Psalm 18:12

Translations

Modern

From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.

Traditional

At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

Literal

From the brightness before Him His thick clouds passed on, hail and coals of fire.

Latin

Præ fulgore in conspectu ejus nubes transierunt; grando et carbones ignis.

Original

Hebrew

English

From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.

Notes

Psalms 18:7–15

The psalmist describes the Lord coming down from heaven to earth. This moment includes powerful signs such as earthquakes, fire, smoke, darkness, and rain. All creation trembles when God appears.

The psalm shows God as the Divine Warrior (a title that describes God fighting for his people, see Psalm 97:2–5) and as the Judge who rules with justice (see 50:1–6).

Psalms 18:1–50

This psalm describes a royal story of God rescuing his king. A similar version of this psalm appears in 2 Samuel 22:1–51. The psalm encourages those who hear the earlier prayers for help in Psalms 16 and 17.

The psalmist describes the dramatic nature of God’s rescue in three different ways (Psalm 18:7–15, 16–19, 30–36). The psalm also offers hope that a future Son of David will completely defeat evil (Psalm 18:43–50; compare Psalm 2).

Psalms 15:1–19:14

The psalms in this section emphasize integrity and purity (Psalms 17:15; 18:20–26; 19:13–14). They describe people as living in God’s presence (Psalms 16:9–11; 17:15) and remaining steadfast (15:5; 16:8).

Theme notes and profiles

David God Works through Prayer Praise Psalms Royal Psalms Salvation in the Psalms The Cloud and Fire The Poor and Needy in the Psalms Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Joshua 10:11
As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.
Revelation 16:21
And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.
Exodus 9:23–24
So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.
Matthew 17:2
There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
Psalm 104:2
He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,
Habakkuk 3:4–5
His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.
Psalm 97:3–4
Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.
2 Samuel 22:13–15
From the brightness of His presence coals of fire blazed forth.

Psalm 18:12

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Parallels?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics