Topical Bible: Lightning

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

Frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nahum 1:3-6). Thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God's wrath (2 Samuel 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Psalm 135:7; 144:6; Zechariah 9:14). They represent God's glorious and awful majesty (Revelation 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (20:9).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.

2. (n.) The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers.

3. (vb. n.) Lightening.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LIGHTNING

lit'-ning (baraq, chaziz; astrape): Lightning is caused by the discharge of electricity between clouds or between clouds and the earth. In a thunder-storm there is a rapid gathering of particles of moisture into clouds and forming of large drops of rain. This gathers with it electric potential until the surface of the cloud (or the enlarged water particles) is insufficient to carry the charge, and a discharge takes place, producing a brilliant flash of light and the resulting thunder-clap. Thunder-storms are common in Syria and Palestine during the periods of heavy rain in the spring and fall and are often severe. Lightning is usually accompanied by heavy rainfall or by hail, as at the time of the plague of hail (Exodus 9:24).

See HAIL.

In the Scriptures it is used:

(a) indicating the power of God: The power of God is shown in His command of the forces of Nature, and He is the only one who knows the secrets of Nature: "He made.... a way for the lightning" (Job 28:26); "He directeth.... his lightning" (Job 37:3 the King James Version); "Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go?" (Job 38:35); "Ask ye of Yahweh.... that maketh lightnings" (Zechariah 10:1). See also Psalm 18:14; Psalm 97:4; Psalm 135:7 Job 36:32 Jeremiah 10:13;

(b) figuratively and poetically: David sings of Yahweh, "He sent.... lightnings manifold, and discomfited them" (Psalm 18:14); used for speed: "The chariots.... run like the lightnings" (Nahum 2:4): "His arrow shall go forth as the lightning" (Zechariah 9:14); "The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning" (Ezekiel 1:14). The coming of the kingdom is described by Jesus as the shining of the lightning from one part of heaven to another, even "from the east unto the west" (Matthew 24:27 Luke 17:24);

(c) meaning bright or shining: Daniel in his vision saw a man and "his face (was) as the appearance of lightning" (Daniel 10:6). See also Revelation 4:5; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 16:18.

Alfred H. Joy

Greek

796. astrape -- lightning, brightness
... lightning, brightness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: astrape Phonetic
Spelling: (as-trap-ay') Short Definition: a flash of lightning ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/796.htm - 6k

1823. exastrapto -- to flash or gleam like lightning, be radiant
... to flash or gleam like lightning, be radiant. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
exastrapto Phonetic Spelling: (ex-as-trap'-to) Short Definition: I flash ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1823.htm - 6k

4442. pur -- fire
... Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: pur Phonetic Spelling: (poor) Short Definition:
fire, trials Definition: fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4442.htm - 7k

797. astrapto -- to lighten, flash forth
... Transliteration: astrapto Phonetic Spelling: (as-trap'-to) Short Definition: I flash,
am lustrous Definition: I flash (with, then like, lightning), am lustrous ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/797.htm - 6k

4015. periastrapto -- to tie around
... around. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: periastrapto Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ee-as-trap'-to) Short Definition: I flash around like lightning Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4015.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1300. baraq -- lightning
... 1299, 1300. baraq. 1301 . lightning. Transliteration: baraq Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-rawk') Short Definition: lightning. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1300.htm - 6k

965. bazaq -- a lightning flash
... 964, 965. bazaq. 966 . a lightning flash. Transliteration: bazaq Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-zawk') Short Definition: lightning. Word ...
/hebrew/965.htm - 5k

2385. chaziz -- a thunderbolt, lightning flash
... chaziz. 2386 . a thunderbolt, lightning flash. Transliteration: chaziz Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-zeez') Short Definition: thunderbolt. ... bright cloud, lightning. ...
/hebrew/2385.htm - 6k

1299. baraq -- to flash (of lightning)
... to flash (of lightning). Transliteration: baraq Phonetic Spelling: (baw-rak') Short
Definition: forth. ... A primitive root; to lighten (lightning) -- cast forth. ...
/hebrew/1299.htm - 5k

1139. Bene-beraq -- "sons of lightning," a city in Dan
... Bene-beraq. 1140 . "sons of lightning," a city in Dan. Transliteration: Bene-beraq
Phonetic Spelling: (ben-ay'-ber-ak') Short Definition: Bene-berak. ...
/hebrew/1139.htm - 6k

1301. Baraq -- "flash of lightning," an Israelite leader
... 1300, 1301. Baraq. 1302 . "flash of lightning," an Israelite leader.
Transliteration: Baraq Phonetic Spelling: (baw-rawk') Short Definition: Barak. ...
/hebrew/1301.htm - 6k

3940. lappid -- a torch
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a torch NASB Word Usage burning
torches (1), lightning flashes (1), torch (4), torches (7). ...
/hebrew/3940.htm - 6k

216. or -- a light
... from or Definition a light NASB Word Usage broad (1), dawn (1), dawn* (1), daylight
(1), daylight* (1), early morning (1), light (105), lightning (5), lights (2 ...
/hebrew/216.htm - 6k

799. esh dath -- fire of a law
esh dath. 798, 799. esh dath. 800 . fire of a law. Transliteration: esh dath
Phonetic Spelling: (esh-dawth') Short Definition: lightning. ...
/hebrew/799.htm - 6k

7565. resheph -- flame
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition flame NASB Word Usage bolts of lightning
(1), flaming (1), flashes (2), plague (2), sparks* (1). ...
/hebrew/7565.htm - 6k

Library

Lightning in the Night.
... IV. CREATION. Hymn 84 Lightning in the night. John Newton 8,8,8,8. Lightning
in the night. A Glance from heav'n, with sweet effect,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 84 lightning in the.htm

Lightning in the Night.
... LIFE, DEATH AND FUTURITY. 526. " Lightning in the Night. 526. LM Newton.
Lightning in the Night. 1 A glance from heaven, with ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/526 lightning in the.htm

July the Second Light and Lightning
... JULY The Second LIGHT AND LIGHTNING. "And the spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon Him." "Isaiah 11:1-10. ... The light becomes lightning! ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/july the second light and.htm

Of Diocletian, who Ignobly Abdicated the Imperial Throne, and was ...
... to the assembly of the saints." Chapter XXV."Of Diocletian, who ignobly abdicated
the Imperial Throne, and was terrified by the Dread of Lightning for his ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxv of diocletian who ignobly.htm

On Heavenly Objects
... [Ps.76(77):19(18) Vulgate]. The lightning is the splendor of the evangelists; in
the psalm: Your lightning lights the globe of the earth. [Ps.76(77):19(18)]. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/ii on heavenly objects.htm

Another Part of My Smoke' which You Frequently Laugh at is My ...
... You, of course, are a man not of smoke but of flame, or rather of lightning; you
fulminate when you speak; you cannot contain the flames which have been ...
/.../31 another part of my.htm

Hero-Worship.
... Homily VIII. Chapter V."Hero-Worship. "Therefore the magician Nebrod, being destroyed
by this lightning falling on earth from heaven, for this circumstance ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter v hero-worship.htm

God is Known by his Works.
... to ascend from the ends of the earth: He maketh lightnings for the rain;" [535]
who sends forth His thunder to terrify, and foretells by the lightning the peal ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter vi god is known by.htm

Mission and Return of the Seventy.
... the latter on their return were overshadowed by the news of John the Baptist's death.]
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxiii mission and return of.htm

How Love Makes Use of Natural, Servile and Mercenary Fear.
... Lightning, thunder, thunderbolts, tempests, inundations, earthquakes, and other
such unforeseen accidents, excite even the most indevout persons to fear God ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xviii how love makes.htm

Thesaurus

Lightning (49 Occurrences)
... Frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nahum 1:3-6). Thunder and lightning
are spoken of as tokens of God's wrath (2 Samuel 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4 ...
/l/lightning.htm - 24k

Lightning-flash (1 Occurrence)
Lightning-flash. Lightning, Lightning-flash. Lightnings .
Multi-Version Concordance Lightning-flash (1 Occurrence). ...
/l/lightning-flash.htm - 6k

Flashes (16 Occurrences)
... Flashes (16 Occurrences). Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning flashes from the east,
and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ...
/f/flashes.htm - 11k

Lighten (19 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning;
to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash. ...
/l/lighten.htm - 13k

Flash (19 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and
disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning. 10. ...
/f/flash.htm - 13k

Flashed (12 Occurrences)
... Luke 24:4 At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood
by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning. (WEY). ...
/f/flashed.htm - 9k

Peals (7 Occurrences)
... Revelation 4:5 Out from the throne there came flashes of lightning, and voices,
and peals of thunder, while in front of the throne seven blazing lamps were ...
/p/peals.htm - 8k

Thunder (48 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The sound which follows a flash of lightning;
the report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity. ... See also LIGHTNING. ...
/t/thunder.htm - 25k

Glittering (12 Occurrences)
... glit'-er, glit'-er-ing (baraq, "lightning"): The word is used in sense of "glittering"
in the Old Testament with "sword," "spear" (Deuteronomy 32:41 Job 20:25 ...
/g/glittering.htm - 11k

Glitter (3 Occurrences)
... glit'-er, glit'-er-ing (baraq, "lightning"): The word is used in sense of "glittering"
in the Old Testament with "sword," "spear" (Deuteronomy 32:41 Job 20:25 ...
/g/glitter.htm - 8k

Resources

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Church of Almighty God / Eastern Lightning? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean when it refers to the corners of the earth? | GotQuestions.org

Lightning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Lightning (49 Occurrences)

Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 28:3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 9:29
As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.
(See NIV)

Luke 10:18
He said to them, "I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 17:24
for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 24:4
At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning.
(WEY NIV)

Revelation 4:5
Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 8:5
The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 11:19
God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 16:18
There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 9:23
Moses stretched forth his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth. Yahweh rained hail on the land of Egypt.
(WEB NIV)

Exodus 9:24
So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
(WEB NIV)

Exodus 19:16
It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 20:18
All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:2
He said, "Yahweh came from Sinai, And rose from Seir to them. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
(See NAS)

2 Samuel 22:13
Before his shining light his dark clouds went past, raining ice and coals of fire.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 22:15
He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them. The Second Book of Kings
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 28:26
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Job 36:30
Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths of the sea.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Job 36:32
He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Job 37:3
He sends it forth under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
(WEB KJV JPS DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 37:11
Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Job 37:15
Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Job 38:24
By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
(WEB NIV)

Job 38:25
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Psalms 18:12
Before his shining light his dark clouds went past, raining ice and fire.
(See NIV)

Psalms 18:14
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 29:7
Yahweh's voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 77:18
The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 78:48
He gave over their livestock also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
(See NAS NIV)

Psalms 97:4
His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 105:32
He gave them hail for rain, with lightning in their land.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 135:7
who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings with the rain; who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 144:6
Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 148:8
Lightning and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling his word;
(WEB NIV)

Jeremiah 10:13
when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasuries.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 51:16
when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightning for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasuries.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 1:4
I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.
(WEB NIV)

Ezekiel 1:13
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 1:14
The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 21:10
it is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is furbished that it may be as lightning: shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it condemns every tree.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 21:15
I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 21:28
You, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach; and say, A sword, a sword is drawn, for the slaughter it is furbished, to cause it to devour, that it may be as lightning;
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 10:6
his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 6:5
Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.
(WEB NIV)

Nahum 2:4
The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the broad ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nahum 3:3
And the flame of a sword, and the lightning of a spear, And the abundance of the wounded, And the weight of carcases, Yea, there is no end to the bodies, They stumble over their bodies.
(YLT)

Habakkuk 3:11
Sun -- moon -- hath stood -- a habitation, At the light thine arrows go on, At the brightness, the glittering of thy spear.
(See NIV)

Zechariah 9:14
Yahweh will be seen over them; and his arrow will go flash like lightning; and the Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Lightning

Lightning: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Lightning-flash (1 Occurrence)

Flashes (16 Occurrences)

Lighten (19 Occurrences)

Flash (19 Occurrences)

Flashed (12 Occurrences)

Peals (7 Occurrences)

Thunder (48 Occurrences)

Glittering (12 Occurrences)