Lightning Before Thunder: An Ancient Debate Resolved

Lightning or Thunder: Which Comes First? Unpacking Rabbi Acha's View in the Talmud

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In the Talmud (Tractate Berachot page 59, side A), it states:

"It is taught, what are thunderclaps? (Meaning, what causes the noise of thunder).

Shmuel said, Clouds in the sphere (clouds rub against each other, producing the sound), as it is said (Psalms 77) 'The voice of Your thunder in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.'

And the Rabbis say, Clouds pouring water upon one another.

Rabbi Acha bar Yaakov said, A strong bolt of lightning created within a cloud, breaking pieces of hail (causing the sound of thunder).

Rabbi Ashi said, Hollow clouds are filled, and a wind blows through them, resembling a wind atop a barrel opening (the sound is like a wind whistling over the mouth of a barrel).

As it appears, Rabbi Acha's view aligns - lightning precedes thunder and rain follows. (Interpreted by "T'hilat Pinchas - of Perek Shira" Page 72).

As we can see, there were several opinions on the creation of lightning and thunder. In a straightforward sense, Rabbi Acha's idea aligns with scientific reality. We now know that lightning is produced by electrical charges (static electricity) within clouds—internal clashes of electrical charges within a cloud create lightning and thunder, causing microscopic water droplets to condense into larger drops and hail falling from the sky. Rabbi Acha's view points to the internal activity within the cloud, noting that the lightning (or electrical activity) results in thunder and brings rain and hail. His view is notably in line with today's scientific understanding.

Yet, there might be a deeper interpretation of this debate in the Talmud regarding the essence of blessing over thunder, relating to the unfolding of forces in creation and how speech influences reality and vice versa.

Best regards,

Daniel Bels