ra.am denotes thundering, chiefly a powerful sound associated with a voice, and also the sea’s roaring.

The dominant usage describes a powerful thundering associated with a voice, especially when the LORD thunders from heaven or with his voice. Qal forms describe the sea’s roar in calls for creation’s rejoicing, while one Qal perfect occurs where kings are portrayed as shuddering in horror.

1. Thunder with a powerful voice · dominant

   Hiphil forms occur where the LORD thunders against adversaries, from heaven, or with a great voice: in 1 Samuel 2:10 the APB renders the clause “The LORD thunders against his adversaries,” and in 1 Samuel 7:10 it renders “The LORD thundered with a great voice against the Philistine.” Job 37:4, Job 37:5, and Job 40:9 likewise connect the action with a voice, while Psalm 29:3 places it on the waters.

   1 Samuel 2:101 Samuel 7:102 Samuel 22:14Job 37:4Job 37:5Psalm 29:3
2. The sea roaring · common

   Qal imperfect forms occur in parallel invitations for the sea and all that fills it to resound. In 1 Chronicles 16:32 and Psalm 96:11 the APB renders “Let the sea roar,” while Psalm 98:7 renders “Let the sea thunder.”

   1 Chronicles 16:32Psalm 96:11Psalm 98:7
3. Shuddering in horror · rare

   In Ezekiel 27:35, a Qal perfect plural stands in the clause about coastland kings; the APB renders that they “shudder with horror” as their faces are convulsed. The verse shows an intense reaction rather than a stated vocal utterance.

   Ezekiel 27:35

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “thundered” or “thunders” for the voice-related clauses, but uses “roar” for the sea in 1 Chronicles 16:32 and Psalm 96:11 and “shudder with horror” in Ezekiel 27:35. These renderings reflect whole-verse translations.