Psalms 77:18 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven - Compare the notes at Psalms 29:1-11. The word rendered “heaven” here - גלגל galgal - means properly “a wheel,” as of a chariot, Isaiah 5:28; Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:6; Ezekiel 23:24; Ezekiel 26:10. Then it means a “whirlwind,” as that which rolls along, Ezekiel 10:13. Then it is used to denote chaff or stubble, as driven along before a whirlwind, Psalms 83:13; Isaiah 17:13. It is never used to denote heaven. It means here, undoubtedly, the whirlwind; and the idea is, that in the ragings of the storm, or of the whirlwind, the voice of God was heard - the deep bellowing thunder - as if God spoke to people.

The lightnings lightened the world - The whole earth seemed to be in a blaze.

The earth trembled and shook - See the notes at Psalms 29:1-11.

Psalms 77:18

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.