Psalms 29:3-4
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse repeats "upon the waters" and "upon many waters" not just for emphasis, but to shift our focus from God's voice on the waters to God himself being present above them. It highlights that the powerful thunder isn't just a sound in the sky, but a declaration that the God of glory is actively present and sovereign over the vastness of the heavens.
The psalmist is describing a powerful storm, personifying the thunder as the "voice of the LORD" and calling it to give glory. This majestic storm is not just a natural event but a divine display of God's overwhelming power, which begins to roar over the stormy clouds ("the waters"). He's setting the stage to show how this divine power shakes creation, from the cedars of Lebanon to the wilderness of Kadesh.
When we hear thunder, do we think of God's booming voice? This psalm calls us to listen closely to the storm.
The psalmist uses the powerful sound of thunder to represent the voice of the Lord. This isn't just a casual observation; it's a theological declaration.
A Voice to Be Heard
The verse explicitly links "the voice of the LORD" with thunder. Think about how thunder commands attention – it's loud, deep, and can be heard across vast distances. The psalmist wants us to recognize that this immense natural power is a direct communication from God.
Not Just Any Sound
This voice isn't just noise; it's the voice of the "God of glory." This emphasizes that the thunder isn't a chaotic force but a powerful display of God's majestic and glorious presence. It's a reminder that even in the most awe-inspiring natural events, God is in control and revealing His splendor.
The psalm doesn't just say God's voice is like thunder; it says it's over the waters. What does that mean for us today?
The imagery of God's voice being "upon the waters" and "upon many waters" points to His supreme authority and control over the natural world, specifically the vast expanses of water.
The Heavenly Waters
Ancient understandings often referred to the clouds, filled with rain, as "waters above." So, when the psalmist says the Lord's voice is on the waters, he's picturing God's thunder resonating from the sky, from the very source of storms and rain.
God's Domain
Whether referring to literal seas or the clouds, the message is clear: these powerful forces are not independent of God. He is upon them, meaning He is sovereign over them. This isn't just about storms; it's about acknowledging that everything, even the most overwhelming aspects of nature, is under God's dominion.
Understand the original words
qol · Hebrew Noun
An audible expression, utterance, or command; when applied to God, it represents His active word that exercises authority over creation and accomplishes His purpose.
hadar · Hebrew Noun
The quality of being imposing, royal, or kingly; it denotes the grandeur and sovereign splendor that demands awe and respect from all creation.
This passage shows God's voice (thunder) directly impacting the earth with hail and fire, a powerful display of divine might echoing the thunder described in Psalms 29. It highlights God's active intervention in creation.
Job 37:4-5This text describes God's majestic voice and thunder in a way that parallels Psalms 29, emphasizing its awesome power and control over the elements, particularly the 'waters' above and the lightning.
Psalm 18:13This verse directly states that the LORD 'thundered from the heavens' and 'the Most High uttered his voice,' providing a strong conceptual link to the idea of God's voice as thunder over the waters in Psalms 29.
Jeremiah 10:13This prophetic passage describes God bringing forth thunder and rain, attributing it to His voice and power over the waters, much like the depiction in Psalms 29 where God's voice is powerful over many waters.
Revelation 10:3In this apocalyptic vision, a lion roars, and when he roars, the seven thunders utter their voices. This connects the concept of a powerful, divine voice in the form of thunder with the imagery of God's voice in Psalms 29.
cambridgePsalms 29:3: "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters."
3 . The voice of the Lord ] So thunder is called in Exodus 9:23 ff.; Psalm 18:13 ; &c. Cp. Revelation 10:3 f. upon the waters ] Hardly the sea, as though the storm were represented as coming in from the Mediterranean; but rather the waters collected in the dense masses of storm-cloud upon which Jehovah rides ( Psalm 18:9 ff.; Psalm 104:3 ; Jeremiah 10:13 ). the God of glory ] Cp.…
gillPsalms 29:3: "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters."
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 (y) 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 Psalm 18:13 ; a…
This verse repeats "upon the waters" and "upon many waters" not just for emphasis, but to shift our focus from God's voice on the waters to God himself being present above them. It highlights that the powerful thunder isn't just a sound in the sky, but a declaration that the God of glory is actively present and sovereign over the vastness of the heavens.
The psalmist is describing a powerful storm, personifying the thunder as the "voice of the LORD" and calling it to give glory. This majestic storm is not just a natural event but a divine display of God's overwhelming power, which begins to roar over the stormy clouds ("the waters"). He's setting the stage to show how this divine power shakes creation, from the cedars of Lebanon to the wilderness of Kadesh.
The psalmist is describing a powerful storm, personifying the thunder as the "voice of the LORD" and calling it to give glory. This majestic storm is not just a natural event but a divine display of God's overwhelming power, which begins to roar over the stormy clouds ("the waters"). He's setting the stage to show how this divine power shakes creation, from the cedars of Lebanon to the wilderness of Kadesh.
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"The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty." — This verse repeats "upon the waters" and "upon many waters" not just for emphasis, but to shift our focus from God's voice on the waters to God himself being present above them. It highlights t…
