Bible Word Study
רַעַם
raʻam · a peal of thunder
רַעַם
a peal of thunder
Definition
The Hebrew noun רַעַם (raʻam) refers specifically to a peal or crash of thunder. In the Old Testament, it consistently describes the powerful, audible sound of thunder, often as a manifestation of God's voice or presence. For example, in Psalm 77:18, the thunder is part of a theophanic storm displaying God's power, while in Job 39:25, it is used metaphorically for the thrilling sound of a warhorse's snorting. The word never denotes the lightning itself, only its resonant, awe-inspiring sound.
Biblical Usage
רַעַם is used six times, primarily in poetic and prophetic books (Job, Psalms, Isaiah). Its usage consistently associates thunder with divine power. In theophanies, it depicts God's majestic voice or presence in a storm (Psalm 77:18, Psalm 104:7). It can also symbolize God's judgment, as in Isaiah 29:6 where thunder is part of a punishing tempest. In Job 39:25, it provides a vivid simile for the sound of a battle-ready horse.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb רָעַם (rāʻam, H7481), meaning 'to thunder.' This root is onomatopoeic, imitating the rumbling sound of thunder. It is related to the Ugaritic word rʻm, also meaning 'thunder,' showing its place in the shared Northwest Semitic vocabulary for natural phenomena.
Semantic Range
רַעַם is theologically significant as a primary descriptor of God's audible, powerful presence. In the biblical worldview, thunder is rarely just a natural phenomenon; it is often the 'voice of God' (see Psalm 29:3, which uses a synonym, קוֹל, for voice). It signifies His majesty, judgment (Isaiah 29:6), and revelation (Psalm 81:7). Understanding this enriches reading by hearing these passages as the authors intended: with the awe and terror of God's self-disclosure in creation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, thunder was widely understood as the voice or weapon of a storm deity (e.g., Baal Hadad). Israel's authors used this shared cultural concept but uniquely attributed the thunder solely to Yahweh, the one true God, demythologizing other gods while affirming His supreme power over creation and nations. קוֹל (qôl, H6963) — A broader term for 'voice' or 'sound,' which can include thunder when described as God's voice (Psalm 29:3). רַעַם is the specific term for the thunderclap itself.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]