Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
- BSB Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
- 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 pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
- Ps 97:4His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
- Ps 77:18The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
- Judg 5:4LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
- Matt 28:2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
- Ps 18:7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
- Acts 4:31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
- Nah 1:5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
- Matt 27:51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
- Hab 3:6–11He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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