Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5546 speech  »  5548 speech, divine

Scripture assumes and affirms that God has spoken to many different people throughout the ages in a variety of ways.

Speech as a synonym for revelation

Hebrews 1:1-2 See also Deuteronomy 8:3; 1 Samuel 3:1,7; Psalm 147:19; John 17:6-8,14; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Different modes of divine speech

The voice of nature

Isaiah 30:30-31 See also Psalm 29:3-9; Job 37:1-5 God's voice is depicted as thunder, the most awesome sound in nature; Isaiah 33:3

A literal, audible voice

Matthew 17:5 pp Mark 9:7 pp Luke 9:34 See also 1 Kings 19:9-13; Daniel 4:31; John 12:28-29; Acts 9:3-7

Visions

Genesis 46:2 See also Isaiah 6:8-13; Jeremiah 1:11-14; Ezekiel 1:28-2:1; Acts 18:9-10; Acts 22:17-18

Dreams

Genesis 31:24 See also Genesis 20:3-7; 1 Kings 3:5-14; Job 33:15-18; Matthew 1:20-21; Matthew 2:13; Matthew 1:19-20

Divine speech through human messengers

Jesus Christ

John 14:10 See also John 7:16; John 8:28; John 12:49-50; John 14:24

Prophets

2 Peter 1:21 See also 1 Samuel 8:7-9; 1 Kings 17:24; 2 Chronicles 36:15; Isaiah 38:4-8; Ezekiel 3:10-11; Zechariah 7:4-12

Apostles

1 Thessalonians 2:13 See also Galatians 1:11-12; 2 Peter 3:2; 1 John 1:1-3

Divine speech through angels

Acts 8:26 See also Daniel 9:20-23; Luke 1:11-20,26-38

Examples of divine communication

Dialogues between individuals and God

Genesis 4:9-15 See also Genesis 18:16-33; Exodus 3:3-4:17; Acts 9:10-16

Messages received by people

Genesis 35:1 See also Genesis 12:1-3; Joshua 1:1-9; 2 Samuel 7:4-16; 1 Kings 6:11-13

Descriptions of divine speech

The sound of God's voice

Ezekiel 43:1-2 See also 1 Kings 19:12; Revelation 1:15

The effect of God's word

Isaiah 55:10-11 See also Psalm 119:105; Jeremiah 23:29; Zechariah 1:13; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 19:15

The character of divine speech

Psalm 12:6 See also Psalm 18:30; Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:89,160; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Isaiah 40:6-8

God's word is recognised and loved by his people

Psalm 119:103 See also Ezekiel 3:1-3; John 10:3-5,27; Acts 13:48

God's word is supremely revealed in Jesus Christ

John 1:14 See also Hebrews 1:2

See also

1210  God, human descriptions
1403  God, revelation
1409  dream
1428  prophecy, OT inspiration
1439  revelation
1469  visions
1690  word of God
2363  Christ, preaching & teaching
4110  angels
5263  communication
7706  apostles
7773  prophets, role