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Psalm 29:5

The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

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.
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← Psalm 29:4Psalm 29:6 →
Notice

The cedars of Lebanon break in pieces at YHWH’s voice, a stark picture of God’s might that can make familiar language about his power unsettling.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What stands out to you in the repeated claim that YHWH breaks the cedars?

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How does this picture of shattered trees compare with the way you tend to picture God’s power?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

7 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 104:16The LORD’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted,Both name the cedars of Lebanon: Psalm 104 describes trees the LORD planted, while Psalm 29 describes him breaking them.
Isaiah 2:13for all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan,Both name the cedars of Lebanon, with Isaiah describing their height and Psalm 29 their breaking at the LORD’s voice.
Psalm 89:16In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.Both concern God, though Psalm 89:16 speaks of rejoicing in his name rather than his voice breaking trees.
1 Kings 5:6Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants …Both describe Lebanon’s cedars being brought down, by timber workers in Kings and by the LORD’s voice in the psalm.
Job 9:17For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.Both speak of God breaking something within a storm setting, though Job describes his own wounds and Psalm 29 describes cedars.
Judges 9:15“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, …Both depict destruction of Lebanon’s cedars, through the LORD’s voice in the psalm and threatened fire in the bramble’s speech.
Ezekiel 27:5They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir. They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.Both name cedar from Lebanon, used for a ship’s mast in Ezekiel and broken by the LORD in Psalm 29.
Where this verse fits

Praise and worship. sermon or Bible study notes.

What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 29:3–7 aloud, pausing at the cedars

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Encouragement

Your worship has room for awe that leaves you without easy words. In this storm poem, even the cedars of Lebanon cannot withstand YHWH’s voice.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 29:5. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 29 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

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).