King James Bible
"There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it."
David employs vivid theophanic imagery, depicting God's anger as smoke emanating from nostrils like a fierce, breathing dragon. This anthropomorphic language, common in ancient Near Eastern poetry, communicates the intensity of divine wrath against David's enemies. The destructive fire represents God's consuming judgment, portrayed as an active force that completely destroys opposition. This echoes other biblical passages where God's word is likened to fire, emphasizing both the power of divine speech and the totality of His judgment. The aftermath shows lingering devastation—the divine fire leaves behind glowing coals, suggesting judgment's lasting effects. This detail intensifies the terrifying portrait of God as a warrior who thoroughly defeats His enemies, leaving scorched evidence of His intervention.