Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:The term "rumbling" in the biblical context often refers to a deep, resonant sound that can be associated with the voice of God, natural phenomena, or as a metaphor for divine judgment and power. It is a sound that evokes awe and sometimes fear, symbolizing the majesty and authority of the Almighty.
Biblical References:While the specific term "rumbling" may not frequently appear in English translations of the Bible, the concept is present in various passages that describe the voice of God or the sound of His presence. In the Berean Standard Bible, similar terms such as "thunder" or "roar" are often used to convey this idea.
1.
Voice of God: The voice of God is frequently depicted as a powerful and overwhelming sound. In
Job 37:4-5 , it is written, "After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, and He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend." This passage illustrates the association of God's voice with thunderous, rumbling sounds, emphasizing His omnipotence and the awe-inspiring nature of His communication.
2.
Divine Judgment: Rumbling sounds are also linked to divine judgment and the manifestation of God's power over creation. In
Isaiah 29:6 , the prophet declares, "You will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest and flames of consuming fire." Here, the rumbling of thunder and the shaking of the earth are signs of God's intervention and judgment upon the nations.
3.
Natural Phenomena: The Bible often uses natural phenomena to describe God's presence and actions. In
Psalm 18:13 , it states, "The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire." The rumbling of thunder is depicted as a direct expression of God's voice, demonstrating His control over the elements and His ability to use them for His purposes.
Symbolism and Interpretation:In biblical literature, rumbling sounds serve as a powerful symbol of God's presence and His active role in the world. They remind believers of His sovereignty and the reality of His divine intervention in human affairs. The imagery of rumbling, thunder, and roaring is used to convey the seriousness of God's messages and the certainty of His promises and judgments.
Theological Significance:From a theological perspective, the concept of rumbling underscores the transcendence and immanence of God. It highlights His majesty and the reverence due to Him, while also affirming His closeness to His creation. The rumbling voice of God is a call to humility, repentance, and worship, as it reveals both His power and His desire to communicate with humanity.
Conclusion:The biblical portrayal of rumbling as a manifestation of God's voice and power serves as a profound reminder of His authority and the awe-inspiring nature of His presence. Through the imagery of rumbling, believers are called to recognize the greatness of God and respond with reverence and obedience.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a. & n.) from Rumble.
Strong's Hebrew
1899. hegeh -- arumbling, growling, moaning... 1898, 1899. hegeh. 1900 . a
rumbling, growling, moaning. Transliteration:
hegeh Phonetic Spelling: (heh'-geh) Short Definition: mourning.
...1995. hamon -- a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance
... 1), horde (2), hordes (14), many (3), multitude (31), multitudes (2), noise (2),
people (1), populated (1), population (1), roar (1),rumbling (1), sound (1...
7581. sheagah -- a roaring
... roaring (3). roaring. From sha'ag; arumbling or moan -- roaring. see HEBREW
sha'ag. 7580, 7581. sheagah. 7582 . Strong's Numbers.
7494. raash -- a quaking, shaking
... Word Origin from raash Definition a quaking, shaking NASB Word Usage commotion
(1), earthquake (7), rattling (3),rumbling (2), shaking (1), trembling (1...
7588. shaon -- a roar (of waters, etc.), din, crash, uproar
... crash, uproar NASB Word Usage big noise (1), clamor (1), destruction (1), din (1),
noise (1), revelers* (1), riotous (1), roaring (2),rumbling (3), tumult (3...
Library
The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... many houses, and sunk there. The earthquake was attended with a hollowrumbling
sound, like that of thunder. In less than a minute...
Diamond Woke Very Early in the Morning, and Thought what a Curious...
... Then it was young Diamond's turn to have more of a surprise than he had expected;
for as with an earthquake, with arumbling and a rocking hither and thither...
The Burning of Hus.
... rode by in their scarlet hats; the monks in their cowls were telling their beads;
the revellers sipped their wine and sang; and therumbling carts from the...
The Joyous Return
... Throughout the book there has been thunder: sometimes a lowrumbling, as of a distant
tempest, sometimes peal on peal, as of a storm immediately overhead....
The Fidelity of the Senses, Impugned by Plato, vindicated by...
... In the same way, our hearing is charged with fallacy: we think, for instance, that
that is a noise in the sky which is nothing else than therumbling of a...
The More Excellent Way
... all eloquence, all knowledge, all faith, all works, and all sufferings, are of no
more value in the sight of God than sounding brass or arumbling cymbal, and...
The Earthquake at Madeley
... On Monday, 27, at four in the morning, arumbling noise was heard, accompanied
with sudden gusts of wind and wavings of the ground....
Jesus Declares Himself.
... We do not consult a deaf man if we wish to ascertain whether the noise we have heard
is thunder or therumbling of a cart; neither can we expect that those...
God Justified, Though Man Believes Not
... My text sounds like a solemn knell, and there is something terribly awful
about it, like the deeprumbling of underground thunder....
The Converted Infidel
... It seemed a long time before therumbling of the wheels was at length heard upon
the bridge which crossed the mountain stream, followed shortly by the old carry...
Thesaurus
Rumbling (7 Occurrences)... (a. & n.) from Rumble. Multi-Version Concordance
Rumbling (7 Occurrences). Job
37:2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
...Rumble (3 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the
rushing of his chariots, at therumbling of his wheels, the fathers look not...
Earthquake (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth,
due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by arumbling noise....
Limp (9 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the
rushing of his chariots, at therumbling of his wheels, the fathers don't...
Limpness (1 Occurrence)
... Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the
rushing of his chariots, at therumbling of his wheels, the fathers don't...
Galloping (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the
rushing of his chariots, at therumbling of his wheels, the fathers don't...
Wheels (30 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the
rushing of his chariots, at therumbling of his wheels, the fathers don't...
Feebleness (5 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the
rushing of his chariots, at therumbling of his wheels, the fathers don't...
Rumblings (4 Occurrences)
Roll (57 Occurrences)
... be distinguished by the ear. 22. (vi) To make a loud or heavyrumbling
noise; as, the thunder rolls. 23. (n.) The act of rolling...
Resources
What does the Bible mean when it refers to the corners of the earth? | GotQuestions.orgRumbling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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