How many times is cloud mentioned in the Bible?
The word cloud appears 107 times in the King James Version, in 94 verses. Counting every form (cloud, clouds), it appears 156 times in 141 verses across 34 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses cloud 111 times (155 with every form).
Cloud in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of cloud counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| cloud | 107 | 111 |
| clouds | 49 | 44 |
| Total | 156 | 155 |
Which books mention cloud most
Cloud appears in 34 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Job has the most (22), then Numbers (20) and Exodus (18).
Also in: Leviticus (2), 2 Samuel (2), 2 Chronicles (2), Lamentations (2), Hosea (2), 1 Corinthians (2), Judges (1), Nehemiah (1), Jeremiah (1), Daniel (1), Joel (1), Nahum (1), Zephaniah (1), Zechariah (1), Acts (1), 1 Thessalonians (1), Hebrews (1), 2 Peter (1), Jude (1).
First and last mention of cloud
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
The verse that uses it most is Numbers 9:21, 3 times:
And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
Where the two translations differ
12 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 11 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Job 22:13: counted in the KJV only
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
You say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
Job 35:5: counted in the KJV only
Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
Exodus 33:9: counted in the World English Bible only
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.
When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses.
Exodus 33:10: counted in the World English Bible only
And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.
Verses with cloud on our topic pages
7 verses that use cloud in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
On: Gratitude, Stress, Addiction, Discipleship
then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
On: Resurrection, What Does the Bible Say About Cremation? 25 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About the Rapture? 24 Verses
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.
On: What Does the Bible Say About Ghosts? 25 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About Reincarnation? 26 Verses
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him!
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!”
On: Demons
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Common questions
How many times is cloud in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 129 of the 156 uses are in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Cloud appears in 34 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Job has the most (22), then Numbers (20) and Exodus (18).
Where is cloud first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 9:13: "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." The last is Revelation 14:16.
More word counts: thorn, chariot, publican, scribe, centurion, synagogue, proverb, love, or all 484 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-22.