Psalm 18 12

Psalm 18:12 kjv

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

Psalm 18:12 nkjv

From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

Psalm 18:12 niv

Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

Psalm 18:12 esv

Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

Psalm 18:12 nlt

Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
and rained down hail and burning coals.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 12 Meaning

Psalm 18:12 describes God's awesome and fearsome approach to intervene on behalf of His servant, David. It depicts His majestic and pure light from which dense storm clouds emerge, unleashing destructive elements—hailstones and coals of fire—as an expression of His mighty power and holy wrath against His enemies. This imagery emphasizes God as the ultimate divine warrior who controls cosmic forces for deliverance and judgment.

Psalm 18 12 Context

Psalm 18 is a triumphant psalm of thanksgiving, attributed to David (as also recorded in 2 Sam 22). It recounts God's powerful deliverance of David from all his enemies, especially from the hand of Saul. This verse, Psalm 18:12, is part of a dramatic depiction of theophany (verses 7-15), where God actively intervenes. David portrays the Lord descending from heaven, wrapped in storm clouds, riding upon cherubim, and unleashing elemental forces as His weapons to rescue His anointed. The verse portrays a manifestation of divine glory so intense that clouds emanate from it, serving as both a chariot and a veiled presence, through which God executes judgment with cosmic power.

Psalm 18 12 Word analysis

• From the brightness (מִנֹּגַהּ - minnōgah):
  • Nogah (נֹגַהּ) refers to intense, radiant light, splendor, or refulgence. It signifies God's inherent holiness and dazzling majesty (e.g., Isa 60:3). This brightness is not merely illumination but an active, emanating power, directly connected to God's glorious nature.
• of his presence (נֶגְדּוֹ - negdō):
  • Negdō means "before him" or "in his presence." It emphasizes the source of the brightness as God's very being and underscores the immediacy and directness of His powerful manifestation.
• his clouds (עָבָיו - ‘āvāw):
  • Avav (עָבָיו) refers to thick, heavy storm clouds. In biblical contexts, clouds often accompany divine manifestations, acting as both a veiling and a vehicle for God's presence (Ex 19:9). They signify His power over the natural elements and are here shown to emanate directly from His divine brightness.
• swept onward (עָבְרוּ - ‘āvəru):
  • Avaru (עָבְרוּ), "passed," or "swept onward," implies dynamic movement and progression. The clouds are not static but actively moving forward, carrying the storm's destructive power, demonstrating the active and unstoppable nature of God's intervention.
• hailstones (בָּרָד - bārāḏ):
  • Barad (בָּרָד), literally "hail," is frequently associated with divine judgment and wrath in the Bible (Ex 9, Josh 10:11). Its destructive power serves as a concrete manifestation of God's cosmic authority used for both vengeance and deliverance.
• and coals of fire (וְגַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ - wəgaḥălê ‘ēš):
  • Gacheley Esh (גַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ) denotes glowing embers or burning coals. Fire is a recurring symbol of God's consuming holiness, purifying judgment, and destructive power (Dt 4:24, Heb 12:29). Combined with hail, it depicts a devastating, inescapable expression of divine wrath.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "From the brightness of his presence": This phrase pinpoints the origin of the powerful phenomena: God's essential being. His inherent, active radiance is the wellspring of all His subsequent power and actions, signaling an imminent, personal, and overwhelming theophany. This portrayal asserts YHWH's active, revealed glory, directly countering any perception of a weak or distant deity.
• "his clouds swept onward": The possessive "his" signifies God's absolute, personal control over the storm elements, contrasting with pagan deities like Baal, who were worshipped as storm gods. The depiction of the clouds "sweeping onward" indicates an unstoppable, powerful advance, acting as both a manifestation of His presence and a carrier of His divine judgment and deliverance.
• "hailstones and coals of fire": These specific elements are potent symbols of divine judgment and destruction, representing a two-pronged attack: the crushing impact of hail and the consuming fury of fire. Their combination intensifies the scene, illustrating God's complete dominion over nature and His willingness to use even the most extreme natural forces as tools for His holy justice and the salvation of His anointed.

Psalm 18 12 Bonus section

• The dramatic storm imagery in this psalm (including 18:12) directly engages with ancient Near Eastern storm deity narratives. By depicting YHWH as the supreme commander of these powerful phenomena, the psalm asserts His unique, sovereign authority over all cosmic forces, diminishing the claims of other gods (like Baal) and affirming His sole supremacy.
• The progression of the imagery from the divine "brightness" within God's "presence" to the external, tangible forces of "hailstones and coals of fire" illustrates a vital theological principle: God's internal, infinite power is not dormant but radiates outward, becoming manifest in the physical realm as active instruments of His divine will and purpose.
• This verse (and its surrounding context in Psalm 18:7-15) emphasizes the personal and active involvement of God in the affairs of His people. It refutes notions of a distant, uninvolved deity, showing instead a God who personally descends and unleashes His power in spectacular ways to achieve the deliverance of His faithful servant.

Psalm 18 12 Commentary

Psalm 18:12 offers a dramatic and concise portrayal of God's immediate and overwhelming intervention on behalf of David. This imagery is far from poetic flourish; it is a profound theological statement that reveals the Lord as an intensely powerful, pure, and just sovereign who brings the full force of cosmic elements to bear. "Brightness" underscores His inherent glory and radiant purity, from which "clouds"—His veiled, yet mighty, chariots—sweep forth. From these clouds issue "hailstones and coals of fire," precise instruments of His wrath against adversaries and a powerful demonstration of His capability to deliver His people. This verse profoundly affirms God's total sovereignty over all creation and His unwavering commitment to justice, demonstrating His irresistible power in active salvation.