Lightning

LIGHTNING (ἀστραπή).—There are 3 references to lightning in the Gospels, one of these being duplicated (in Mt. and Lk.).

1. Luk 10:18 ‘I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.’ The word ‘beheld’ (ἐθεώρουν), being in the impf., indicates a continuous contemplation. Taken in conjunction with the aorist participle ‘fallen’ (so Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 , not ‘fall’ as in Authorized Version , the Gr. being πεσόντα), this cannot mean that in a pre-existent state Jesus beheld the fall of Satan taking place, i.e. when the devil was cast out of heaven, as described in Paradise Lost. The meaning of the expression should be arrived at through the context, where we read of the Seventy returning to Jesus with joy, and exclaiming, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name’ (Luk 10:17), in reference to their successful exorcism. This meaning seems to be that the news brought to Jesus by His disciples did not take Him by surprise, because at the very time when they were carrying on their successful work He was looking at the prince of the demons lying fallen (so Holtzmann, Plummer, etc.),—a highly figurative expression which need not point to an actual vision. Jesus had the intuitive assurance that His arch-enemy was defeated already. Therefore the disciples were able to cast out the demons. The situation may be illustrated by the parable of the strong man bound by a stronger so that his house can be robbed (Mar 3:27), Satan being the strong man, Christ the stronger, the demons the vessels that are taken from the house, which may be either the world or the possessed victims. There is no indication when Satan fell (as perhaps at the Temptation of Jesus). He is contemplated as fallen. Still the aorist points to a definite action, and the comparison with lightning emphasizes this point. Possibly our Lord was alluding to Isa 14:12. A similar idea appears in Rev 12:9. Wellhausen regards the verse in Lk. as apocryphal; but Jesus frequently used apocalyptic imagery. In the Koran (Sura 72) the demons are cast out of heaven at the coming of Mohammed, the angels bombarding them with stars.

2. Mat 24:27 ‘For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of Man’ (cf. Luk 17:24). The idea seems to be that of widespread and unmistakable evidence. The coming of the Son of Man will be seen everywhere, and that very manifestly (so Plummer, Wellhausen, etc.). A second thought, the suddenness of the flash (Plummer), is not so apparent, if it is even present at all, in this application of the idea of lightning to the Parousia. For the apparent contradiction between this thought and that in Luk 17:20 see Observation.

3. The one other Gospel reference to lightning is in the description of the angel of the Resurrection (Mat 28:3), whose appearance is ‘as lightning,’ the idea being dazzling brightness.

W. F. Adeney.

LIGHTNING.—Our colloquial use of ‘fire’ for ‘lightning’ had its counterpart in Heb., e.g. in such a phrase as ‘fire (’çsh) and hail’ (Exo 9:23 etc.; cf. Gen 19:24, 1Ki 18:38 etc.). The Heb. ’ôr (Job 37:3) is lit. ‘light’; bâzâq (Eze 1:14) should probably read bârâq; lappîd, lit. ‘torch,’ is used in the plur. for ‘lightnings’ (Exo 20:18); a word of uncertain meaning, châzĭz (Job 28:26; Job 38:35, Zec 10:1), is evidently related to thunder, and should probably in each case be tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘thunder-cloud.’ The usual Heb. word is bârâq, Gr. astrapç (2Sa 22:16 etc., Mat 24:27 etc.). It is used fig. for the glitter of bright metal (Deu 32:41, lit. ‘the lightning of my sword’; cf. Eze 21:10, Nah 3:3, Hab 3:11), and for the glittering weapon itself (Job 20:25). It is suggested, either by the flash of polished metal, or by the speed of the chariot (Nah 2:4). Lightning is associated with the appearance of God (Exo 19:16 etc.), and He alone can control it (Job 38:33, Psa 18:14). With lightnings as with arrows, God scatters His enemies (Psa 144:5 etc.). A radiant face (Dan 10:8), and gleaming garments (Mat 28:3), are like lightning. There is vivid suggestiveness in the comparison of Satan’s overthrow with the descent of lightning (Luk 10:18). Cf. the name Barak (Jdg 4:6), with the Carthaginian Barca.

W. Ewing.

lı̄t´ning (בּרק, bārāḳ, חזיז, ḥăzı̄z; ἀστραπή, astrapḗ): Lightning is caused by the discharge of electricity between clouds or between clouds and the earth. In a thunder-storm there is a rapid gathering of particles of moisture into clouds and forming of large drops of rain. This gathers with it electric potential until the surface of the cloud (or the enlarged water particles) is insufficient to carry the charge, and a discharge takes place, producing a brilliant flash of light and the resulting thunder-clap. Thunder-storms are common in Syria and Palestine during the periods of heavy rain in the spring and fall and are often severe. Lightning is usually accompanied by heavy rainfall or by hail, as at the time of the plague of hail (Exo 9:24). See HAIL.

In the Scriptures it is used: (a) indicating the power of God: The power of God is shown in His command of the forces of Nature, and He is the only one who knows the secrets of Nature: “He made ... a way for the lightning” (Job 28:26); “He directeth ... his lightning” (Job 37:3 the King James Version); “Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go?” (Job 38:35); “Ask ye of Yahweh ... that maketh lightnings” (Zec 10:1). See also Psa 18:14; Psa 97:4; Psa 135:7; Job 36:32; Jer 10:13; (b) figuratively and poetically: David sings of Yahweh, “He sent ... lightnings manifold, and discomfited them” (Psa 18:14); used for speed: “The chariots ... run like the lightnings” (Nah 2:4): “His arrow shall go forth as the lightning” (Zec 9:14); “The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning” (Eze 1:14). The coming of the kingdom is described by Jesus as the shining of the lightning from one part of heaven to another, even “from the east unto the west” (Mat 24:27; Luk 17:24); (c) meaning bright or shining: Daniel in his vision saw a man and “his face (was) as the appearance of lightning” (Dan 10:6). See also Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 16:18.

(ἀóôñáðÞ).-Lightning, the visible discharge of atmospheric electricity from one cloud to another, or from a cloud to the earth, is now known to be essentially the same as the electric flashes produced in the laboratory. To the ancients it seemed supernatural. Terrible in its dazzling beauty and power to destroy, it was associated with theophanies (Exo_19:16; Exo_20:18, Eze_1:13-14), and became one of the categories of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic (Rev_4:5; Rev_8:5; Rev_11:19; Rev_16:18). See Thunder.

James Strahan.

Zec 9:14 (b) This is a severe picture of GOD’s avenging wrath and righteous judgment on His enemies. No one knows where it will strike, nor when, nor what damage will be the result.

Luk 10:18 (a) The disciples thought they had conquered Satan. Our Lord is assuring them that this is not the case. Satan occupies heavenly places. He strikes in people’s lives wherever and whenever he pleases. No one can put Satan down nor conquer him. He daily attacks people where and when he pleases. This passage does not refer to Satan’s fall from Heaven, but rather to his daily attacks on the people on earth.