Reference: Earthquake
American
A convulsion of the earth common in volcanic regions, and well known in all parts of the world; probably occasioned by the action of internal heat or fire. Scripture speaks of several earthquakes, Nu 16; 1Ki 19:11-12. One occurred in the twenty-seventh year of Uzziah king of Judah, and is mentioned in Am 1:1; Zec 14:5. A very memorable earthquake was that at our Savior's death, Mt 27:51, which some suppose extended throughout the world. Palestine has been often visited by earthquakes. So late as 1837 one occurred in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee, by which about a third part of Tiberias was destroyed, and thousands of people perished there and in the towns near by. Earthquakes were among the calamities foretold as connected with the destruction of Jerusalem, Mt 24:7; and history proves the truth of the prediction.
The word earthquake is also used figuratively to denote God's power and wrath, as in Ps 18:7; 46:2; 104:32, etc.; and as an emblem of a great civil or national catastrophe, Mt 24:7,29; Re 16:18-19.
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And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice.
The earth trembled and quaked; the very foundations also of the hills shook and were removed, because he was wroth. {TYNDALE: And the earth trembled and quoke, and the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was angry.}
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;
The earth trembleth at the look of him; he doth but touch the hills and they smoke.
These are the sermons that were showed unto Amos, which was one of the shepherds at Tekoa, upon Israel, in the time of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the time of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
Immediately after the tribulations of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move.
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake,
And there followed voices, thunderings, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. And the great city was divided into the three parts; And the cities of nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Easton
mentioned among the extraordinary phenomena of Palestine (Ps 18:7; comp. Hab 3:6; Na 1:5; Isa 5:25).
The first earthquake in Palestine of which we have any record happened in the reign of Ahab (1Ki 19:11-12). Another took place in the days of Uzziah, King of Judah (Zec 14:5). The most memorable earthquake taking place in New Testament times happened at the crucifixion of our Lord (Mt 27:54). An earthquake at Philippi shook the prison in which Paul and Silas were imprisoned (Ac 16:26).
It is used figuratively as a token of the presence of the Lord (Jg 5:4; 2Sa 22:8; Ps 77:18; 97:4; 104:32).
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LORD, when thou departedest out of Seir and camest from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heaven rained, and the clouds dropped water:
And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice.
The earth trembled and quaked; the very foundations also of the hills shook and were removed, because he was wroth. {TYNDALE: And the earth trembled and quoke, and the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was angry.}
The voice of thy thunder was heard round about; the lightnings shone upon the ground. The earth was moved, and shook withal.
The earth trembleth at the look of him; he doth but touch the hills and they smoke.
Therefore is the wrath of the LORD kindled also against his people, and he shaketh his hand at them: yea he shall smite so, that the hills shall tremble. And their carcasses shall lie in the open streets, like mire. And in all this, the wrath of God shall not cease, but he shall stretch his hand wider.
The mountains tremble for him, the hills consume. At the sight of him the earth quaketh: yea, the whole world, and all that dwell therein.
He standeth, and measureth the earth. He looketh, and the people consume away, the mountains of the world fall down to powder, and the hills are fain to bow themselves, for his goings are everlasting and sure.
And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and by and by all the doors opened, and every man's bonds were loosed.
Fausets
Traces of volcanic agency abound in Palestine. Yet the only recorded earthquake is that in Uzziah's reign (Am 1:1). It must have been a terrible one, since two and a half centuries later it was still being made an epoch in Zec 14:5; his sin in the spiritual world was connected with the convulsion in the natural world. Such physical signs and premonitory upheavals shall accompany the closing conflict between the powers of light and darkness (Isa 24:20; Zec 14:4; Mt 24:7). Also that in 1Ki 19:11. The awe it inspires made it an accompaniment attributed to Jehovah's presence (Jg 5:4; 2Sa 22:8; Ps 77:18; 104:32; Am 8:8; Hab 3:10). The valley of Siddim, S. of the Dead Sea, probably subsided owing to an earthquake. Bela is so-called ("swallowed up") from having been engulfed by an earthquake, as Dathan and Abiram were (Nu 16:30-32; Ge 14:2).
The miraculous darkness and earthquake at our Lord's death (Mt 27:51-54) agree with the natural fact of darkness often accompanying earthquakes. The Jordan Valley, with a lower and a lower valley, the sulphurous and bituminous neighborhood of the Dead Sea, the lava, pumice stones, and hot springs, the crater like depression of the Dead Sea, 1,300 ft. below the Mediterranean level, and 3,500 ft. below Jerusalem, only 20 miles away (the deepest depression on the earth), its basaltic columns, disturbed strata, and numerous crevices, all betoken action of volcanoes and earthquakes. The line of earthquakes extends from Hebron and Jerusalem to Baalbek and Aleppo, from S.W. to N.E., following the central chain of Syria, parallel to the Jordan Valley, and terminating in the volcanic slope of Taurus on the N. and in the mountains of Arabia Petrea on the S.
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made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, and with Shinab king of Admah, and with Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and with the king of Bela - which Bela is called Zoar.
But and if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow them and all that pertain unto them, so that they go down quick in to hell: then ye shall understand, that these men have railed upon the LORD." And as soon as he had made an end of speaking all these words, the ground clove asunder that was under them, read more. and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them and their houses and all the men that were with Korah and all their goods.
LORD, when thou departedest out of Seir and camest from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heaven rained, and the clouds dropped water:
And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake.
The voice of thy thunder was heard round about; the lightnings shone upon the ground. The earth was moved, and shook withal.
The earth trembleth at the look of him; he doth but touch the hills and they smoke.
The earth shall stagger like a drunkard, to and fro; and be taken away like a tent. Her misdeeds shall lie so heavy upon her, that she must fall, and never rise up again.
These are the sermons that were showed unto Amos, which was one of the shepherds at Tekoa, upon Israel, in the time of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the time of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Shall not the land tremble; and all they that dwell therein, mourn for this? Shall not their destruction come upon them like a water stream; and flow over them, as the flood of Egypt?
The mountains saw thee, and they tembled, the water stream went away: the deep made a noise at the lifting up of thine hand.
Then shall his feet stand upon the mount Olivet, that lieth upon the east side of Jerusalem. And the mount Olivet shall cleave in two, eastward and westward, so that there shall be a great valley: and the half mount shall remove toward the north, and the other half toward the south. And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the stones did rent, and graves did open, and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose: read more. and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and came into the holy city, and appeared unto many. When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
Hastings
The whole formation of the country running in a straight line from the Taurus range to the gulf of Akabah, which therefore includes Central Jud
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And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke: because the LORD descended down upon it in fire. And the smoke thereof ascended up, as it had been the smoke of a kiln, and all the mount was exceeding fearful.
And as soon as he had made an end of speaking all these words, the ground clove asunder that was under them,
The earth trembled and quaked; the very foundations also of the hills shook and were removed, because he was wroth. {TYNDALE: And the earth trembled and quoke, and the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was angry.}
the earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God, even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.
The voice of thy thunder was heard round about; the lightnings shone upon the ground. The earth was moved, and shook withal.
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flaming fire.
Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of Hosts with thunder, earthquake, and with a great noise, with the whirlwind, tempest, and with the flame of a consuming fire.
These are the sermons that were showed unto Amos, which was one of the shepherds at Tekoa, upon Israel, in the time of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the time of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake,
When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven: and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
For there shall nation arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be earthquakes, in all quarters, and famishment, and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows.
and great earthquakes shall be in all quarters, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things. And great signs shall there be from heaven.
And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and by and by all the doors opened, and every man's bonds were loosed.
Morish
The first earthquake mentioned is when Elijah was told to stand before the Lord. There passed by a strong wind that rent the rocks, then an earthquake, and fire; but the Lord was not in the earthquake, nor in the fire; but in a still small voice: a lesson for Elijah when he was thinking much of himself. 1Ki 19:11-12. In the days of Uzziah there was a great earthquake, from which the people fled. Am 1:1; Zec 14:5. Josephus (Ant. ix. 10, 4) states that this happened when the king went into the temple and was struck with leprosy. 2Ch 26:16-21.
There was an earthquake at the death of the Lord, and the rocks were rent, which drew from the centurion the saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." Mt 27:51,54. There was also a great earthquake at the resurrection of the Lord. Mt 28:2. When Paul and Barnabas were in the prison at Philippi there was a great earthquake that shook the prison, which led to the conversion of the jailer. Ac 16:26. Josephus (Ant. xv. 5, 2) relates the particulars of a dreadful earthquake in Palestine about B.C. 31, when as many as 10,000 of the inhabitants lost their lives.
In the future judgements on the earth, earthquakes are often mentioned. Isa 29:6; Mt 24:7; Mr 13:8; Lu 21:11; Re 6:12; 8:5; 11:13,19; 16:18. Symbolically they point to the upheaval of the lower masses of society, overthrowing the social system either partially or entirely.
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And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice.
And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense. But Azariah the priest went in after him with four score priests of the LORD that were bold men. read more. And they stepped to Uzziah the king and said to him, "It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn cense unto the LORD; but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrated for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God." And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest with all the other priests looked upon him: and behold he was a leper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence. And thereto he was fain to go out, because the LORD had plagued him. And Uzziah the king continued a leper unto the day of his death and dwelt in a house at liberty: howbeit, he was cast out of the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son had the governance of the king's house and judged the people of the land.
Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of Hosts with thunder, earthquake, and with a great noise, with the whirlwind, tempest, and with the flame of a consuming fire.
These are the sermons that were showed unto Amos, which was one of the shepherds at Tekoa, upon Israel, in the time of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the time of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake,
When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven: and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
For there shall nation arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be earthquakes, in all quarters, and famishment, and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows.
and great earthquakes shall be in all quarters, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things. And great signs shall there be from heaven.
And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and by and by all the doors opened, and every man's bonds were loosed.
And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal, and lo there was a great earthquake, and the sun was as black as sackcloth made of hair. And the moon waxed even as blood:
And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the altar and cast it into the earth, and voices were made, and thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquake.
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain names of men seven thousand. And the remnant were afeared, and gave glory to God of heaven.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen, in his temple, the ark of his testament: and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunderings and earthquake, and much hail.
And there followed voices, thunderings, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great.
Smith
Earthquake.
Earthquakes, more or less violent, are of frequent occurrence in Palestine. The most remarkable occurred in the reign of Uzziah.
From
we are led to infer that a great convulsion took place at this time in the Mount of Olives, the mountain being split so as to leave a valley between its summit. An earthquake occurred at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion.
Earthquakes are not unfrequently accompanied by fissures of the earth's surface; instances of this are recorded in connection with the destruction of Korah and his company,
and at the time of our Lord's death,
the former may be paralleled by a similar occurrence at Oppido in Calabria A.D. 1783, where the earth opened to the extent of five hundred and a depth of more than two hundred feet.
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and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them and their houses and all the men that were with Korah and all their goods.
Then shall his feet stand upon the mount Olivet, that lieth upon the east side of Jerusalem. And the mount Olivet shall cleave in two, eastward and westward, so that there shall be a great valley: and the half mount shall remove toward the north, and the other half toward the south. And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake,
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the stones did rent, and graves did open, and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose: read more. and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and came into the holy city, and appeared unto many. When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
Watsons
EARTHQUAKE. The Scripture speaks of several earthquakes. One happened in the twenty-seventh year of Uzziah, king of Judah, in the year of the world 3221. This is mentioned in Am 1:1, and in Zec 14:5. Josephus says that its violence divided a mountain, which lay west of Jerusalem, and drove one part of it four furlongs. A very memorable earthquake is that which happened at our Saviour's death, Mt 27:51. Many have thought that this was perceived throughout the world. Others are of opinion that it was felt only in Judea, or even in the temple at Jerusalem. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, that the rocks upon mount Calvary were shown in his time, which had been rent asunder by this earthquake. Maundrell and Sandys testify the same, and say that they examined the breaches in the rock, and were convinced that they were the effects of an earthquake. It must have been terrible, since the centurion and those with him were so affected by it, as to acknowledge the innocence of our Saviour, Lu 23:47. Phlegon, Adrian's freedman, relates that, together with the eclipse, which happened at noon day, in the fourth year of the two hundred and second Olympiad, or A.D. 33, a very great earthquake was also felt, principally in Bithynia. The effects of God's power, wrath, and vengeance are compared to earthquakes, Ps 18:7; 46:2; 114:4. An earthquake signifies also, in prophetic language, the dissolution of governments and the overthrow of states.
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The earth trembled and quaked; the very foundations also of the hills shook and were removed, because he was wroth. {TYNDALE: And the earth trembled and quoke, and the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was angry.}
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;
These are the sermons that were showed unto Amos, which was one of the shepherds at Tekoa, upon Israel, in the time of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the time of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
And ye shall flee unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yea, flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all saints with him.
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake,
When the Centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God saying, "Of a surety this man was perfect."