Lightning
Lightning
().-Lightning, the visible discharge of atmospheric electricity from one cloud to another, or from a cloud to the earth, is now known to be essentially the same as the electric flashes produced in the laboratory. To the ancients it seemed supernatural. Terrible in its dazzling beauty and power to destroy, it was associated with theophanies (Exo 19:16; Exo 20:18, Eze 1:13-14), and became one of the categories of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic (Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18). See Thunder.
James Strahan.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Lightning
(properly , barak’, Dan 10:6; collectively lightninqs, Psa 144:6; 2Sa 22:15; Ezra 1:13; plur. Job 38:35; Psa 18:15; Psa 77:19, etc.; trop. the brightness of a glittering sword, Eze 21:15, Deu 32:41, etc.; (, Mat 24:27; Mat 28:3; Luk 10:18; Luk 11:36; Luk 17:24; Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18; once , baza’c, a flash of lightning, Eze 1:14; less properly , dr, light, Job 37:3; Job 37:11; , lalppid’, a burning torch, Exo 20:18; fig. , chaziz’, an arrow, i.e., ethunder-fash, Zec 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” (Nah 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” (Psa 135:7; Psa 144:6; 2Sa 22:15; Job 28:26; Job 37:4-5; Job 38:25; Job 40:9; Zec 9:14; Rev 4:5; Rev 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 (Psa 144:6; Zec 9:14; Psa 18:14; Rev 4:5; Rev 16:18). Thunders and lightnings, when they proceed from the throne of God (as in Rev 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 Rev 20:9). The voices, thunders, lightnings, and great hail, in Rev 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.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Lightning
frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nah. 1:3-6). Thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God’s wrath (2 Sam. 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Ps. 135:7; 144:6; Zech. 9:14). They represent God’s glorious and awful majesty (Rev. 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (20:9).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Lightning
LIGHTNING ().There are 3 references to lightning in the Gospels, one of these being duplicated (in Mt. and Lk.).
1. Luk 10:18 I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. The word beheld (), being in the impf., indicates a continuous contemplation. Taken in conjunction with the aorist participle fallen (so Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 , not fall as in Authorized Version , the Gr. being ), this cannot mean that in a pre-existent state Jesus beheld the fall of Satan taking place, i.e. when the devil was cast out of heaven, as described in Paradise Lost. The meaning of the expression should be arrived at through the context, where we read of the Seventy returning to Jesus with joy, and exclaiming, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name (Luk 10:17), in reference to their successful exorcism. This meaning seems to be that the news brought to Jesus by His disciples did not take Him by surprise, because at the very time when they were carrying on their successful work He was looking at the prince of the demons lying fallen (so Holtzmann, Plummer, etc.),a highly figurative expression which need not point to an actual vision. Jesus had the intuitive assurance that His arch-enemy was defeated already. Therefore the disciples were able to cast out the demons. The situation may be illustrated by the parable of the strong man bound by a stronger so that his house can be robbed (Mar 3:27), Satan being the strong man, Christ the stronger, the demons the vessels that are taken from the house, which may be either the world or the possessed victims. There is no indication when Satan fell (as perhaps at the Temptation of Jesus). He is contemplated as fallen. Still the aorist points to a definite action, and the comparison with lightning emphasizes this point. Possibly our Lord was alluding to Isa 14:12. A similar idea appears in Rev 12:9. Wellhausen regards the verse in Lk. as apocryphal; but Jesus frequently used apocalyptic imagery. In the Koran (Sura 72) the demons are cast out of heaven at the coming of Mohammed, the angels bombarding them with stars.
2. Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of Man (cf. Luk 17:24). The idea seems to be that of widespread and unmistakable evidence. The coming of the Son of Man will be seen everywhere, and that very manifestly (so Plummer, Wellhausen, etc.). A second thought, the suddenness of the flash (Plummer), is not so apparent, if it is even present at all, in this application of the idea of lightning to the Parousia. For the apparent contradiction between this thought and that in Luk 17:20 see Observation.
3. The one other Gospel reference to lightning is in the description of the angel of the Resurrection (Mat 28:3), whose appearance is as lightning, the idea being dazzling brightness.
W. F. Adeney.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Lightning
LIGHTNING.Our colloquial use of fire for lightning had its counterpart in Heb., e.g. in such a phrase as fire (sh) and hail (Exo 9:23 etc.; cf. Gen 19:24, 1Ki 18:38 etc.). The Heb. r (Job 37:3) is lit. light; bzq (Eze 1:14) should probably read brq; lappd, lit. torch, is used in the plur. for lightnings (Exo 20:18); a word of uncertain meaning, chzz (Job 28:26; Job 38:35, Zec 10:1), is evidently related to thunder, and should probably in each case be tr. [Note: translate or translation.] thunder-cloud. The usual Heb. word is brq, Gr. astrap (2Sa 22:16 etc., Mat 24:27 etc.). It is used fig. for the glitter of bright metal (Deu 32:41, lit. the lightning of my sword; cf. Eze 21:10, Nah 3:3, Hab 3:11), and for the glittering weapon itself (Job 20:25). It is suggested, either by the flash of polished metal, or by the speed of the chariot (Nah 2:4). Lightning is associated with the appearance of God (Exo 19:16 etc.), and He alone can control it (Job 38:33, Psa 18:14). With lightnings as with arrows, God scatters His enemies (Psa 144:5 etc.). A radiant face (Dan 10:8), and gleaming garments (Mat 28:3), are like lightning. There is vivid suggestiveness in the comparison of Satans overthrow with the descent of lightning (Luk 10:18). Cf. the name Barak (Jdg 4:6), with the Carthaginian Barca.
W. Ewing.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Lightning
ltning (, barak, , hazz; , astrape): Lightning is caused by the discharge of electricity between clouds or between clouds and the earth. In a thunder-storm there is a rapid gathering of particles of moisture into clouds and forming of large drops of rain. This gathers with it electric potential until the surface of the cloud (or the enlarged water particles) is insufficient to carry the charge, and a discharge takes place, producing a brilliant flash of light and the resulting thunder-clap. Thunder-storms are common in Syria and Palestine during the periods of heavy rain in the spring and fall and are often severe. Lightning is usually accompanied by heavy rainfall or by hail, as at the time of the plague of hail (Exo 9:24). See HAIL.
In the Scriptures it is used: (a) indicating the power of God: The power of God is shown in His command of the forces of Nature, and He is the only one who knows the secrets of Nature: He made … a way for the lightning (Job 28:26); He directeth … his lightning (Job 37:3 the King James Version); Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go? (Job 38:35); Ask ye of Yahweh … that maketh lightnings (Zec 10:1). See also Psa 18:14; Psa 97:4; Psa 135:7; Job 36:32; Jer 10:13; (b) figuratively and poetically: David sings of Yahweh, He sent … lightnings manifold, and discomfited them (Psa 18:14); used for speed: The chariots … run like the lightnings (Nah 2:4): His arrow shall go forth as the lightning (Zec 9:14); The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning (Eze 1:14). The coming of the kingdom is described by Jesus as the shining of the lightning from one part of heaven to another, even from the east unto the west (Mat 24:27; Luk 17:24); (c) meaning bright or shining: Daniel in his vision saw a man and his face (was) as the appearance of lightning (Dan 10:6). See also Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 16:18.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Lightning
Job 28:26; Job 37:3; Job 38:25; Job 38:35; Psa 18:14; Psa 77:18; Psa 78:48; Psa 97:4; Psa 135:7; Psa 144:6; Jer 10:13; Jer 51:16; Eze 1:13-14; Dan 10:6; Nah 2:4; Zec 9:14; Zec 10:1; Mat 24:27; Mat 28:3; Luk 10:18; Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Lightning
denotes (a) “lightning” (akin to LIGHT, B, No. 7), Mat 24:27; Mat 28:3; Luk 10:18; Luk 17:24; in the plural, Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18; (b) “bright shining,” or “shining brightness,” Luk 11:36. See SHINING.
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Lightning
Zec 9:14 (b) This is a severe picture of GOD’s avenging wrath and righteous judgment on His enemies. No one knows where it will strike, nor when, nor what damage will be the result.
Luk 10:18 (a) The disciples thought they had conquered Satan. Our Lord is assuring them that this is not the case. Satan occupies heavenly places. He strikes in people’s lives wherever and whenever he pleases. No one can put Satan down nor conquer him. He daily attacks people where and when he pleases. This passage does not refer to Satan’s fall from Heaven, but rather to his daily attacks on the people on earth.