Thunder

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Often referred to in Scripture (Job 40:9; Ps 77:18; 104:7). James and John were called by our Lord “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). In Job 39:19, instead of “thunder,” as in the Authorized Version, the Revised Version translates (ra’amah) by “quivering main” (marg., “shaking”). Thunder accompanied the giving of the law at Sinai (Exod 19:16). It was regarded as the voice of God (Job 37:2; Ps 18:13; 81:7; comp. John 12:29). In answer to Samuel’s prayer (1 Sam 12:17, 18), God sent thunder, and “all the people greatly feared,” for at such a season (the wheat-harvest) thunder and rain were almost unknown in Palestine.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thun'-der (ra`am (1 Sam 2:10; Job 26:14; Job 39:19; Job 40:9; Ps 77:18; Ps 81:7; Ps 104:7; Isa 29:6), qol, "a voice" (Exod 9:23; 1 Sam 7:10; 1 Sam 12:17; Job 28:26; Job 38:25)): Thunder is the noise resulting from the lightning discharge. It is very common in the winter storms of Syria and Palestine and occurs in the extra-season storms. Thunder accompanied the storm of hail in Egypt at the time of the plagues: "The Lord sent thunder and hail" (Exod 9:23).

Lightning and thunder are indications of the power of Yahweh and His might. "The thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14); "The God of glory thundereth" (Ps 29:3). Yahweh also confused the Philistines with thunder (1 Sam 7:10), and His foes were "visited of Yahweh of hosts with thunder" (Isa 29:6). Thunder was regarded as the voice of Yahweh: "God thundereth with the voice of his excellency" (Job 37:4), and God spoke to Jesus in the thunder (bronte, John 12:29).