Focused Passage

Psalms 18:7-15

The LORD My Rock, Deliverer, and King

The psalm moves from David’s love and praise for the LORD as refuge, through the memory of deathly distress and divine rescue, into cosmic theophany, righteous vindication, renewed strength for battle, victory over enemies and nations, and final praise to the LORD who gives great victories to his king and shows unfailing love to David and his descendants forever.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

8Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

9He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

10He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.

12From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.

13The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.

14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

15The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Cross-references

Psalms 46:2Classic cross-references Habakkuk 3:5Classic cross-references Isaiah 24:18Classic cross-references Jeremiah 10:10Classic cross-references Acts 4:31Classic cross-references

Original words

Then the earthהָאָ֗רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularshookוַתִּגְעַ֬שׁH1607Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand quakedוַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ׀H7493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand the foundationsוּמוֹסְדֵ֣יH4144Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof the mountainsהָרִ֣יםH2022Noun - masculine pluraltrembledיִרְגָּ֑זוּH7264Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralthey were shakenוַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּH1607Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralbecauseכִּי־H3588ConjunctionHe burned with angerחָ֥רָהH2734Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 8

Cross-references

Psalms 97:3Classic cross-references Psalms 21:9Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:12Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 6:1Classic cross-references Psalms 11:6Classic cross-references

Original words

Smokeעָשָׁ֨ן׀H6227Noun - masculine singularroseעָ֘לָ֤הH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularfrom His nostrilsבְּאַפּ֗וֹH639Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand consumingתֹּאכֵ֑לH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularfireוְאֵשׁ־H784Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singularcame fromמִמֶּֽנּוּ׃H4480Preposition | third person masculine singularHis mouthמִפִּ֥יוH6310Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularglowing coalsגֶּ֝חָלִ֗יםH1513Noun - masculine pluralblazed forthבָּעֲר֥וּH1197Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural

Verse 9

Cross-references

Psalms 144:5Classic cross-references Exodus 20:21Classic cross-references 2 Peter 3:10Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 22:10Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 33:26Classic cross-references

Original words

He partedוַיֵּ֣טH5186Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe heavensשָׁ֭מַיִםH8064Noun - masculine pluraland came downוַיֵּרַ֑דH3381Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwith dark cloudsוַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗לH6205Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularbeneathתַּ֣חַתH8478PrepositionHis feetרַגְלָֽיו׃H7272Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

Acts 2:2Classic cross-references Psalms 68:33Classic cross-references Daniel 3:17Classic cross-references Psalms 104:3Classic cross-references Habakkuk 3:8Classic cross-references

Original words

He mountedוַיִּרְכַּ֣בH7392Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .עַל־H5921Prepositiona cherubכְּ֭רוּבH3742Noun - masculine singularand flewוַיָּעֹ֑ףH5774Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularHe soaredוַ֝יֵּ֗דֶאH1675Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe wingsכַּנְפֵי־H3671Noun - feminine plural constructof the windרֽוּחַ׃H7307Noun - common singular

Verse 11

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:11Classic cross-references Exodus 19:16Classic cross-references Psalms 97:2Classic cross-references Job 38:19Classic cross-references Isaiah 50:3Classic cross-references

Original words

He madeיָ֤שֶׁתH7896Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singulardarknessחֹ֨שֶׁךְ׀H2822Noun - masculine singularHis hiding placeסִתְר֗וֹH5643Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular[and] stormמַ֝֗יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralcloudsעָבֵ֥יH5645Noun - common plural construct-שְׁחָקִֽים׃H7834Noun - masculine plurala canopyסֻכָּת֑וֹH5521Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular. . .חֶשְׁכַת־H2824Noun - feminine singular constructaround Himסְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יוH5439Adverb | third person masculine singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

Joshua 10:11Classic cross-references Ezekiel 38:22Classic cross-references Habakkuk 3:11Classic cross-references Proverbs 12:26Classic cross-references Revelation 16:21Classic cross-references

Original words

From the brightnessמִנֹּ֗גַהּH5051Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singularof His presenceנֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹH5048Preposition | third person masculine singularHis cloudsעָבָ֥יוH5645Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularadvancedעָבְר֑וּH5674Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralhailstonesבָּ֝רָ֗דH1259Noun - masculine singularand coalsוְגַֽחֲלֵי־H1513Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof fireאֵֽשׁ׃H784Noun - common singular

BSB notes

Or bolts of lightning; also in verse 13

Verse 13

Cross-references

Ezekiel 1:24Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 2:10Classic cross-references Exodus 9:23Classic cross-references Isaiah 30:30Classic cross-references Psalms 104:7Classic cross-references

Original words

The LORDיְֽהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthunderedוַיַּרְעֵ֬םH7481Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfrom heavenבַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם׀H8064Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralthe voiceקֹל֑וֹH6963Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularof the Most Highוְ֭עֶלְיוֹןH5945Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singularresoundedיִתֵּ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhailstonesבָּ֝רָ֗דH1259Noun - masculine singularand coalsוְגַֽחֲלֵי־H1513Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof fireאֵֽשׁ׃H784Noun - common singular

BSB notes

Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX do not include —hailstones and coals of fire; see 2 Samuel 22:14.

Verse 14

Cross-references

Joshua 10:10Classic cross-references Psalms 144:6Classic cross-references Zechariah 9:14Classic cross-references Psalms 64:7Classic cross-references Habakkuk 3:11Classic cross-references

Original words

He shotוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularHis arrowsחִ֭צָּיוH2671Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand scattered [the foes]וַיְפִיצֵ֑םH6327Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralHe hurledרָ֝בH7232Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularlightningוּבְרָקִ֥יםH1300Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluraland routed themוַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃H2000Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural

Verse 15

Cross-references

Psalms 106:9Classic cross-references Psalms 104:7Classic cross-references Psalms 91:15Classic cross-references Exodus 15:8Classic cross-references Job 4:9Classic cross-references

Original words

The channelsאֲפִ֥יקֵיH650Noun - masculine plural constructof the seaמַ֗יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralappearedוַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ׀H7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural[and] the foundationsמוֹסְד֪וֹתH4146Noun - feminine plural constructof the worldתֵּ֫בֵ֥לH8398Noun - feminine singularwere exposedוַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮H1540Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralat Your rebukeמִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣H1606Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularO LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularat the blastמִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗תH5397Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof the breathר֣וּחַH7307Noun - common singular constructof Your nostrilsאַפֶּֽךָ׃H639Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

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