איוב, פרק ל״ז, פסוק ב׳

When God reveals Himself in the world, the experience is often accompanied by mighty natural forces that leave people feeling small and filled with awe. The primary approach among commentators is that God's voice is likened to rolling thunder in the sky. Hearing this fierce sound naturally grips people with intense trembling, anxiety, and fear [מצודת ציון, תקות אנוש]. Ordinarily, a person becomes accustomed to a frightening noise after hearing it a few times, and the initial panic fades. However, the experience of hearing God's voice is entirely different. Because of His immense holiness and majesty, the listener is struck with fresh terror and forced to tremble anew every single time the sound echoes [אלשיך].

The imagery continues by describing this sound as speech coming from a mouth [מצודת ציון, רלב"ג]. Since thunder does not actually possess a mouth or a tongue, this is understood as a metaphor. The thunder is formed by God's decree, and the way its sound develops—starting as a low rumble, steadily growing stronger, and shifting in tone—closely mimics the rhythmic pattern of human speech [מצודת דוד, תקות אנוש].

This comparison highlights the vast gap between God and humanity. What humans experience as a deafening, terrifying clap of thunder is, relative to God, nothing more than a faint murmur. It is a very weak, low sound, acting as a mere whisper or an intermediate stage between thought and actual speech [מלבי"ם]. Offering a different perspective, a unique interpretation departs from this vocal explanation. Instead of an auditory experience, this view suggests that the expression coming forth from the heavens is not a sound at all, but rather the brilliant flash of lightning [רמב"ן].