Bible Strands
2 Samuel 22:13
From the brightness of His presence coals of fire blazed forth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David composes this song to recount Yahweh’s direct intervention on his behalf after being delivered from all his enemies. The verse sits within a poetic depiction of God’s dramatic arrival, flanked by descriptions of divine darkness and thunder.
The words — The Hebrew נֶגְדּ֑/וֹ (neg.D/o) literally means "before him," while גַּחֲלֵי־ אֵֽשׁ (ga.cha.lei- 'Esh) translates to "coals of fire." These terms describe physical embers igniting in direct response to God’s radiant presence.
The thread — This image of glowing coals accompanying divine appearance directly parallels the consuming fire and smoke from His mouth in 2 Samuel 22:9. It continues the immediate theophanic sequence that concludes with the LORD thundering from heaven in 2 Samuel 22:14.
Why it lands — The text states that God’s visible glory actively produces burning heat, demanding recognition of His power as an immediate, unmediated force. It requires the reader to accept that divine presence operates with tangible, consuming authority rather than abstract benevolence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 22:9 Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.