Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
- KJV Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
- NKJV “Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
- NASB “Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry.
- NLT “Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked because of his anger.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's answer is portrayed as an earthquake, the foundations shaking at his anger. The Almighty moves powerfully to rescue his servant.
Overview
David describes God's coming in dramatic theophany language, the trembling earth signaling divine wrath against his enemies. Such imagery recalls Sinai and reveals the awesome power that God wields on behalf of his people. It assures us that the God who answers prayer is the Lord of all creation, before whom no foe can stand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Job 26:11The foundations of heaven quake, astounded at His rebuke.
- Ps 97:4His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles.
- Ps 77:18Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
- Judg 5:4O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.
- Matt 28:2Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.
- Ps 18:7Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
- Acts 4:31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
- Nah 1:5The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
- Matt 27:51At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
- Hab 3:6–11He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 22:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.