There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
- BSB Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.
- NKJV Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
- NASB “Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And fire from His mouth was devouring; Coals were kindled by it.
- NLT Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
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
Smoke and consuming fire are pictured pouring from God in his anger. The imagery conveys the fierce intensity of his judgment against evil.
Overview
David draws on vivid theophany language to portray God's wrath as a devouring fire. This is poetic depiction of the Holy One roused to deliver his servant and judge the wicked. It reminds us that God is a consuming fire, holy and just, yet here that power is turned to save his beloved.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 12:29For our God is a consuming fire.
- Ps 18:15Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
- Deut 32:22For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
- Ps 18:8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
- Ps 97:3–5A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
- Exod 15:7–8And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
- 2 Sam 22:16And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
- Exod 24:17And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
- Isa 30:27Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
- Jer 15:14And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.
- Exod 19:18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
- Job 41:20–21Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
- 2 Sam 22:13Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
- Hab 3:5Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
- Job 4:9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
- Jer 5:14Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
- Isa 30:33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
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 22:9 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.