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Psalm 29

Psalm 29 portrays YHWH’s sovereign strength through a storm, then declares that this King blesses his people with peace.

A storm thunders over the waters, breaks Lebanon’s cedars, and shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The psalm’s title names David as its author, though it gives no occasion for the song. He calls the “sons of the mighty” to worship YHWH; this phrase may address heavenly beings or earthly rulers. The repeated sound of YHWH’s voice carries the poem through the storm, while praise fills his temple. It closes with God enthroned as King, giving his people strength and peace.

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Read
1A Psalm by David. Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array.
3The LORD’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters.
4The LORD’s voice is powerful. The LORD’s voice is full of majesty.
5The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox.
7The LORD’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
8The LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness. The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9The LORD’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!”
10The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.
11The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace.
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Key verses
Psalm 29:11The closing promise joins the strength displayed in the storm to the peace God grants his people.
Psalm 29:3Thunder over the waters introduces YHWH’s voice, the repeated phrase that governs the storm’s portrayal.
Psalm 29:1The opening summons establishes worship as the fitting response to the glory and strength displayed throughout the psalm.
Where this chapter reaches

Job shares the portrayal of God’s voice through thunder, while 1 Chronicles shares the call to ascribe glory and strength to YHWH and worship him in holiness. Numbers shares the closing theme of YHWH blessing his people with peace.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

Which image of YHWH’s voice most shapes your response to the call to worship?

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How does the final promise of peace read after the shattered cedars and shaken wilderness?

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Questions people ask about Psalm 29

Who are the “sons of the mighty” in Psalm 29?

The phrase addresses beings called to acknowledge YHWH’s glory and strength. It is often understood as heavenly beings, though some interpreters understand it as mighty human rulers. The psalm does not identify them further. Either reading places those addressed under YHWH’s authority and calls them to worship him.

What does YHWH’s voice mean in Psalm 29?

YHWH’s voice is portrayed through a storm: thunder over water, lightning, broken cedars, and a shaken wilderness. The phrase occurs seven times, making God’s majesty the focus of the storm imagery. The psalm records no spoken message within the storm; it depicts creation responding to YHWH’s sovereign power.

Why does Psalm 29 end with peace?

The ending connects YHWH’s rule over overwhelming forces with his care for his people. The strength that dominates the storm belongs to the King who reigns forever. Verse 11 declares that he will give his people strength and peace, without explaining when or how that peace will come.

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Psalms · 150 chapters
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What the Bible says about worship →What the Bible says about fear →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).