THUNDER

thun'-der (ra`am (1 Samuel 2:10 Job 26:14; Job 39:19; Job 40:9 Psalm 77:18; Psalm 81:7; Psalm 104:7 Isaiah 29:6), qol, "a voice" (Exodus 9:23 1 Samuel 7:10; 1 Samuel 12:17 Job 28:26; Job 38:25)): Thunder is the noise resulting from the lightning discharge. It is very common in the winter storms of Syria and Palestine and occurs in the extra-season storms. Thunder accompanied the storm of hail in Egypt at the time of the plagues: "The Lord sent thunder and hail" (Exodus 9:23).

Lightning and thunder are indications of the power of Yahweh and His might. "The thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14); "The God of glory thundereth" (Psalm 29:3). Yahweh also confused the Philistines with thunder (1 Samuel 7:10), and His foes were "visited of Yahweh of hosts with thunder" (Isaiah 29:6). Thunder was regarded as the voice of Yahweh: "God thundereth with the voice of his excellency" (Job 37:4), and God spoke to Jesus in the thunder (bronte, John 12:29).

See also LIGHTNING.

Alfred H. Joy