Bible Strands
Psalms 18:13
The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist describes God’s direct military intervention on his behalf, situated between the advance of divine clouds and the scattering of enemies.
The words — וַ/יַּרְעֵם (va/yar'Em) translates literally as "he thundered," while יִתֵּן קֹלוֹ (yiTen koLo) means "he gave forth his voice."
The thread — This thunder motif appears in Psalms 104:7 at a rebuke that parts waters, 1 Samuel 7:10 when God thunders against invading Philistines, and Psalms 29:3 where God’s voice thunders over many waters.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that divine action operates through overwhelming natural force to execute judgment and deliverance.
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
The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Cross-references
- Psalms 104:7 At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away—
- 1 Samuel 7:10 As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.
- Psalms 29:3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters.
- Psalms 140:10 May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
- Exodus 20:18 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance.
- Deuteronomy 32:24 They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.
- Job 40:9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
- Psalms 78:48 He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock to bolts of lightning.
- Psalms 120:3 What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?
- Ezekiel 10:5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.