Psalm 18:7 kjv
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
Psalm 18:7 nkjv
Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
Psalm 18:7 niv
The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.
Psalm 18:7 esv
Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.
Psalm 18:7 nlt
Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
Psalm 18 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:18 | "Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke… because the LORD had descended on it in fire, and the smoke of it went up... and the whole mountain trembled greatly." | God's descent/theophany causing physical trembling. |
| Judg 5:4 | "LORD, when you went out from Seir... the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped..." | God's march/intervention causing cosmic shaking. |
| Nah 1:5 | "The mountains quake before him; the hills melt... The earth heaves before him..." | The terrifying power of God's wrath impacting nature. |
| Hab 3:6 | "He stood and measured the earth... the eternal mountains were scattered... His ways were eternal." | God's mighty actions causing mountains to crumble. |
| Ps 76:8 | "From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still..." | God's judgment leading to earth's reaction. |
| Ps 114:7 | "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob..." | Universal tremor at the Lord's presence. |
| Isa 6:4 | "And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called..." | God's voice/presence causing structural shaking. |
| Jer 4:24 | "I looked on the earth, and behold, it was formless and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light." | Devastating effects of God's judgment, reversal of creation. |
| Ezek 38:20 | "The fish of the sea and the birds... shall tremble at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down..." | Creation trembling at God's overwhelming presence. |
| Joel 2:10 | "The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon are darkened..." | Cosmic signs preceding the day of the Lord's wrath. |
| Matt 27:51 | "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two... and the earth shook, and the rocks were split." | Earthly shaking at a significant divine act (Christ's death). |
| Rev 6:12 | "When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake..." | Eschatological shaking as a sign of divine judgment. |
| Rev 11:13 | "And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell..." | Divine judgment causing earthquakes and destruction. |
| Job 9:5-6 | "He removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger... He shakes the earth from its place..." | God's power over mountains and earth, especially in anger. |
| Ps 46:1-3 | "God is our refuge and strength... therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way... though the mountains totter..." | God as a sure refuge amidst cosmic upheaval. |
| Ps 68:7-8 | "O God, when you went out before your people... the earth trembled; the heavens poured down rain..." | God leading His people with cosmic manifestations. |
| Ps 97:4-5 | "His lightning flashes light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD..." | Universal fear and cosmic melting before the Lord. |
| Ps 104:32 | "He looks at the earth, and it trembles; he touches the mountains, and they smoke!" | The mere glance/touch of God causes cosmic reactions. |
| Isa 13:13 | "Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place..." | God's judgment causing heavens and earth to shake. |
| Heb 12:26 | "At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'" | God's future shaking of all creation. |
Psalm 18 verses
Psalm 18 7 Meaning
Psalm 18:7 vividly portrays the immense power of God unleashed in response to David's distress call. It describes a cosmic upheaval – the earth violently shaking and the very foundations of mountains trembling and shifting from their established places. This dramatic manifestation of nature's response is attributed directly to God's profound anger, which compels His mighty intervention to deliver His servant. It highlights divine sovereignty and the awe-inspiring consequences of His presence, especially when roused to act against adversaries.
Psalm 18 7 Context
Psalm 18 is a triumphant psalm of David, serving as a powerful hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God for deliverance from his enemies, particularly Saul (as paralleled in 2 Samuel 22). The verse belongs to a section (verses 4-19) describing God's dramatic and awe-inspiring descent to rescue David. This description employs the imagery of a theophany – a visible manifestation of God. David cries out in his deepest distress, and God responds with a storm-like appearance, utilizing cosmic elements as His instruments. The shaking of the earth and mountains is part of this overwhelming divine display, signifying the ultimate power of God in battling against the forces of chaos and evil that threatened His anointed king. The original audience, accustomed to narratives of powerful deities, would have understood this as a supreme assertion of Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all creation, even over the most stable elements.
Psalm 18 7 Word analysis
- Then: Indicates a sequential and immediate consequence. God's hearing of David's cry (v. 6) prompts this swift and mighty action. It connects divine awareness to divine intervention.
- the earth (’erets): Refers to the whole inhabited world, the physical ground, symbolizing the universal scope of God's power. It implies that His action is not localized but affects the entire created order.
- shook (ga’ash): Hebrew gā‘aš, meaning to quiver, tremble, shake violently. It denotes intense, internal disturbance. Used also in Jer 5:22 to describe God's control over the raging sea.
- and trembled (ra’ash): Hebrew rā‘aš, also meaning to quake, shake, totter. Often used in conjunction with earthquakes or the impact of God’s presence (e.g., Ex 19:18 at Sinai). The combination of ga’ash and ra’ash is a poetic intensifier, emphasizing the profound and widespread nature of the tremor.
- the foundations (mosadot): Hebrew môsādôṯ, referring to the base, established supports, or underpinning. Here, it signifies the deepest, most stable parts of creation. The unsettling of "foundations" conveys a radical, existential disruption.
- of the mountains (harim): Hebrew hārîm, literally mountains, which are symbolic of permanence, strength, and immovability. That even their foundations are affected emphasizes the sheer force of God's wrath and power; nothing is beyond His reach or unaffected by His presence.
- quaked (yir’ashu): From the same root as ra’ash, reiterating the intense shaking, particularly of these seemingly unshakeable elements. It underlines the continued, active process of disruption.
- and were removed (yitmottetu): Hebrew yitmôṭeṭû, meaning to totter, shake, be overthrown, or collapse. It signifies a movement beyond mere shaking—a yielding, collapsing, or displacement from their original positions. This denotes a loss of stability and a giving way under divine might.
- because He was angry (kî ḥārâ lô): This phrase provides the ultimate theological explanation and direct cause. Ḥārâ means to burn, grow hot, often referring to God's kindled wrath or indignation (e.g., Ex 32:10; Deut 7:4). This is not mere destructive power, but a holy wrath directed at evil and those opposing His purposes, unleashed for David's deliverance. "He" explicitly refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Psalm 18 7 Bonus section
The anthropomorphic imagery of God's descent (found in the surrounding verses as well) and the cosmic reaction emphasize the "Divine Warrior" motif in ancient Near Eastern and biblical thought. God does not merely send judgment but personally intervenes, with creation responding to His presence and will. This verse implicitly serves as a polemic against surrounding polytheistic beliefs where nature was often seen as controlled by a pantheon of lesser, squabbling deities. Here, Yahweh alone commands creation, bending mountains and earth to His furious will for redemptive purposes. This grand display of power foreshadows the cosmic disturbances associated with the Day of the Lord and the ultimate culmination of God's wrath and justice, underscoring that His reign extends over all creation, from the smallest tremor to the overturning of established order.
Psalm 18 7 Commentary
Psalm 18:7 is a masterful depiction of divine action. It is part of David's grateful recollection of God's profound intervention in his life, portrayed through cosmic, theophanic imagery. The shaking of the earth and mountains' foundations symbolizes the awesome power and authority of Yahweh, who brings about radical disorder to the natural world when aroused by His holy wrath. This imagery serves to amplify God's unparalleled sovereignty and His willingness to dismantle the very fabric of creation to execute His will and defend His anointed. The trembling earth and shifting mountains are not arbitrary displays of power, but direct results of God's active, personal anger against David's enemies, illustrating that the stable world can become radically unstable in the presence of the incensed Almighty. This reassures believers of God's readiness to unleash unimaginable power for their rescue. Practically, it reminds us that while the world may seem fixed, its true stability rests on the will of God, and nothing, not even the most enduring elements of creation, can stand against His determined purpose or unshakeable wrath.