After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed is that God's thunder isn't just noise; it's a "voice of majesty" that comes after the lightning flash. This order, God not restraining the lightning when His voice is heard, emphasizes His unstoppable power, as the visible light precedes the audible roar, a testament to His awesome presence.
After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu continues to speak about God's power, following a dramatic display of thunder and lightning. He describes how God's voice roars after the flash, thundering with majestic power and unleashing lightning without restraint. This intense display of nature's fury is presented as a direct announcement of God's overwhelming presence and authority.
Have you ever felt a deep sense of awe when hearing thunder? It's more than just noise; it's a powerful display of God's character.
Elihu describes God's thunder not just as a sound, but as a roar and a thunderous expression of His 'majesty' (or 'excellency'). This isn't just about volume; it speaks to God's supreme authority and glory.
Lightning flashes, thunder booms, and the storm unleashes its fury. What does this unrestrained power tell us about God's control?
The verse highlights that when God's voice thunders, 'he does not restrain the lightnings.' This signifies God's absolute control and the unstoppable nature of His power.
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Understand the original words
gaon · Hebrew Adjective
Relating to excellence, grandeur, or the display of kingly authority. When applied to God, it highlights His incomparable majesty, sovereignty, and the awe-inspiring nature of His character.
El · Hebrew Noun
The supreme Being, the Creator, and Sustainer of all things. The term emphasizes His power, authority, and covenant relationship with humanity as the one true object of worship.
pala · Hebrew Adjective/Verb
Actions or occurrences that are extraordinary, miraculous, or beyond normal human understanding. It denotes something that evokes astonishment and points directly to divine power rather than natural cause.
chaqar · Hebrew Verb
The inability of the human mind to fully grasp the depth, wisdom, or ways of God. It acknowledges the infinite transcendence of the Creator compared to the finite understanding of human creatures.
This Psalm vividly describes God's voice thundering over the waters, directly paralleling the majestic and powerful imagery of God's voice in Job.
Psalm 18:13This passage links God's thunder and lightning with his divine presence and power as he delivers his people, echoing the idea of God's awe-inspiring voice accompanied by powerful forces.
Matthew 17:5During Jesus' transfiguration, a voice came from the cloud proclaiming 'This is my beloved Son; listen to him,' demonstrating a divine voice from the heavens that demands attention and reverence.
Exodus 19:16At Mount Sinai, thunder and lightning preceded God's voice giving the law, showing how these powerful atmospheric phenomena announce God's momentous communication and presence.
Jeremiah 10:13This verse states that God causes the thunder and brings forth rain, directly connecting the phenomena of storms with God's sovereign command and power, similar to Job's description.
cambridgeJob 37:4: "After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard."
4 . with the voice of his excellency ] Rather, with his voice of majesty . he will not stay them ] Rather, he stayeth them not; He restrains not His lightnings. The words describe the play of the lightning, rapidly succeeding the thunder. When God’s presence is announced by His terrible voice, there also are His awful ministers, the lightnings, swift to do His…
clarkeJob 37:4: "After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard."
After it a voice roareth - After the flash has been seen, the peal is heard; and this will be more or fewer seconds after the peal, in proportion to the distance of the thunder cloud from the ear. Lightning traverses any space without any perceivable succession of time; nothing seems to be any obstacle to its progress. A multitude of persons taking hands, the…
What's easily missed is that God's thunder isn't just noise; it's a "voice of majesty" that comes after the lightning flash. This order, God not restraining the lightning when His voice is heard, emphasizes His unstoppable power, as the visible light precedes the audible roar, a testament to His awesome presence.
Elihu continues to speak about God's power, following a dramatic display of thunder and lightning. He describes how God's voice roars after the flash, thundering with majestic power and unleashing lightning without restraint. This intense display of nature's fury is presented as a direct announcement of God's overwhelming presence and authority.
Elihu continues to speak about God's power, following a dramatic display of thunder and lightning. He describes how God's voice roars after the flash, thundering with majestic power and unleashing lightning without restraint. This intense display of nature's fury is presented as a direct announcement of God's overwhelming presence and authority.
"After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend." — What's easily missed is that God's thunder isn't just noise; it's a "voice of majesty" that comes after the lightning flash. This order, God not restraining the lightning when His voice is heard, e…
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Last reviewed October 2026