CLOUD/CLOUDS

INTRODUCTION

WORD DEFINITIONS:

Hebrew

ab Heb. a thickness, thick cloud as in Psalm 104:3 “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:”

anan Heb. a cloud as in Daniel 7:13 “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.”

shachaq Heb. thin cloud as in Psalm 36:5 “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens: and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.”

ananah Heb. heavy cloud as in Job 3:5 “Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.”

Greek

nephos Grk. denotes a cloudy, shapeless mass covering the heavens; metaphorically, of a dense multitude, a throng as in Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.

nephele Grk. a definitely shaped cloud, or masses of clouds possessing definite form as in example of the different shaped clouds:

1) Cloud on the Mt. of Transfiguration - Matthew 17:5 “While Peter yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”

2) Cloud which covered Israel in the Red Sea - I Corinthians 10:1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”

3) Clouds seen in the Apocalyptic visions - Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen”, Revelation 10:1 “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.” Revelation 11:12 “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.  And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and enemies beheld them.” Revelation 14:14 “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.”  Revelation 14:16 “And another angel came out of the Temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

4)  Clouds metaphorically - of the evil workers there mentioned; II Peter 2:17 “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest: to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.”

5)  Clouds of Jesus’ Ascension - Acts 1:9 “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

6) Clouds referring to the Rapture of the saints - I Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

7) Clouds referring to Christ’s Second Coming - Matthew 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”; Matthew 26:64 “Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES:

Genesis 9:13-17 “I do set my (rain) bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the (rain) bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  And the (rain) bow shall be in the cloud: and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.  And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all the flesh that is upon the earth.”

Exodus 13:21 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way, and by night a pillar of fire to give them light; to go by day and night.”

Exodus 16:10 “And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.”

Exodus 19:9 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I am come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever.  And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.”

Exodus 19:16 “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.”

Exodus 20:21 “And the people stood a far off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.”

Exodus 24:15-18 “And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.  And the glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: And the seventh day He called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.  And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.  And Moses went into the midst of the cloud and gat him up into the mount.  And Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”

Exodus 34:5 “The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name of the Lord.”

Leviticus 16:2 “And the Lord said unto Moses, speak unto  Aaron your brother, that he come not at all times into the Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is upon the ark; that he die not:   For I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

Numbers 9:15-23 “And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely the tent of the testimony: And at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.  And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.  At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: As long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not.”

Numbers 11:25 “And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.”

Judges 5:4 “Lord, when you wentest out of Seir, when you marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, yea, the clouds dropped water.”

II Samuel 22:12 “He made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.”

I Kings 8:10-11 “And when the priests were come out of the Holy Place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord.  So the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.”

I Kings 18:44-45 “And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.  And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot and get thee, down, that the rain stop thee not.  And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.  And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.”

Job 20:6 “Though His Excellency mount up to the heavens, and His head reach into the clouds.”

Job 22:14 “Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.”

Job 26:8 “He bindeth up the waters in His thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.”

Job 35:5 “Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than thou.”

Job 36:28 “Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.”

Job 36:29 “Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of His tabernacle?”

Job 37:11 “Also by watering He wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth His bright cloud:”

Job 37:16 “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him which is perfect knowledge?”

Job 37:21 “And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth and cleanseth them.”

Job 38:9 “When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it.”

Job 38:34 “Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?”

Job 38:37 “Who can number the clouds in wisdom?  Or who can stay the bottles of heaven.”  

Psalm 18:11 “He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.”

Psalm 18:12 “At the brightness that was before him, his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.”

Psalm 36:5 “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.”

Psalm 57:10 “For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds.”

Psalm 68:34 “Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds.”

Psalm 77:17 “The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.”

Psalm 78:23 “Though He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven.”

Psalm 97:2Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.”

Psalm 104:3 “He layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters: Who maketh the clouds His chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind:”

Psalm 108:4 “For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.”

Psalm 147:8 “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.”

Proverbs 3:20 “By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”

Proverbs 8:28 “”When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Proverbs 16:15 “In the light of a king’s countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.”

Proverbs 25:14 “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind with rain.”

Ecclesiastes 11:3 “If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth, and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.”

Ecclesiastes 11:4 “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

Ecclesiastes 12:2 “While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened nor the clouds return after the rain.”

Isaiah 5:6 “I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged: but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.”

Isaiah 14:14 “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.”

Isaiah 19:1 “And burden of Egypt, Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at His presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.”

Isaiah 44:22 “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

Isaiah 60:8 “Who are these that fly like a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?”

Jeremiah 4:13 “Behold, he shall come up as clouds; and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles.  Woe unto us!   For we are spoiled.”

Lamentations 3:44 “Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.”

Ezekiel 1:4 “As I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst there of as the color of amber, out of the midst of fire.”

Ezekiel 8:4 “Then the glory of the Lord sent up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.”

Ezekiel 30:3 “For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day: it shall be the time of the heathen.”

Ezekiel 32:7-8 “And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.  All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God.”

Daniel 7:13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.”

Hosea 6:4 “O Ephraim what shall I do unto thee?  O Judah, what shall I do unto thee?  For your goodness is a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”

Hosea 13:3 “Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.”

Joel 2:2 “A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”

Nahum 1:3 “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: The Lord hath His way in whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.”

Zephaniah 1:15 “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.”

NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES

Matthew 17:5 “While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice from the cloud which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”

Matthew 24:30 “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Matthew 26:64 “Jesus saith unto him, thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 9:7 “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear Him.”

Mark 13:26 “And then they shall they see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”

Mark 14:62 “And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Luke 9:34-35 “While He thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.  And there came a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear ye Him!”

Luke 12:54 “And He said also to the people, when you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, there cometh a shower;  And so it is.”

Luke 21:27 “And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Acts 1:9-11 “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”

I Corinthians 10:1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”

I Thessalonians 4:17-18 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

II Peter 2:17 “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest: to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.”

Jude 1:12 “These are spots in your feasts if charity, when they feast with you without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”

Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen.”

Revelation 10:1 “Then I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.”

Revelation 11:12
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, Come up hither.  And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Revelation 14:14-16 “And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”

 

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