Psalms 18 · Verse 12

Psalms 18:12

At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
Psalms 18:12, King James Version

Psalms 18:12 in other translations

BSBFrom the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced— hailstones and coals of fire.
WEBAt the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
ASVAt the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
YLTFrom the brightness over-against Him His thick clouds have passed on, Hail and coals of fire.
DARBYFrom the brightness before him his thick clouds passed forth: hail and coals of fire.
BBEBefore his shining light his dark clouds went past, raining ice and fire.
WebsterAt the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

What does Psalms 18:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Out of this obscurity, which impresses the beholder with awe and dread, He reveals Himself by sudden light and the means of His terrible wrath (Jos 10:11; Psa 78:47).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed - The word נגה nogah signifies the lightning. This goes before him: the flash is seen before the thunder is heard, and before the rain descends; and then the thick cloud passes. Its contents are precipitated on the earth, and the cloud is entirely dissipated. Hail-stones and coals of fire - This was the storm that followed the flash and the peal; for it is immediately added: -

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 18:1-19

The first words, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength," are the scope and contents of the psalm. Those that truly love God, may triumph in him as their Rock and Refuge, and may with confidence call upon him. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it. David was a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did…

Read the full comment on Psalms 18:1-19 →

Psalms 18:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִנֹּ֗גַהּmi.No.gahfrom [the] brightnessH5051
נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹneg.Dobefore himH5048
עָבָ֥יו'a.Vavdark clouds hisH5645
עָבְר֑וּ'a.ve.Ruthey passed onH5674
בָּ֝רָ֗דba.RadhailH1259
וְגַֽחֲלֵי\־ve.ga.cha.lei-and coals ofH1513
אֵֽשׁ\׃'EshfireH784

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 18:12

  • Joshua 10:11

    And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth–horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

  • Revelation 16:21

    And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

  • Matthew 17:5

    While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

  • Exodus 9:23-24

    And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

  • Matthew 17:2

    And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

  • 2 Samuel 22:13-15

    Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

  • Psalms 104:2

    Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

  • Habakkuk 3:4-5

    And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

  • Psalms 97:3-4

    A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
At the.
97:3,4; Hab 3:4,5; Mt 17:2,5
hail.
Ex 9:23,24; Jos 10:11; 2Sa 22:13-15; Re 16:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 18:11

    He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

  • Psalms 18:12

    At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

  • Psalms 18:13

    The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

Read all of Psalms 18

Psalms 18:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por el resplandor delante de él, sus nubes pasaron; granizo y carbones ardientes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il mit les ténèbres pour sa demeure secrète comme sa tente autour de lui, des ténèbres d’eaux, d’épaisses nuées de l’air.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aus dem Glanze vor ihm fuhr sein dichtes Gewölk vorüber, Hagel und feurige Kohlen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Etenim servus tuus custodit ea; in custodiendis illis retributio multa.