Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse opens with an unexpected invitation: not to people on Earth, but to "heavenly beings" or "mighty ones" to "ascribe" glory and strength to God. This isn't a call for worship from those already intimately familiar with God, but a cosmic summons for even the highest powers to recognize and declare His supreme might.
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins with a call for celestial beings, or perhaps earthly rulers, to acknowledge and praise the Lord's supreme glory and strength. The following verses will then describe how this glory and strength are powerfully displayed in a dramatic thunder storm, revealing God's dominion over creation. The psalm will ultimately connect this awesome natural power to God's blessing and protection of His people.
The psalm opens with a powerful call to worship, but who is being summoned? Are we talking about earthly rulers or something more… celestial?
The Hebrew phrase here, 'sons of the mighty' (or 'sons of gods'), is debated among scholars.
Heavenly Host?
Many commentators point to angels as the intended audience. Angels are often called 'sons of God' in Scripture. They are mighty beings who stand in God's presence and witness His glory firsthand. This makes them prime candidates to be called upon to 'ascribe glory and strength' to Him.
Earthly Potentates?
Others suggest the 'mighty' refers to the powerful rulers and kings of the earth. These leaders, often filled with pride and seeking their own glory, are reminded of the ultimate authority and power of the Lord. Calling on them is strategic, as their acknowledgment of God could influence their subjects.
A Universal Call?
It's also possible this is a broader call. The term 'mighty' could encompass any powerful entity, both heavenly and earthly, including the very forces of nature described later in the psalm. Ultimately, the core message is about acknowledging God's supreme power and glory, no matter who you are.
What does it truly mean to 'ascribe glory and strength' to God? It's more than just saying nice words; it's a profound act of recognition.
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The verb 'ascribe' (or 'give') here is an invitation and a command to recognize and declare who God is.
Recognizing His Nature
It means acknowledging God's inherent worth, His supreme majesty, and His absolute perfection. It's about affirming that all glory and strength originate from Him and belong to Him alone.
Declaring His Deeds
This also involves recognizing His mighty acts, both in creation and in His ongoing work in the world and in our lives. The rest of Psalm 29 details the awesome power of God demonstrated in a thunderstorm, showing His dominion over the natural world.
Our Response
When we 'ascribe' these qualities to God, we are essentially offering Him our praise, our worship, and our humble submission. We are aligning our hearts and voices with the truth of His greatness.
Understand the original words
hab · Hebrew Verb
The act of attributing, acknowledging, or giving credit to someone for their character or deeds; in a worship context, it is the public confession of God's worth.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush. It signifies His eternal self-existence and faithfulness.
beney 'elim · Hebrew Noun phrase
Literally 'sons of the mighty' or 'sons of gods'; refers to supernatural beings or celestial entities that exist in the heavenly realm and serve as witnesses to God's authority.
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The weight, radiance, or visible manifestation of God's character and presence. It refers to the intrinsic value and majesty that characterizes God.
'oz · Hebrew Noun
The capacity to act, rule, and overcome; in relation to God, it refers to His omnipotence and His sovereign ability to accomplish His will in creation.
hishtachavah · Hebrew Verb
An act of bowing down, serving, or showing reverence; a posture of submission before the divine. It involves acknowledging God's worthiness through outward acts of devotion.
qodesh · Hebrew Noun
The unique purity, transcendence, and set-apartness of God that constitutes His essential nature; it defines His separation from all that is common, profane, or sinful.
This Psalm, likely written by David, calls upon powerful beings—whether angels or earthly rulers—to acknowledge God's supreme might. The context is the stable, powerful monarchy David established, a time when God's strength was evident in Israel's victories and the natural world itself.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Davidic Kingdom Established
David has united the tribes of Israel, established Jerusalem as the capital, and secured the kingdom after years of conflict. This period represents a peak of national strength and divine favor.
Throughout David's Reign
Ongoing Wars and Consolidation
David's reign was marked by significant military campaigns to secure and expand Israel's borders, subdue surrounding nations, and establish dominance in the region.
c. 970 BC
David's Death and Solomon's Accession
David's long and storied reign concludes, and his son Solomon inherits a stable kingdom, though future challenges will test its unity.
This passage also mentions 'sons of God' (often understood as angels) appearing before the Lord, highlighting the heavenly realm's role in acknowledging God's sovereignty, just as Psalm 29:1 calls upon the 'mighty' (interpreted by many scholars as angelic beings) to ascribe glory.
Psalm 96:7This verse echoes the call to 'ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name,' specifically addressing 'families of the peoples,' showing a broader application of giving God glory beyond just heavenly beings or earthly rulers.
Isaiah 6:3The seraphim cry out 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory,' demonstrating the heavenly beings' recognition of God's supreme glory and presence, a theme directly parallel to Psalm 29:1's call for glory and strength.
1 Chronicles 16:28This passage commands to 'ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and might,' drawing a clear conceptual parallel to Psalm 29:1's imperative to give the LORD glory and strength, extending the call to all peoples.
Romans 1:20Paul writes that God's 'invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made,' supporting the idea that God's glory and strength are evident and should be acknowledged, as urged in Psalm 29:1.
cambridgePsalms 29:1: "A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength."
1 . O ye mighty ] The phrase bnç çlîm admits of three renderings. (1) O ye sons of the mighty (R.V.), which may mean either powerful nobles, or mighty celestial beings. (2) O ye sons of the gods (R.V. marg.), meaning either beings “belonging to the class of superhuman, heavenly powers” (Cheyne); or the nations who “had forgotten their true parentage, and ranged themselves under the protectio…
gillPsalms 29:1: "A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength."
Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty,.... The Targum refers this to the angels, "give praise before the Lord, ye companies of angels, sons of the Mighty;'' these are mighty ones, and excel all other creatures in strength; and are the sons of the Mighty, or of God; it is their duty and their business to glorify and to worship him and his Son Jesus Christ, as they do continually; but rather the pri…
This verse opens with an unexpected invitation: not to people on Earth, but to "heavenly beings" or "mighty ones" to "ascribe" glory and strength to God. This isn't a call for worship from those already intimately familiar with God, but a cosmic summons for even the highest powers to recognize and declare His supreme might.
This psalm begins with a call for celestial beings, or perhaps earthly rulers, to acknowledge and praise the Lord's supreme glory and strength. The following verses will then describe how this glory and strength are powerfully displayed in a dramatic thunder storm, revealing God's dominion over creation. The psalm will ultimately connect this awesome natural power to God's blessing and protection of His people.
This psalm begins with a call for celestial beings, or perhaps earthly rulers, to acknowledge and praise the Lord's supreme glory and strength. The following verses will then describe how this glory and strength are powerfully displayed in a dramatic thunder storm, revealing God's dominion over creation. The psalm will ultimately connect this awesome natural power to God's blessing and protection of His people.
"Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness." — This verse opens with an unexpected invitation: not to people on Earth, but to "heavenly beings" or "mighty ones" to "ascribe" glory and strength to God. This isn't a call for worship from those alre…
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Last reviewed October 2026