In the biblical context, the term "thundered" often signifies the powerful and awe-inspiring voice or presence of God. Thunder is frequently associated with divine revelation, judgment, and the manifestation of God's power and majesty. Throughout Scripture, thunder serves as a symbol of God's authority and a means by which He communicates with His people.

Old Testament References

1. Exodus 19:16-19: At Mount Sinai, the Israelites experienced a dramatic encounter with God, marked by thunder and lightning. "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled" . This event underscores the holiness and power of God as He delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses.

2. 1 Samuel 7:10: During the battle between the Israelites and the Philistines, God intervened with a mighty display of His power. "As Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel" . Here, thunder is a direct act of divine intervention, leading to victory for God's people.

3. Job 37:4-5: Elihu, one of Job's friends, describes the voice of God as thunderous. "After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, and He does not restrain the lightning when His voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend" . This passage highlights the incomprehensible and majestic nature of God's voice.

4. Psalm 18:13-14: In a psalm of David, the imagery of thunder is used to describe God's deliverance. "The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—Hailstones and coals of fire. He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them" . Thunder here is a metaphor for God's intervention and protection.

New Testament References

1. John 12:28-29: In the New Testament, thunder is also associated with the voice of God. When Jesus prays, "Father, glorify Your name," a voice from heaven responds. "Then a voice came from heaven: 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.' The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him" . This event illustrates the divine affirmation of Jesus' mission.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

Thunder in the Bible is a powerful symbol of God's voice and presence. It often accompanies significant moments of divine revelation and judgment. The use of thunder emphasizes God's sovereignty and the awe-inspiring nature of His interactions with humanity. It serves as a reminder of His ultimate authority and the reverence due to Him.

In biblical literature, thunder is not merely a natural phenomenon but a theophany—a visible manifestation of God to humankind. It underscores the belief in a God who is actively involved in the world and who communicates His will and power in ways that are both majestic and fearsome.(imp. & p. p.) of Thunder.1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... 1), split (1), spoken (1), starting (1), take place (16), taken (2), taken place
(5), takes place (1), taking place (3), there arose (1), thundered* (1), took ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1096.htm - 15k

1027. bronte -- thunder
... Word Origin akin to bremo (to roar) Definition thunder NASB Word Usage peals of
thunder (8), Thunder (1), thunder (2), thundered* (1). thunder, thundering. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1027.htm - 6k

7481. raam -- to thunder
... Word Origin denominative verb from raam Definition to thunder NASB Word Usage irritate
(1), roar (3), thunder (2), thundered (3), thunders (3), troubled (1). ...
/hebrew/7481.htm - 6k

Greeks Seek Jesus. He Foretells that He Shall Draw all Men unto ...
... head over all to the church and the final judge of all men.] 29 The multitude therefore,
that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxii greeks seek jesus he.htm

The Speaking Voice
... When God spoke out of heaven to our Lord, self-centered men who heard it explained
it by natural causes: they said, "It thundered." This habit of explaining ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/vi the speaking voice.htm

John xii. 25, 26
... [1902] "This Voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes.". They thought that
it thundered, or that an Angel spake to Him. And how did they think this? ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxvii john xii 25.htm

About the Prefigured Change of the Israelitic Kingdom and ...
... The Lord hath ascended into the heavens, and hath thundered: He shall judge the
ends of the earth, for He is righteous: and He giveth strength to our kings ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 4 about the prefigured change.htm

Psalm XLVI.
... For out of them "the Most High gave His Voice, and the earth was moved:"
He thundered out of His clouds. And what are His clouds? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlvi.htm

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
... Him. He preached even when in chains. He did more; he attacked his judge
on the throne. He reasoned, he enforced, he thundered. He ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/saurin paul before felix.htm

Law and Grace.
... that before Christ made His appearance at the Jordan, the cry of John, day by day
was, "Repent: for the kingdom of God is at hand!" He thundered out the law. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/chapter v law and grace.htm

A Jealous God
... Our text is coupled with the command""Thou shalt worship no other God." When the
law was thundered from Sinai, the second commandment received force from the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/a jealous god.htm

Prayer Incidents in the Life of Our Lord
... Death. One day in 1789a bold navigator shoved the prow of his vessel into
the storms that thundered around it and found a calm sea. ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/viii prayer incidents in the.htm

The Transplanting of Congregationalism
... made their pulpits resound with the doctrines of the divine right of kings, the
divine right of bishops, and of passive obedience, and as they thundered at the ...
/.../chapter ii the transplanting of.htm

Thundered (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Thundered (5 Occurrences). John 12:29 The multitude
therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. ...
/t/thundered.htm - 8k

Thunder (48 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric
electricity; -- often used impersonally; as, it thundered continuously. ...
/t/thunder.htm - 25k

Resounded (5 Occurrences)
... (WBS NAS RSV). 2 Samuel 22:14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered
his voice. (See NIV). ... (WBS). Psalms 18:13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky. ...
/r/resounded.htm - 7k

Uttered (60 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 22:14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. ... (WEB
KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). Psalms 18:13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky. ...
/u/uttered.htm - 23k

Oppression (67 Occurrences)
... 5:8; Ecclesiastes 7:7 the King James Version); the prophets Amos (3:9), Isaiah
(5:7; 59:13), Jeremiah (6:6; 22:17) and Ezekiel (22:7, 29) thundered against it. ...
/o/oppression.htm - 29k

Ice (20 Occurrences)
... fire. (BBE). Psalms 18:13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High
uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. (Root ...
/i/ice.htm - 13k

Thundereth (4 Occurrences)

/t/thundereth.htm - 7k

Thundercloud (1 Occurrence)

/t/thundercloud.htm - 6k

Routed (25 Occurrences)
... And Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and
discomfited them; and they were routed before Israel. (DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/routed.htm - 13k

Engage (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 7:10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew
near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on ...
/e/engage.htm - 14k

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