Bible Strands
Psalms 77:17
The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God while describing a violent storm that follows the swirling waters of verse 16 and precedes the whirlwind of verse 18.
The words — The verb זֹ֤רְמוּ (Zo.re.mu) literally means "they poured forth," describing the clouds releasing water. The noun חֲ֝צָצֶ֗י/ךָ (cha.tza.Tzei./kha) translates to "your arrows," referring to the lightning flashes.
The thread — This storm imagery recurs in Psalms 18:14 and 2 Samuel 22:15, where God shoots arrows and hurls lightning to scatter foes. It also echoes Judges 5:4, which describes the earth trembling and heavens pouring out water during divine manifestation.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that natural phenomena like rain, thunder, and lightning are presented as direct instruments of divine action rather than mere weather. It requires the reader to accept that the psalmist interprets physical storm dynamics as purposeful manifestations of God's power.
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 clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Cross-references
- Psalms 18:14 He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- 2 Samuel 22:15 He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- Judges 5:4 O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.
- Psalms 68:8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
- Psalms 68:33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.
- Psalms 144:6 Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.
- Habakkuk 3:11 Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.