The Voice of the LORD
Psalm 29 summary: what it means
Psalm 29 begins with a call to the sons of the mighty to ascribe glory and strength to the LORD. Then the phrase "the LORD's voice" repeats seven times as a storm passes over the land. The voice is on the waters and it thunders. It breaks the cedars of Lebanon, makes the mountains skip, strikes with lightning, shakes the wilderness of Kadesh and strips the forests bare.
In the middle of all this noise, everyone in God's temple says one word: glory. The psalm then steps back to show the LORD enthroned at the Flood and sitting as King forever. It ends quietly. The same strength seen in the storm is given to his people, and the last word is peace.
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Psalm 29: The Voice of the LORD
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-29
Psalm 29 commentary: explained verse by verse
Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty,ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
The call to praise is addressed to the sons of the mighty. They are asked to ascribe to the LORD the glory and strength that are already his. The King James Version has "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty".
Also read Jeremiah 13:16-18, 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 68:31-34
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name.Worship the LORD in holy array.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Glory is described as due to God's name, something owed rather than offered as a favour. Worship is to happen in holy array, which the King James Version renders "the beauty of holiness".
Also read Psalm 27:4, 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, Psalm 96:6, Psalm 110:3
The LORD’s voice is on the waters.The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
The storm arrives. The LORD's voice is on the waters and the God of glory thunders. This is the first of seven times the psalm says "the LORD's voice".
Also read John 12:29, Exodus 9:28, Revelation 17:14-15, Psalm 18:13-15
The LORD’s voice is powerful.The LORD’s voice is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
Two short statements describe the voice: it has great strength, and it is full of majesty. The short, repeated lines keep the voice itself at the centre.
Also read Luke 4:36, Luke 8:25, Ezekiel 10:5, Job 26:11-14
The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars.Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
The voice breaks cedars, and then the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces. The psalm chooses the strongest trees it can name to show what the voice can do.
Also read Psalm 104:16, Judges 9:15, Isaiah 2:13
He makes them also to skip like a calf;Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox.
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
The mountains themselves move. Lebanon and Sirion skip like a calf and a young wild ox. Solid ground is pictured jumping at the sound.
Also read Psalm 92:10, Revelation 20:11, Jeremiah 4:23-25, Psalm 114:4-7
The LORD’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
One short line: the voice strikes with flashes of lightning. It is the briefest verse in the psalm.
Also read Leviticus 10:2, 2 Kings 1:10-12, Numbers 16:35, Exodus 9:23
The LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness.The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
The storm moves on to the wilderness, and the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. By now the psalm has covered water, mountains and desert.
Also read Joel 3:16, Numbers 13:26, Job 9:6, Haggai 2:6
The LORD’s voice makes the deer calve,and strips the forests bare.In his temple everything says, “Glory!”
The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
The voice makes the deer calve and strips the forests bare. Then the scene changes to God's temple, where everything says one word: glory.
Also read Ezekiel 20:46-48, Psalm 48:9, Psalm 135:1-2, Isaiah 10:18-19
The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood.Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.
The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and he sits as King forever. The waters that began the storm in verse 3 are shown to be under his rule.
Also read Psalm 93:1, Psalm 65:7, Job 38:8-11, Genesis 8:1-2
The LORD will give strength to his people.The LORD will bless his people with peace.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
The psalm ends with a gift. The strength shown in the storm is given to God's people, and they are blessed with peace. The King James Version has "The LORD will give strength unto his people".
Also read Revelation 1:4, Zechariah 10:12, Psalm 37:11, Psalm 85:10
A prayer from Psalm 29
LORD, I give you the glory due to your name. I want to worship you in holiness. Your voice is over the waters and full of majesty. It breaks the cedars and shakes the wilderness. It strikes with flashes of lightning and strips the forests bare. When I hear the storm, let me remember that you sat enthroned over the flood and you sit as King forever. With everything in your temple, I say, glory. Give strength to your people, LORD, and bless your people with peace. Amen.
Psalm 29 Bible study questions
- In verses 1 and 2, who is called to ascribe glory and strength to the LORD, and how are they told to worship?
- How many times does the phrase the LORD's voice appear in verses 3 to 9, and what does it do each time?
- The psalm finds God's voice in a storm; where, if anywhere, do you notice something greater than yourself in the natural world?
- The psalm ends with strength and peace for God's people after all the noise; what do you make of that ending?
- How does the picture of creation speaking of God in Psalm 29 compare with Psalm 19:1?
Questions about Psalm 29
What is Psalm 29 about?
It describes the voice of the LORD in a storm moving over waters, mountains and wilderness, and calls on the mighty to give him glory. It ends with God giving his people strength and peace.
Who wrote Psalm 29?
The heading attributes it to David.
What does Psalm 29:11 mean?
It says the LORD will give strength to his people and bless them with peace. After a psalm full of thunder, the last word is peace.
What does Psalm 29 say in the KJV?
The King James Version opens "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength" and closes "the LORD will bless his people with peace". The full KJV text is on this page.
How many times does Psalm 29 mention the voice of the LORD?
Seven times in the World English Bible, in verses 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, with verse 4 using the phrase twice.
Is there a Psalm 29:12?
No. Psalm 29 has 11 verses.
Psalm 29 KJV: the King James Version
Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.1
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.2
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.3
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.4
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.5
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.6
The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.7
The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.8
The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.9
The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.10
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.11
Psalm 29 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הָב֣וּ לַֽ֭יהוָה בְּנֵ֣י אֵלִ֑ים הָב֥וּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה כָּב֥וֹד וָעֹֽז׃
2 הָב֣וּ לַֽ֭יהוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ הִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
3 ק֥וֹל יְהוָ֗ה עַל־הַ֫מָּ֥יִם אֵֽל־הַכָּב֥וֹד הִרְעִ֑ים יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
4 קוֹל־יְהוָ֥ה בַּכֹּ֑חַ ק֥וֹל יְ֝הוָ֗ה בֶּהָדָֽר׃
5 ק֣וֹל יְ֭הוָה שֹׁבֵ֣ר אֲרָזִ֑ים וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֶת־אַרְזֵ֥י הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃
6 וַיַּרְקִידֵ֥ם כְּמוֹ־עֵ֑גֶל לְבָנ֥וֹן וְ֝שִׂרְיֹ֗ן כְּמ֣וֹ בֶן־רְאֵמִֽים׃
7 קוֹל־יְהוָ֥ה חֹצֵ֗ב לַהֲב֥וֹת אֵֽשׁ׃
8 ק֣וֹל יְ֭הוָה יָחִ֣יל מִדְבָּ֑ר יָחִ֥יל יְ֝הוָ֗ה מִדְבַּ֥ר קָדֵֽשׁ׃
9 ק֤וֹל יְהוָ֨ה ׀ יְחוֹלֵ֣ל אַיָּלוֹת֮ וַֽיֶּחֱשֹׂ֪ף יְעָ֫ר֥וֹת וּבְהֵיכָל֑וֹ כֻּ֝לּ֗וֹ אֹמֵ֥ר כָּבֽוֹד׃
10 יְ֭הוָה לַמַּבּ֣וּל יָשָׁ֑ב וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יְ֝הוָ֗ה מֶ֣לֶךְ לְעוֹלָֽם׃
11 יְֽהוָ֗ה עֹ֭ז לְעַמּ֣וֹ יִתֵּ֑ן יְהוָ֓ה ׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם׃
Psalm 29 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 28 there.
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1 A psalm for David, at the finishing of the tabernacle. Bring to the Lord, O ye children of God: bring to the Lord the offspring of rams.
2 Bring to the Lord glory and honour: bring to the Lord glory to his name: adore ye the Lord in his holy court.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of majesty hath thundered, The Lord is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is in power; the voice of the Lord in magnificence.
5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars: yea, the Lord shall break the cedars of Libanus.
6 And shall reduce them to pieces, as a calf of Libanus, and as the beloved son of unicorns.
7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flame of fire:
8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the desert: and the Lord shall shake the desert of Cades.
9 The voice of the Lord prepareth the stags: and he will discover the thick woods: and in his temple all shall speak his glory.
10 The Lord maketh the flood to dwell: and the Lord shall sit king for ever.
11 The Lord will give strength to his people: the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 28.
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1 Psalmus David, in consummatione tabernaculi. Afferte Domino, filii Dei, afferte Domino filios arietum.
2 Afferte Domino gloriam et honorem; afferte Domino gloriam nomini ejus; adorate Dominum in atrio sancto ejus.
3 Vox Domini super aquas; Deus majestatis intonuit: Dominus super aquas multas.
4 Vox Domini in virtute; vox Domini in magnificentia.
5 Vox Domini confringentis cedros, et confringet Dominus cedros Libani:
6 et comminuet eas, tamquam vitulum Libani, et dilectus quemadmodum filius unicornium.
7 Vox Domini intercidentis flammam ignis;
8 vox Domini concutientis desertum: et commovebit Dominus desertum Cades.
9 Vox Domini præparantis cervos: et revelabit condensa, et in templo ejus omnes dicent gloriam.
10 Dominus diluvium inhabitare facit, et sedebit Dominus rex in æternum.
11 Dominus virtutem populo suo dabit; Dominus benedicet populo suo in pace.
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Psalm 29 at a glance
| Verses | 11 |
| Heading in the text | A Psalm by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David. |
| Type | Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 28 |
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Psalm 29 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 29 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 29 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source