Psalms 77:18

18 The voice of your thunder went rolling on; the world was flaming with the light of the storm; the earth was shaking.

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 ) .

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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 fear: even the deep was troubled.

17 The clouds sent out water; the skies gave out a sound; truly, your arrows went far and wide.

18 The voice of your thunder went rolling on; the world was flaming with the light of the storm; the earth was shaking.

19 Your way was in the sea, and your road in the great waters; there was no knowledge of your footsteps.

20 You were guiding your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.