Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4800 Natural and supernatural phenomena  »  4805 clouds

A natural feature of the sky, often associated with God's judgment, presence and glory.

Clouds as a natural phenomenon

Rain clouds

1 Kings 18:44-45 See also Genesis 9:13-16; Job 36:28; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Luke 12:54

Clouds representing the sky

Job 20:6; Job 35:5; Isaiah 14:14; Jeremiah 51:9

Clouds subject to God's sovereign control

Job 37:13 See also Judges 5:4; Job 26:8; Psalm 135:7; Psalm 147:8; Proverbs 3:20; Proverbs 8:28; Isaiah 5:6; Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16; Zechariah 10:1

Clouds expressing the mystery of God's world

Job 37:15-16 See also Job 22:14; Job 26:9; Job 36:29; Job 38:9,37; Ecclesiastes 11:4

Clouds of smoke

Leviticus 16:13; Judges 20:38

Clouds as symbols of spiritual truths

A symbol of judgment

Ezekiel 30:3 See also Ezekiel 30:18; Ezekiel 34:12; Joel 2:2; Zephaniah 1:15

A symbol of blessing

Isaiah 45:8

A symbol of impermanence

Job 7:9 See also Job 30:15; Proverbs 16:15; Hosea 6:4; Hosea 13:3

Other positive symbolic uses

Isaiah 25:5; Isaiah 44:22; Hebrews 12:1

Other negative symbolic uses

Proverbs 25:14; Ecclesiastes 12:2; Jude 12

Clouds as a symbol of God's presence and glory

Revealing God's majesty

Nahum 1:3 See also Job 37:11; Psalm 97:2; Isaiah 30:27,30

The clouds as God's chariot:

Deuteronomy 33:26; Psalm 68:4; Psalm 104:3; Jeremiah 4:13

The cloud of God's presence

Exodus 13:21-22

Guiding Israel in the wilderness:

Numbers 9:15-22; Numbers 10:11-12,34; Numbers 11:25; Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 31:15; Nehemiah 9:12,19; Psalm 78:14; Psalm 99:7; Psalm 105:39

Saving Israel from her enemies:

Exodus 14:19-20,24; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2; Revelation 14:14

The cloud of God's awesomeness

Leviticus 16:2 See also Exodus 19:9,16; Exodus 34:5; Numbers 12:5,10; Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:22

The cloud of God's glory

1 Kings 8:10-12 pp 2 Chronicles 5:13-6:1 See also Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:15-18; Exodus 33:9-10; Exodus 40:34-38; Numbers 16:42; Ezekiel 1:28

Clouds revealing Jesus Christ's glory

Matthew 17:5 pp Mark 9:7 pp Luke 9:34 Jesus Christ's transfiguration ; Acts 1:9 Jesus Christ's ascension ; Revelation 1:7 See also Daniel 7:13

Heralding Jesus Christ's return:

Matthew 24:30 pp Mark 13:26 pp Luke 21:27; Matthew 26:64 pp Mark 14:62; 1 Thessalonians 4:17

See also

1045  God, glory of
1330  God, the provider
1454  theophany
1670  symbols
2024  Christ, glory of
2505  Christ, ascension
2565  Christ, second coming
2580  Christ, transfiguration
4844  rain
4848  smoke
4853  weather
7251  pillar of cloud & fire
8124  guidance