Psalm Chapter 29 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 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.
10 The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 30:5
Verse: רֶגַע בְּאַפּוֹ, חַיִּים; בַּלַיְלָה בִּלְבַב מָחָה
Transliteration: Rega b’apo, chayim; balayla bilvav machah
English: “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Focus Word: חַיִּים (Chayim)
- Root: ח-י-ה (Chet-Yod-Heh)
- Meaning: “Life,” “vitality,” “living.”
- Deeper Insight: Chayim represents full, abundant life, often associated in Hebrew with divine blessing and restoration.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 29 |
|---|---|---|
| John Lightfoot (Jesus College, Cambridge, 1602–1675) | Commentarius Hebraicus in Psalmos | Lightfoot emphasizes the majestic power of God revealed in natural phenomena, likening storms and waters to His authoritative voice. |
| Matthew Poole (University of Oxford, 1624–1679) | Synopsis Criticorum | Poole sees the Psalm as a hymn exalting God’s sovereignty, celebrating His dominion over creation and kings alike. |
| Richard Baxter (University of Cambridge, 1615–1691) | Paraphrase and Notes on the Psalms | Baxter highlights the awe inspired by God’s voice, which conveys both power and sanctifying influence. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Manton stresses that the Psalm encourages worshippers to recognize God’s authority in all natural events. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Henry reads the Psalm as a call to revere God’s glory, especially through His works in creation and provision. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| Wilhelm Vatke – Early OT Criticism | Vatke views this psalm as a storm-theophany celebrating Yahweh’s supremacy over natural forces. The voice of the LORD thunders across Lebanon in poetic majesty. The psalm ends by affirming that the God of the storm is also the giver of peace. |
| Ernst Meier – Psalmenstudien | Meier emphasizes the rhythmic structure that follows the movement of an actual storm. He notes the repeated “voice of the LORD” as a liturgical refrain. Divine power is depicted as both destructive and life-giving. |
| Theodore Parker – Sermons (19th c.) | Parker sees the psalm as illustrating God’s sovereignty over nature. The cedar-breaking imagery reveals the irresistible might of divine command. The final blessing in the sanctuary links power with peace. |
| Karl Budde – Die Psalmen (1899) | Budde analyzes the psalm as a cultic hymn used during festivals invoking divine presence. The storm imagery evokes awe in worshippers. God’s enthronement above the flood symbolizes dominion over chaos. |
| Franz Koenig – Hebrew Poetry Studies | Koenig highlights the psalm’s poetic artistry in describing the storm’s progress. He sees in the repetition a mounting intensity. God’s rule transforms natural terror into spiritual assurance. |
| Gustav Bickell – Carmina Veteris Testamenti | Bickell focuses on the metrical patterns underlying the psalm. The storm is depicted as a cosmic liturgy. The culmination in peace reveals divine benevolence. |
| Heinrich Graetz – Historical Jewish Commentaries | Graetz interprets the psalm as an ancient hymn affirming Israel’s God above Canaanite storm deities. The imagery confronts Baal’s supposed power. Yahweh alone is enthroned forever. |
| Julius Fürst – Lexicographer & Hebraist | Fürst emphasizes the linguistic force of the Hebrew describing thunder and shaking. The psalm’s vocabulary reflects ancient storm imagery. God’s voice commands both nature and nations. |
| John Ker – Sermons on the Psalms | Ker views the psalm as a majestic portrayal of God’s presence in nature. The thunderstorm teaches reverence and trust. The blessing of peace offsets the earlier terror. |
| A. S. Aglen – Pulpit Commentary: Psalms | Aglen interprets the psalm as worship inspired by a dramatic storm. Each “voice” reveals a distinct aspect of divine majesty. The final gift of peace assures believers of God’s fatherly care. |
Prayer: You are awesome O Righteous Father, and God over all other gods. There is no one like you and none beside You. Father, hallowed is your Name. May your will be done in the earth as it is in heaven. Lord Jesus, You Said that your sheep hear your voice, You know them and they follow You. Help me to hear your voice more clearly and give me the grace to walk closely with You, obeying your commands and instructions in my everyday life. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to save me from my sins. I will now live for You, King of glory, by Your grace, in Jesus' Name.
