Psalms 77:18

18 The sound of your thunder rumbled in the sky. Streaks of lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

Psalms 77:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 77:18

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven
Thunder is the voice of God, ( Job 37:5 ) ( 40:9 ) this is heard in "the orb" F2, or the air, so called, because spherical; the Targum is

``the voice of thy thunder was heard in the wheel;''

so the word here used sometimes signifies; so ( Ezekiel 10:13 ) , and is so rendered here by some F3; some think this refers to the wheels of the chariots of the Egyptians, which were taken off, it may be by the force of thunder and lightning, so that they drove on heavily, ( Exodus 14:25 ) ,

the lightnings lightened the world;
not only that part of the world where the Israelites and Egyptians were, but the whole world; for lightning comes out of the east, and shines to the west, ( Matthew 24:27 ) , this was in the night, and a very dark night it was, as Josephus F4 affirms; see ( Psalms 97:4 ) ,

the earth trembled and shook;
there was an earthquake at the same time; unless this is to be understood of the panic which the inhabitants of the earth were put into on hearing of this wonderful event, ( Joshua 2:9 Joshua 2:10 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (lglgb) "in rotunditate", Montanus, Vatablus; "in isto orbe", Junius & Tremeullis; "in orbe", Cocceius; "in sphaera", Arab.
F3 "In rota", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Musculus, Gejerus; "in rotis", Muis, Syr. vid. Suidam in voce (trocov) .
F4 Ut supra. (Antiq. l. 2. c. 16. sect. 3.)

Psalms 77:18 In-Context

16 The water saw you, O God. The water saw you and shook. Even the depths of the sea trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water. The sky thundered. Even your arrows flashed in every direction.
18 The sound of your thunder rumbled in the sky. Streaks of lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your road went through the sea. Your path went through raging water, but your footprints could not be seen.
20 Like a shepherd, you led your people. You had Moses and Aaron take them by the hand.
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