Cloud: The Hebrew so rendered means "a covering," because clouds cover the
sky. The word is used as a symbol of the Divine presence, as
indicating the splendour of that glory which it conceals
(Exodus 16:10)
(Exodus 33:9; Numbers 11:25; 12:5; Job 22:14; Psalms 18:11) A "cloud without rain" is a
proverbial saying, denoting a man who does not keep his promise
(Proverbs 16:15; Isaiah 18:4; 25:5; Jude 1:12) A cloud is the figure of that which
is transitory
(Job 30:15; Hosea 6:4) A bright cloud is the symbolical
seat of the Divine presence
(Exodus 29:42,43; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Chronicles 5:14; Ezekiel 43:4)
and was called the Shechinah (q.v.). Jehovah came down upon Sinai in
a cloud
(Exodus 19:9) and the cloud filled the court around the
tabernacle in the wilderness so that Moses could not enter it
(Exodus 40:34,35) At the dedication of the temple also the cloud
"filled the house of the Lord"
(1 Kings 8:10) Thus in like manner when
Christ comes the second time he is described as coming "in the
clouds"
(Matthew 17:5; 24:30; Acts 1:9,11) False teachers are likened unto
clouds carried about with a tempest
(2 Peter 2:17) The infirmities of
old age, which come one after another, are compared by Solomon to
"clouds returning after the rain"
(Ecclesiastes 12:2) The blotting out of
sins is like the sudden disappearance of threatening clouds from the
sky
(Isaiah 44:22) Cloud, the pillar of, was the glory-cloud which
indicated God's presence leading the ransomed people through the
wilderness
(Exodus 13:22; 33:9,10) This pillar preceded the people as
they marched, resting on the ark
(Exodus 13:21; 40:36) By night it
became a pillar of fire
(Numbers 9:17-23)
