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Psalms 18:12

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 18:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
Psalms 18:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
13Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
15Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
← Psalms 18:11Psalms 18:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Out of this obscurity, which impresses the beholder with awe and dread, He reveals Himself by sudden light and the means of His terrible wrath (Jos 10:11; Psa 78:47).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“At the brightness that was before him - From the flash - the play of the lightnings that seemed to go before him. His thick clouds passed - or, vanished. They seemed to pass away. The light, the flash, the blaze, penetrated those clouds, and seemed to dispel, or to scatter them. The whole heavens were in a blaze, as if there were no clouds, or as if the clouds were all driven away. The reference here is to the appearance when the vivid flashes of lightning seem to penetrate and dispel the clouds, and the heavens seem to be lighted up with a universal flame. Hail-stones - That is, hailstones followed, or fell. And coals of fire - There seemed to be coals of fire rolling along the ground, or…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“At - His glorious and powerful appearance. Passed - Or, passed away, vanished, being dissolved into showers. Psalms 18:14”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“At the: Psa 97:3, Psa 97:4; Hab 3:4, Hab 3:5; Mat 17:2, Mat 17:5 hail: Exo 9:23, Exo 9:24; Jos 10:11; Sa2 22:13-15; Rev 16:21 Psalms 18:13”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification