Psalm 77:17 kjv
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Psalm 77:17 nkjv
The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about.
Psalm 77:17 niv
The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.
Psalm 77:17 esv
The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.
Psalm 77:17 nlt
The clouds poured down rain;
the thunder rumbled in the sky.
Your arrows of lightning flashed.
Psalm 77 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 29:3-9 | The voice of the Lord is over the waters; ...voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. | God's powerful voice controls storms. |
| Ps 18:13-14 | The Lord also thundered in the heavens... sent out his arrows and scattered them... | God uses thunder and lightning as weapons. |
| Exo 14:24-27 | And in the morning watch the Lord... looked down from the pillar... | God's powerful intervention at Red Sea. |
| Exo 19:16-18 | On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning... Mount Sinai. | God's fearful presence at Sinai. |
| 2 Sam 22:14-15 | The Lord thundered from heaven... sent out his arrows and scattered them. | Echoes divine power against enemies. |
| Job 37:3-5 | Under the whole heaven he lets it go... God thunders marvelously. | God's majestic power in thunder/lightning. |
| Nah 1:3-6 | The Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm... rocks are broken before him. | God's might expressed in nature. |
| Hab 3:9-11 | You wielded your bow; your arrows flashed forth. ...Sun and moon stood still. | God's use of divine weaponry, celestial events. |
| Zech 9:14 | Then the Lord will appear over them, and his arrow will go forth like lightning. | God's arrow/lightning in future intervention. |
| Isa 29:6 | From the Lord of hosts you will be visited with thunder and with earthquake and great noise. | God's powerful judgment through elements. |
| Deut 4:33-34 | Has any god ever attempted to go... or perform wonders like those you saw the Lord your God do for you? | Uniqueness of God's powerful deeds. |
| Ps 68:7-8 | O God, when you went out before your people... the earth trembled... | God's leading, nature responding to His presence. |
| Ps 97:2-4 | Clouds and thick darkness are all around him... His lightenings light up the world. | God's hidden glory revealed through storm. |
| Job 38:25 | Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain...? | God's sole control over rain/storm. |
| Ps 104:3-4 | He lays the beams of his upper chambers on the waters... He makes his messengers winds. | God uses elements as servants. |
| Rev 11:19 | Then God's temple in heaven was opened... flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder. | Divine judgment scene with storm imagery. |
| Rev 16:18 | And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake. | God's ultimate judgment manifested. |
| Matt 24:27 | For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. | Christ's future coming, likened to lightning. |
| 1 Thess 4:16 | For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. | God's dramatic, powerful future appearance. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen... | Creation testifies to God's power. |
| Jer 10:13 | When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the clouds ascend... | God's command over celestial events. |
| Ps 46:6 | The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. | God's powerful voice brings chaos or peace. |
Psalm 77 verses
Psalm 77 17 Meaning
Psalm 77:17 offers a vivid and powerful depiction of God's mighty intervention in the natural world. It portrays Him as an active sovereign, marshalling the elements—clouds, water, thunder, and lightning (represented as arrows)—as direct instruments of His will. This verse is part of a broader reflection on God's past acts of deliverance, particularly referencing the miraculous events surrounding the Exodus, where divine power overwhelmed both nature and God's adversaries for the salvation of His people. It underscores God's absolute control and awe-inspiring presence.
Psalm 77 17 Context
Psalm 77:17 falls within the latter section of Psalm 77, which transitions from the psalmist's deep anguish and questioning of God's apparent absence (vv. 1-10) to a profound meditation on God's mighty acts of deliverance in history (vv. 11-20). The psalmist, Asaph, consciously turns his focus from his internal distress to remembering God's mirabilia (wonderful deeds). This particular verse, along with verses 16-20, strongly alludes to the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea, portraying God as the sovereign commander of creation. Historically, this imagery of God riding on the clouds or commanding storms was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often attributed to their various storm deities. However, the psalmist's use of it is a polemic, asserting Yahweh's unique and absolute sovereignty over nature, directly countering the pagan belief in multiple, limited gods governing different natural phenomena. It affirms that the God of Israel alone possesses unlimited power over all elements for the sake of His covenant people.
Psalm 77 17 Word analysis
- The clouds (עָבוֹת - ʿavot): Refers to the dense, often dark atmospheric masses. In biblical contexts, clouds frequently signify God's presence, either revealing His glory (Exo 16:10, 19:9) or acting as instruments of judgment (Isa 5:6) and control, as seen in the pillar of cloud in the wilderness.
- poured out (יִזְּלוּ - yizzelu): Denotes a flowing or gushing motion, suggesting an abundant, forceful release. It emphasizes the active, deliberate nature of the water's descent, not a mere natural occurrence, but a divinely ordained deluge.
- water (מַיִם - mayim): The most fundamental element. Here, it is unleashed by divine command, echoing the chaotic waters of creation or the overwhelming waters of the Red Sea. Its abundant nature signifies an irresistible force.
- the skies (שְׁחָקִים - shəḥaqim): Often refers to the higher heavens or ethereal regions. This term broadens the scope from mere clouds to the entire celestial expanse, indicating God's dominion extends across all heavenly domains.
- gave forth (נָתְנוּ - nāṯnū): Implies an utterance or declaration. This is not just sound but a manifestation of power that issues forth from the very heavens.
- thunder (קוֹל - qōl): Literally "voice" or "sound," but in the context of the sky, universally understood as thunder. Thunder is repeatedly described as the "voice of the Lord" in scripture (Ps 29), signifying His authoritative presence, power, and judgment, often causing awe and fear.
- your arrows (חִצֶּיךָ - ḥitstsekhā): A vivid anthropomorphism where divine power is depicted as a weapon. These "arrows" are almost universally interpreted as bolts of lightning, a swift, destructive, and undeniable manifestation of God's active power. This imagery depicts God as a divine warrior.
- flashed about (יִתְהַלָּכוּ - yithallākū): Conveys a rapid, darting, or scattered motion. It suggests widespread and unpredictable strikes, emphasizing the pervasiveness and overwhelming nature of the divine intervention. This movement signifies power unleashed without restraint.
- "The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder": This parallelism highlights God's command over distinct atmospheric phenomena. The "pouring out" implies a deluge, significant in a context linked to the Red Sea, potentially reflecting chaotic waters used for divine purpose. The "thunder" signifies God's commanding voice and intimidating presence, evoking awe and terror.
- "your arrows flashed about": This phrase moves beyond general natural phenomena to explicit divine agency. By calling lightning "your arrows," the psalmist personifies God as an active warrior engaging directly with His environment, emphasizing intentionality and purpose behind these powerful natural events. It is a direct and forceful intervention.
- Sensory Language: The verse engages multiple senses: the sight of lightning, the sound of thunder, and the feeling of overwhelming water. This multi-sensory portrayal enhances the vividness of the theophany, making God's intervention more immediate and impactful to the audience.
Psalm 77 17 Bonus section
This verse encapsulates a classic biblical "theophany" (manifestation of God) pattern, where God's presence is often accompanied by dramatic, overwhelming natural phenomena. This served not only to demonstrate His power but also to reinforce His majesty and uniqueness, particularly in a polytheistic ancient world where lesser gods were associated with specific, limited natural forces. The "arrows" are a recurring motif for God's judgment or battle-readiness (cf. Lam 3:12; Ps 7:13), linking His creative power to His judicial and protective roles. This divine control over chaos elements speaks to God's ability to bring order and salvation out of seemingly insurmountable challenges, a theme critical for a psalmist struggling with despair.
Psalm 77 17 Commentary
Psalm 77:17 acts as a theological hinge within the psalm, shifting the focus from the psalmist's personal despair to the irrefutable power of God displayed in His past salvific acts. This verse employs the grand imagery of a cosmic storm—deluging clouds, booming thunder, and darting lightning as divine arrows—to depict God's overwhelming and decisive intervention. It fundamentally reaffirms God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His active, tangible presence in human history, particularly recalling His dramatic deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea. The use of natural elements as His "arrows" asserts that even the most formidable forces of nature are instruments subservient to His will, used powerfully to protect His people and overthrow His adversaries.