2 Samuel 22:9 kjv
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
2 Samuel 22:9 nkjv
Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
2 Samuel 22:9 niv
Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
2 Samuel 22:9 esv
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
2 Samuel 22:9 nlt
Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
2 Samuel 22 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 18:8 | Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth... | Direct parallel to 2 Sam 22:9, illustrating God's powerful anger. |
| Ex 19:18 | Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it... | God's fearful presence at Sinai, associated with smoke and fire. |
| Deut 4:11-12 | You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned... | Description of God's presence as a devouring fire on Mount Horeb. |
| Ps 97:3 | Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries all around. | God's fire as a weapon against His enemies. |
| Heb 12:29 | for our God is a consuming fire. | New Testament affirmation of God's essential nature as a purifying and judging fire. |
| Nah 1:5-6 | The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt...His wrath is poured out like fire. | God's overwhelming power, mountains melting before His fiery wrath. |
| Isa 30:27 | Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with His anger, and in thick rising smoke; | God's anger depicted with burning and smoke. |
| Isa 30:30 | and the LORD will make the splendor of His voice to be heard, and the descending blow of His arm... | God's majestic voice accompanied by destructive power. |
| Ps 50:3 | Our God comes; He does not keep silence; fire devours before Him... | God's arrival for judgment, preceded by fire. |
| Isa 33:14 | "Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?" | rhetorical question emphasizing the awe-inspiring nature of God's fiery presence. |
| Jer 20:9 | But if I say, “I will not mention Him, or speak anymore in His name,” then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire... | Prophetic word as a consuming fire, connected to divine message. |
| Lam 2:3 | He has poured out His fury like fire... | God's poured-out wrath likened to fire. |
| Joel 2:3 | Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame blazes. | Describing an invading army, using imagery typical of divine judgment. |
| Hab 3:5 | Before Him goes pestilence, and burning coals come forth at His feet. | God's awesome power in judgment, with accompanying devastation. |
| Rev 1:14-15 | His eyes were like a flame of fire...and His feet were like burnished bronze... | Depiction of Christ in glory, resonating with theophanic fire imagery. |
| Rev 19:11-12 | And He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war...His eyes are a flame of fire. | Christ as a warrior-judge, with fiery eyes signifying discerning judgment and power. |
| Deut 29:20 | the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will smoke against that man... | The direct linking of smoke with God's jealousy and anger. |
| Gen 15:17 | When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed... | God's covenant appearance to Abraham using smoke and fire. |
| Ex 3:2-3 | There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire... | God appearing in fire to Moses at the burning bush. |
| Judg 6:21 | Then the angel of the LORD put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand...fire sprang up... | God demonstrating His power through fire consuming a sacrifice. |
| Ezek 1:27 | and what looked like glowing metal, surrounded by fire... | Description of God's glorious presence (merkabah vision) involving fire. |
| Ps 74:1 | O God, why do You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? | Direct reference to God's "smoking anger." |
2 Samuel 22 verses
2 Samuel 22 9 Meaning
This verse vividly portrays God's majestic and terrifying manifestation (theophany), emphasizing His immense power and righteous wrath. It depicts the Lord as a divine warrior, with smoke billowing from His nostrils, devouring fire erupting from His mouth, and glowing coals blazing forth, all symbolizing His fierce anger and consuming judgment against David's adversaries. It's a poetic expression of God's active, overwhelming intervention for His servant.
2 Samuel 22 9 Context
2 Samuel chapter 22 is a profound psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance recited by King David. It is almost identical to Psalm 18, both depicting God's mighty acts of salvation on behalf of His servant, David. The specific context is David looking back on his life, acknowledging God's faithfulness in delivering him from all his enemies, especially from the hand of King Saul. Verse 9 belongs to a larger section (v. 8-16) which uses powerful cosmic imagery (a theophany) to describe God's personal and decisive intervention. The previous verse mentions the earth shaking and quaking as a response to God's anger. This sets the stage for the direct manifestation of God's fearsome presence in verse 9, vividly detailing His attributes as a divine warrior who intervenes with overwhelming power against opposition.
2 Samuel 22 9 Word analysis
- Smoke (עָשָׁן -
ashan) went up from His nostrils (אַפּוֹ -appo):ashan(smoke): A symbol of divine presence (Ex 19:18) but here specifically points to intense wrath. It signifies the extreme heat and pressure of God's indignation building up and violently expressing itself.appo(His nostrils/nose): Hebrew idiom often associates the "nose" (aph) with anger. A "long nose" means patience, a "short nose" means quick temper. Here, the imagery of smoke belching from nostrils is a vivid anthropomorphism depicting divine fury and explosive wrath. It is a polemic against the naturalistic views of ANE deities whose anger might be erratic; Yahweh's wrath is righteous and purposeful.
- and devouring (אֹכֵלָה -
ochēlāh) fire (אֵשׁ -esh) from His mouth (פִּיו -pīw):esh(fire): A multifaceted biblical symbol, representing God's holiness (Heb 12:29), purification, glory, and judgment. Here, linked with judgment.ochēlāh(devouring/consuming): Emphasizes the destructive and unyielding nature of this fire. It signifies absolute, irresistible judgment, consuming all that stands against God's will.pīw(His mouth): While God's mouth is often associated with His creative Word (Gen 1:3) or prophetic revelation (Deut 18:18), here it unleashes destructive power. This indicates that divine judgment is directly from God's decree and authority. It’s an unstoppable expression of His will.
- coals (גֶּחָלִים -
gechalim) burned forth (בָּעֲרוּ -ba'aru) from Him:gechalim(burning coals/embers): Represents intensely hot, radiating fragments of fire. Not just the initial blaze, but the sustained, radiating heat of destructive power. This denotes a spreading, all-encompassing devastation.ba'aru(burned/blazed/flared): Highlights the active, intense, and unstoppable nature of this emanating fire. It underscores the active pursuit and consumption of enemies. This further stresses the pervasive nature of God's consuming wrath, extending beyond mere smoke and flame to intensely hot, radiating elements that annihilate completely.
Words-group Analysis:
- Divine Anthropomorphism and Theophany: The entire verse employs anthropomorphic language (nostrils, mouth) to describe God's presence, not literally, but to make His infinite power relatable to human understanding. It's a dramatic theophany, portraying God as actively and powerfully manifesting to intervene in earthly affairs, particularly in the rescue of His anointed.
- Imagery of Wrath and Judgment: The combined imagery of smoke, devouring fire, and burning coals creates a potent picture of divine indignation and unreserved judgment. This isn't just passive anger but an active, destructive force unleashed against opposition, guaranteeing deliverance for His people and defeat for His enemies. This demonstrates Yahweh's superiority to false gods of the Ancient Near East who might use storm elements; Yahweh is the source of these elements as expressions of His own being and wrath.
2 Samuel 22 9 Bonus section
The highly evocative imagery in this verse draws heavily from descriptions of volcanic activity or a fierce storm. This connects to ancient world understandings of powerful natural phenomena as direct manifestations of divine power, allowing the reader to grasp the intensity of God's presence. In particular, it counters the perception of pagan storm gods like Baal. Unlike Baal, who was worshipped as controlling thunder and rain, Yahweh emanates these cosmic forces directly from His being, demonstrating His inherent and supreme sovereignty over all elements and the course of history, not just external control. This powerful imagery would have affirmed David's audience that their God was utterly unique and unparalleled. The language foreshadows later prophetic visions and New Testament depictions of Christ, emphasizing a consistency in God's character as both holy Judge and Deliverer.
2 Samuel 22 9 Commentary
2 Samuel 22:9 offers a vivid, poetic portrayal of God as a dynamic and formidable warrior, a source of all-consuming power. This imagery underscores that the Lord is not distant or indifferent but intensely involved in the affairs of His creation and committed to upholding justice, especially for His covenant people. His "smoke from nostrils" and "fire from mouth" are not to be taken literally, but rather convey the magnitude of His righteous indignation and His absolute capacity to intervene decisively against evil. This passage provides great assurance to believers that when facing seemingly insurmountable opposition, their Deliverer actively contends on their behalf, His wrath burning against those who oppose His divine purpose and His children. This God, who moves heaven and earth (as suggested by the verses before and after this verse), is the ultimate safeguard and avenger. It reaffirms God’s covenant faithfulness through an exhibition of raw divine power.