Psalm 18 8

Psalm 18:8 kjv

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

Psalm 18:8 nkjv

Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.

Psalm 18:8 niv

Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.

Psalm 18:8 esv

Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.

Psalm 18:8 nlt

Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 8 Meaning

Psalm 18:8 powerfully describes God's furious, active presence and overwhelming power displayed in anger and judgment against His enemies, ensuring the deliverance of His faithful servant. The verse depicts a divine "theophany" or visible manifestation of God, using intense natural imagery to portray His terrifying might and zealous intervention. It speaks to the raw, untamed force that issues forth directly from the Almighty when aroused by injustice and the cries of His people.

Psalm 18 8 Context

Psalm 18 is a monumental song of thanksgiving from David, mirroring 2 Samuel 22, commemorating God's glorious deliverance from "all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul" (Ps 18:sup. & 2 Sam 22:sup.). This specific verse, Psalm 18:8, is part of an epic "theophany" section (verses 7-15) where David vividly describes God's cosmic, awe-inspiring, and terrifying descent to rescue him. Following David's desperate cry for help in verses 4-6, verse 8 portrays the initial manifestations of God's furious response. The preceding verses set the scene of David's distress, while the subsequent verses detail the earthquake, thunder, lightning, and hailstones that accompany this divine intervention. The imagery here highlights God's personal and mighty engagement on behalf of His covenant people, particularly His anointed king, asserting His supreme power over all adversaries and creation itself.

Psalm 18 8 Word analysis

• Smoke (עָשָׁן, ashan): In biblical descriptions of God's presence, ashan signifies both divine mystery and wrath. It's often associated with Mount Sinai, indicating a visible, heavy manifestation of the Divine that is consuming and terrifying (Ex 19:18). Here, it portrays an overwhelming display of divine indignation and the precursor to fierce judgment.
• Went up from his nostrils (עָלָה בְאַפּוֹ, 'alah be'appô): 'aph (אַף) literally means "nose" or "nostril," but idiomatically it represents "anger" or "wrath" in Hebrew (e.g., Deut 29:20; Ps 74:1). "Smoke going up from His nostrils" is a vivid anthropomorphism illustrating furious divine indignation. Just as a bull snorts smoke when enraged, so God is depicted as intensely angered by the injustices done to His servant.
• Consuming fire (אֵשׁ אֹכֶלֶת, esh okhelet): This specific phrase is a powerful descriptor for God's very nature (Deut 4:24; Heb 12:29). It signifies His holiness, zealousness, and unyielding opposition to sin and evil. This fire does not merely burn; it "eats" or "devours," implying complete destruction and purification. It emphasizes God's active and potent presence that obliterates opposition.
• Came out of his mouth (מִפִּיו, mippiyw): The mouth is the source of divine utterance, breath, and commands (Gen 1:3; Ps 33:6). Here, it signifies the direct, authoritative emanation of judgment and destructive power from God. It suggests His spoken will directly ignites the consuming fire.
• Burning coals (גֶּחֶל, geḥel): These are live, glowing embers or fiery brands. It's a concrete, visceral image of the intense, smoldering heat and destructive force emanating from God. Often linked to judgment (Ps 140:10) or aspects of divine presence (Ezek 1:13), geḥel here underscores the visible, searing impact of God's wrath.
• Blazed forth from him (בָּעֲרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ, ba'aru mimmennu): Ba'ar (בָּעַר) means to burn, kindle, or consume. This emphasizes the immediate, intense, and radiating nature of the fiery wrath originating directly from God's person. It implies a widespread and overwhelming destructive force.

Words-group analysis:

• "Smoke went up from his nostrils; consuming fire came out of his mouth": This parallel structure immediately establishes two powerful, complementary manifestations of God's wrath. The "nostrils" suggest raw, intense anger (like snorting), while the "mouth" indicates a direct, intentional, and powerful outpouring, possibly linked to a destructive command or breath. The juxtaposed imagery conveys God's total being aroused in formidable anger.
• "Burning coals blazed forth from him": This phrase serves as a further amplification and perhaps the practical effect of the previous images. It paints a picture of intense, active heat and light being emitted, showing the devastating and inescapable consequences of God's wrath, leaving no doubt as to the source and severity of His intervention.

Psalm 18 8 Bonus section

• Anthropomorphism and Revelation: The vivid human-like imagery (nostrils, mouth) serves to make the infinite, inexpressible God comprehensible to human beings, though it is symbolic rather than literal. It communicates the intensity and personal nature of God's emotional response and intervention. This is how a God who transcends all human limitations chooses to reveal His attributes to us in a relatable manner.
• Theocratic Implications: This display of God's power is deeply significant for a people under a covenant with a theocratic king like David. It reinforces that David's battles were God's battles, and God, as the ultimate sovereign, directly intervened to uphold His covenant and protect His anointed.
• Connection to Cosmic Warfare: The verse is not merely descriptive of divine anger, but also aligns with ancient Near Eastern storm deity motifs, only here, YHWH is not merely a god of storms, but the Creator and Master over all elements. He employs the natural world as His weaponry, demonstrating absolute control and unique sovereignty against rival, impotent deities and those who follow them.
• Future Fulfillment: This powerful imagery resonates with eschatological depictions of the Day of the Lord, where God (or Christ) will again come in fire and fury to judge the wicked and establish His righteous kingdom (e.g., 2 Thess 1:7-8). The intervention for David foreshadows God's ultimate and final triumph over all His enemies.

Psalm 18 8 Commentary

Psalm 18:8 presents a magnificent, though terrifying, anthropomorphic portrayal of God roused to action. This verse initiates the vivid description of a divine "theophany," where God is depicted descending to Earth as a Holy Warrior. The imagery of "smoke from His nostrils" directly communicates His seething indignation and wrath, a raw anger at the oppression faced by His servant. This anger immediately manifests as "consuming fire from His mouth," indicating a spoken word or a divine breath that carries with it overwhelming destructive power, reflecting God's very nature as holy and zealous against all evil. The final image of "burning coals blaz[ing] forth from Him" signifies the radiating, devastating effects of this divine fury. The elements of fire, smoke, and blazing coals consistently link back to biblical manifestations of God's powerful and consuming presence, as seen at Mount Sinai and in prophetic judgments. The purpose is not merely poetic flourish but a theological statement: when God chooses to deliver, He does so with a demonstration of power so immense that it shakes the very foundations of creation, dismantling all opposition through His formidable and righteous wrath.