There are several meanings, depending on which text you are referring to; however the Bible is very literal and the definition and use of this word is either self explanatory, or a description is included in the passage, such as Joel 2:2 "a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes..." referencing the same meaning as Ezekiel 38:9 "You and all your troops... Advancing like a storm, you will be like a cloud covering the land..."
For instance, in Genesis 9, "clouds" refers to clouds in the sky, as we see them.
In Exodus 13 & 14, The Lord and his angel(s) appeared in clouds similar to a pillar of smoke
In Exodus 40, it was a dense fog
In Lamentations 2 & 3, the clouds are like foreboding, cloaking shadows
Hebrews 12:1 refers to a large gathering of people, once again self explanatory: "surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses"
Jude 12 describes men, in the following text: "These men are blemishes... Clouds without rain blown along by the wind"
Revelations 1:7 "He is coming with the clouds" is literal, fulfilling Daniel 7:13 and Matthew 24:30 :clouds of the sky, or clouds of Heaven.
In Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; I Thessalonians 4:17; when the reference is made as either "in the clouds" or "on the clouds", that's what it means: There is no reason or cause to speculate that "well, he really meant <this> or <that> or <like a cloud>". These passages don't even lend themselves for the need for other interpretation - we know that He is coming in the sky, and we will go to meet Him in the sky, so why speculate that <clouds doesn't mean "cloud" clouds, but a group of people>? Christ is coming, and those of us who know Him are going. THAT is all that matters!
For instance, in Genesis 9, "clouds" refers to clouds in the sky, as we see them.
In Exodus 13 & 14, The Lord and his angel(s) appeared in clouds similar to a pillar of smoke
In Exodus 40, it was a dense fog
In Lamentations 2 & 3, the clouds are like foreboding, cloaking shadows
Hebrews 12:1 refers to a large gathering of people, once again self explanatory: "surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses"
Jude 12 describes men, in the following text: "These men are blemishes... Clouds without rain blown along by the wind"
Revelations 1:7 "He is coming with the clouds" is literal, fulfilling Daniel 7:13 and Matthew 24:30 :clouds of the sky, or clouds of Heaven.
In Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; I Thessalonians 4:17; when the reference is made as either "in the clouds" or "on the clouds", that's what it means: There is no reason or cause to speculate that "well, he really meant <this> or <that> or <like a cloud>". These passages don't even lend themselves for the need for other interpretation - we know that He is coming in the sky, and we will go to meet Him in the sky, so why speculate that <clouds doesn't mean "cloud" clouds, but a group of people>? Christ is coming, and those of us who know Him are going. THAT is all that matters!
