thunderstorms are often associated with the end times and the final judgment. The book of Revelation uses thunder as a symbol of the impending judgment and the unveiling of God's ultimate plan. Revelation 11:19 states, "Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm."

Theological Implications

Thunderstorms in the biblical narrative serve as a reminder of God's omnipotence and His active role in the world. They are a testament to His ability to control the forces of nature and to use them for His purposes, whether to communicate, protect, judge, or reveal His divine will. The imagery of thunderstorms underscores the transcendence and immanence of God, who is both above creation and intimately involved in its affairs.(n.) A storm accompanied with lightning and thunder.3655. ombros -- a rainstorm
... a shower, thunderstorm Of uncertain affinity; a thunder storm -- shower. (ombros) --
1 Occurrence. 3654, 3655. ombros. 3655a . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3655.htm - 5k

Continued.
... It is a highly elaborate and vivid picture of a thunderstorm, such as must often
have broken over the shepherd-psalmist as he crouched under some shelf of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/iii early dayscontinued.htm

Of the Jews; of their Attempt at Building, and of the Heaven-Sent ...
... Such crosses, or cross-like impressions, are said to have followed not only a
thunderstorm, but also an eruption of Vesuvius; these crosses were seen on linen ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xv of the jews of.htm

On the Life and Poetic Genius of Edward Young.
... There had passed over the land the thunderstorm of the Puritanic Revolt, which had
first clouded and then cleared, for a season, the intellectual and moral ...
//christianbookshelf.org/young/youngs night thoughts/on the life and poetic.htm

The Religious Revolution
... led to do so by the sudden death of a student friend, others that it was in fulfilment
of a vow which he had made during a frightful thunderstorm that overtook ...
/.../chapter ii the religious revolution.htm

Early Lessons in the Life of Faith
... 116:1. WHEN a very little child, so young I can remember nothing earlier,
a severe thunderstorm passed over our home. Terrified, I ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/ii early lessons in the.htm

Habits and Condition of the People. Mission Work and Retirement.
... booth for the night. Unhappily for my comfort, a thunderstorm came on with
heavy rain, and the booth was no protection. I was taken ...
/.../chapter xxiii habits and condition.htm

Given to Abstraction of Thought. Cases in Point. Opinion of ...
... holding a very successful meeting at Burksville, on the Cumberland river, and while
I was preaching one night there came up a terrific thunderstorm, with vivid ...
/.../chapter v given to abstraction.htm

My Readers Will not Wonder That, after This, I did My Very Best to ...
... On an evening soon after the thunderstorm, in a late twilight, with a half-moon
high in the heavens, I came upon Diamond in the act of climbing by his little ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 36 my readers will.htm

Intrigue Triumphant
... Patriarch's opponents. Those who were not in the secret could not understand
the rush and blare of the new thunderstorm. Chrysostom ...
/.../chapter xlix intrigue triumphant.htm

The Two Guests
... transitory? A thunderstorm is very short when measured against the long summer
day in which it crashes; and very few days have them. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the two guests.htm

Thunderstorm (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Thunderstorm (6 Occurrences). ... Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel
for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm; (WEB NIV). ...
/t/thunderstorm.htm - 8k

Bright (85 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:27 Because as in a thunderstorm the bright light coming from the east
is seen even in the west; so will be the coming of the Son of man. (BBE). ...
/b/bright.htm - 32k

Samuel (129 Occurrences)
... at Mizpah, at which Samuel "judged the children of Israel," and offered sacrifice
to the Lord, and of Yahweh's response in a great thunderstorm, which led to ...
/s/samuel.htm - 90k

Torrents (17 Occurrences)
... the rocks. (See RSV). Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water,
or the path for the thunderstorm; (See RSV NIV). Psalms 18 ...
/t/torrents.htm - 10k

Thunder's (2 Occurrences)

/t/thunder's.htm - 6k

Thunderstorms (1 Occurrence)

/t/thunderstorms.htm - 6k

River (189 Occurrences)
... thus describes his experience in this matter:, "I was encamped in Wady Feiran, near
the base of Jebel Serbal, when a tremendous thunderstorm burst upon us. ...
/r/river.htm - 52k

Channel (3 Occurrences)
... DBY). Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for
the thunderstorm; (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV). Isaiah ...
/c/channel.htm - 11k

Path (91 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the
thunderstorm; (WEB NIV). Job 41:32 He makes a path shine after him. ...
/p/path.htm - 33k

Thunder (48 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV). Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path
for the thunderstorm; (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/thunder.htm - 25k

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