Hail
Summary
Hail in Scripture is consistently portrayed as a weapon of divine judgment, from the plague on Egypt to the apocalyptic judgments of Revelation.
☩As Divine Judgment
The invariable biblical conception of hail is as a weapon hurled by God against His enemies. Typical instances include the seventh plague on Egypt, where hail mixed with fire devastated the land, and the battle against the Amorites, where more enemies died from great hailstones than from Israelite swords. Scripture describes hail as fulfilling God's word and is called upon to praise Him.
☩Apocalyptic Significance
In the book of Revelation, hail features prominently in the judgments of God. "Hail and fire" are cast upon the earth; great hail accompanies the opening of God's temple in heaven; and in the final bowl judgment, hailstones weighing a talent (approximately 75-100 pounds) fall upon men. Ancient writers record storms with hailstones weighing a mina (about 2 pounds), but the apocalyptic hail far exceeds natural phenomena as a supernatural display of divine wrath.
Related Verses23 mentions
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Hail," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 2.George Morrish, "Hail," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).