Psalms 29:3-10

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.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion[a] like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks[b]and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

Psalms 29:3-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 29

\\<>\\. In the Vulgate Latin version is added, "at the finishing of the tabernacle"; suggesting that this psalm was composed at that time, and on that occasion; not at the finishing of the tabernacle by Moses, but at the finishing of the tent or tabernacle which David made for the ark in Zion, 2Sa 6:17. The title in the Arabic version is, ``a prophecy concerning the incarnation, ark, and tabernacle.'' In the Septuagint version, from whence the Vulgate seems to have taken the clause, it is, at the "exodion", "exit", or "going out of the tabernacle"; that is, of the feast of tabernacles; and which was the eighth day of the feast, and was called true, which word the Septuagint renders exodion, the word here used, Le 23:36, Nu 29:35; though it was on the first of the common days of this feast that this psalm was sung, as Maimonides {w} says. Some think it was composed when the psalmist was in a thunder storm, or had lately been in one, which he in a very beautiful manner describes. Kimchi thinks it refers to the times of the Messiah; and it may indeed be very well interpreted of the Gospel, and is very suitable to Gospel times. {w} Hilchot Tamidin, c. 10. s. 11.

Cross References 15

  • 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
  • 5. Psalms 68:33
  • 6. S Judges 9:15
  • 7. Psalms 114:4
  • 8. Deuteronomy 3:9
  • 9. S Numbers 23:22; Job 39:9; Psalms 92:10
  • 10. Ezekiel 1:14; Revelation 8:5
  • 11. Numbers 13:26; S Numbers 20:1
  • 12. Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Amos 2:9
  • 13. Psalms 26:8
  • 14. Genesis 6:17
  • 15. S Exodus 15:18; Psalms 10:16

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. That is, Mount Hermon
  • [b]. Or Lord"makes the deer give birth"
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