Psalms 29:3

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

Psalms 29:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 The voice of the LORD echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The LORD thunders over the mighty sea.
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters.
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth, Even Jehovah upon many waters.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 The voice of the LORD rolls over the water. The God of glory thunders. The LORD shouts over raging water.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 The voice of the Lord is above the waters. The God of glory thunders- the Lord, above vast waters,
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 The voice of the LORD is heard over the waters. The God of glory thunders. The LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

Psalms 29:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 29:3

The voice of the Lord [is] upon the waters
What follows concerning thunder, the voice of the Lord, gives so many reasons why he should have glory given him and be worshipped; the Heathens F25 paid their devotion to thunder and lightning: but this should be done to the author of them; which may be literally understood of thunder, and is the voice of the Lord; see ( Psalms 18:13 ) ( Job 40:9 ) ; and which is commonly attended with large showers of rain, ( Jeremiah 10:13 ) ; and is very terrible upon the waters, and has its effect there, ( Psalms 104:7 ) ; and this is the rather mentioned, because that there is a God above, who is higher than the mighty, who are called upon to give glory to him, and because that thunder has been terrible to kings and great men of the earth; or this may be figuratively interpreted of the voice of Christ in the Gospel, which reaches to many nations and people, compared to waters, ( Revelation 17:15 ) . The disciples had a commission to preach it to all nations, and the sound of their words went into all the world, ( Romans 10:18 ) ;

the God of glory thundereth;
this shows that thunder may be meant by the voice of the Lord, who is glorious in himself, and in all his works; and may be applied to the Gospel of Christ, who is the Lord of glory, and whose ministers, at least some of them, are sons of thunder; see ( 1 Corinthians 2:8 ) ( Mark 3:17 ) ;

the Lord [is] upon many waters;
that is, his voice is, as before, which is thunder; and that this belongs to God, the Heathens were so sensible of, that they called their chief deity Jupiter Tonans F26.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Pausan. Arcad. sive l. 8. p. 503.
F26 Horat. Epod. l. 5. Ode 2. v. 29. Martial. l. 2. Ep. 95.

Psalms 29:3 In-Context

1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Job 37:5
  • 2. S Psalms 24:7; Acts 7:2
  • 3. S 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalms 18:13; Psalms 46:6; Psalms 68:33; Psalms 77:17; Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 25:30; Joel 2:11; Amos 1:2
  • 4. S Exodus 15:10
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