Bible Strands
Psalms 97:4
His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist describes the LORD’s manifestation, positioned between the consumption of foes by fire and the melting of mountains at His presence. The words — בְרָקָיו (breqav) means his lightning flashes, and תֵבֵל (tevel) means the world. The thread — Psalm 77:18 pairs lightning illuminating the world with the earth trembling, while Exodus 19:16 and Revelation 11:19 connect lightning with divine presence. Why it lands — The text reports cosmic phenomena as direct responses to God’s appearance, requiring the reader to acknowledge creation’s subjection to His authority.
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
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
Cross-references
- Psalms 77:18 Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
- Revelation 11:19 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, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
- Exodus 19:16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
- Job 9:6 He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
- Psalms 104:32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder.
- Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.
- Psalms 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
- Psalms 114:7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
- Psalms 144:5 Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
- Matthew 27:50 When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.