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Psalms 77:18

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 77:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.
Psalms 77:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 77

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16The waters saw thee, O God; The waters saw thee, they were afraid: The depths also trembled.
17The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.
19Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.
20Thou leddest thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 78 Maschil of Asaph.
← Psalms 77:17Psalms 77:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven - Compare the notes at Psalms 29:1-11. The word rendered “heaven” here - גלגל galgal - means properly “a wheel,” as of a chariot, Isaiah 5:28; Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:6; Ezekiel 23:24; Ezekiel 26:10. Then it means a “whirlwind,” as that which rolls along, Ezekiel 10:13. Then it is used to denote chaff or stubble, as driven along before a whirlwind, Psalms 83:13; Isaiah 17:13. It is never used to denote heaven. It means here, undoubtedly, the whirlwind; and the idea is, that in the ragings of the storm, or of the whirlwind, the voice of God was heard - the deep bellowing thunder - as if God spoke to people. The lightnings lightened the world - The…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“voice: Psa 29:3-9; Exo 19:16; Job 37:1-5; Rev 11:19 lightnings: Psa 97:4; Hab 3:4; Rev 18:1 earth: Exo 19:18; Sa2 22:8, Sa2 22:14; Mat 27:51, Mat 28:2; Rev 20:11 Psalms 77:19”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 77 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification