Psalms 77:18

18 The 1sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The 2lightnings lit up the world; The 3earth 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 waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there.
18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known.
20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 18:13; Psalms 104:7
  • 2. Psalms 97:4
  • 3. Judges 5:4; Psalms 18:7
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