the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Bible Encyclopedias
Lightning
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (properly בָּרָק, barak', Daniel 10:6; collectively lightninqs, Psalms 144:6; 2 Samuel 22:15; Ezra 1:13; plur. Job 38:35; Psalms 18:15; Psalms 77:19, etc.; trop. the brightness of a glittering sword, Ezekiel 21:15, Deuteronomy 32:41, etc.; (ἀστραπή, Matthew 24:27; Matthew 28:3; Luke 10:18; Luke 11:36; Luke 17:24; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18; once בָּזָק, baza'c, a flash of lightning, Ezekiel 1:14; less properly אוֹר, dr, light, Job 37:3; Job 37:11; לִפַּיד, lalppid', a burning torch, Exodus 20:18; fig. חָזַיז, chaziz', an arrow, i.e., ethunder-fash, Zechariah 10:1; comp. Job 28:26; Job 38:25). Travelers state that in Syria lightnings are frequent in the autumnal months. Seldom a night passes without a great deal of lightning, which is sometimes accompanied by thunder and sometimes not. A squall of wind and clouds of (dust are the uasual forerunners of the first rains. (See PALESTINE).
To these natural phenomena the sacred writers frequently allude. In directing their energies, "the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet; the mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence; his fury is poured out like fire. and the rocks are thrown down by him" (Nahum 1:3-6). The terrors of the divine wrath are often represented by thundler and lightning; and thunder, on account of its awful impression on the minds of mortals. is also spoken of in Scripture as the "voice of the Lord" (Psalms 135:7; Psalms 144:6; 2 Samuel 22:15; Job 28:26; Job 37:4-5; Job 38:25; Job 40:9; Zechariah 9:14; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 16:18-21). On account of the fire attending their light, they are the symbols of edicts enforced with destruction to those who oppose them, or who hinder others from giving obedience to them (Psalms 144:6; Zechariah 9:14; Psalms 18:14; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 16:18). Thunders and lightnings, when they proceed from the throne of God (as in Revelation 4:5), are fit representations of God's glorious and awful majesty; but whenfire comes down from heaven upon the earth, it expresses some judgment of God on the world (as in Revelation 20:9). The voices, thunders, lightnings, and great hail, in Revelation 16:18-21, are interpreted expressly of an exceeding great plague, so that men blasphemned on account of it (see Wemyss, Symb. Dict. s.v.). (See THUNDER).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Lightning'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/l/lightning.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
