Psalms 77:18

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

Psalms 77:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 77:18

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven
Thunder is the voice of God, ( Job 37:5 ) ( 40:9 ) this is heard in "the orb" ^F2, or the air, so called, because spherical; the Targum is

``the voice of thy thunder was heard in the wheel;''

so the word here used sometimes signifies; so ( Ezekiel 10:13 ) , and is so rendered here by some ^F3; some think this refers to the wheels of the chariots of the Egyptians, which were taken off, it may be by the force of thunder and lightning, so that they drove on heavily, ( Exodus 14:25 ) ,

the lightnings lightened the world;
not only that part of the world where the Israelites and Egyptians were, but the whole world; for lightning comes out of the east, and shines to the west, ( Matthew 24:27 ) , this was in the night, and a very dark night it was, as Josephus ^F4 affirms; see ( Psalms 97:4 ) ,

the earth trembled and shook;
there was an earthquake at the same time; unless this is to be understood of the panic which the inhabitants of the earth were put into on hearing of this wonderful event, ( Joshua 2:9 Joshua 2:10 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (lglgb) "in rotunditate", Montanus, Vatablus; "in isto orbe", Junius & Tremeullis; "in orbe", Cocceius; "in sphaera", Arab.
F3 "In rota", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Musculus, Gejerus; "in rotis", Muis, Syr. vid. Suidam in voce (trocov) .
F4 Ut supra. (Antiq. l. 2. c. 16. sect. 3.)

Psalms 77:18 In-Context

16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.