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

On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

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

Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

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, Job 38:37; Ecclesiastes 11:4

Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash? Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

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

For the day is near, the Day of the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

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

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.

Other positive symbolic uses

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

Other negative symbolic uses

Proverbs 25:14; Ecclesiastes 12:2; Jude 1:12

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, Isaiah 30:30DEU Isaiah 33:26; Psalm 68:4, Psalm 104:3; Jeremiah 4:13

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

The cloud of God's presence

Exodus 13:21–22 Numbers 9:15–22, Numbers 10:11–12, Numbers 10:34, Numbers 11:25, Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 31:15; Nehemiah 9:12, Nehemiah 9:19; Psalm 78:14, Psalm 99:7, Psalm 105:39; Exodus 14:19–20, Exodus 14:24; 1 Corinthians 10:1–2; Revelation 14:14

And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

The cloud of God's awesomeness

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

And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

The cloud of God's glory

1 Kings 8:10–12 parallel 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

And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

Clouds revealing Jesus Christ's glory

Matthew 17:5 parallels Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34 Jesus Christ's transfiguration; Acts 1:9 Jesus Christ's ascension; Revelation 1:7 See also Daniel 7:13MAT Daniel 24:30 parallels Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27; Matthew 26:64 parallel Mark 14:62; 1 Thessalonians 4:17

While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him — even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.