תהלים, פרק צ״ז, פסוק ד׳

The appearance of God's might in the world arrives with a massive display of light and terror, shaking all of reality. This event captures the intense blend of Divine illumination and the deep anxiety it awakens within creation.

The blazing flashes that light up the world can be understood on both a practical and a symbolic level. Literally, this refers to massive, constant lightning strikes illuminating the entire globe [מצודת דוד, רד״ק], a natural wonder that only the wise truly grasp [אבן עזרא]. Symbolically, these flashes represent God's judgments and punishments becoming clearly visible to everyone [רד״ק, מאירי]. The brilliant gleam is likened to the bright flash of a polished sword drawn for retribution [רש״י]. Alternatively, this profound illumination is tied to the giving of the Torah, where the flashes were not physical weather, but actual rays of light from the Divine Presence shining across the world [אלשיך].

Following this brilliant light comes an immediate reaction. The resulting tremor is not experienced by the physical dirt and ground, but rather by the people living upon it [רד״ק, אלשיך]. Seeing this blazing light, the inhabitants of the world are seized with overwhelming fear, trembling, and shuddering [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד]. This deep dread strikes like a massive earthquake or the sharp, sudden pain of labor [רש״י].

The pairing of this blinding light and the human reaction creates a profound wonder. People manage to witness and endure an unimaginable intensity of Divine light, yet at the exact same time, they are overcome with physical trembling [אלשיך]. Ultimately, the purpose of this terror is not mere punishment, but a spiritual awakening. The shock is designed so that those who remain will see, fear, and return to God, bringing about a time when the entire world unites to serve Him as one [מאירי].