He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes God's power not just by breaking things, but by making solid mountains leap like young, energetic animals. This vivid image highlights how even the most immense and stable parts of creation are utterly subject to God's voice, moving as he wills.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm describes God's powerful voice, depicted as a roaring thunderstorm sweeping across the land. Following the thunder's assault on the mighty cedars of Lebanon, the focus shifts to the very mountains themselves, Lebanon and Sirion (Hermon), which are made to tremble and "skip" like young, energetic animals. This vivid imagery emphasizes the overwhelming force of God's voice, shaking even the most solid parts of creation.
Imagine the mightiest mountains, ancient and unmoving, suddenly appearing to dance and leap! This verse paints a picture of God's power so immense it affects the very foundations of the earth.
The Psalmist uses vivid imagery to describe the effect of God's voice – thunder – on the natural world.
From Trees to Mountains
While some scholars suggest 'them' refers to the cedars being broken by the storm, the context points more strongly to the mountains themselves.
A Violent Tremor
Lebanon and Sirion (Mount Hermon) are described as 'skipping like a calf' and 'a young wild ox.' This isn't a gentle sway, but a violent, energetic movement, conveying the sheer force of the divine voice. It’s as if the mountains themselves are trembling and jolting under the impact of God's power, just as the earth quakes during a powerful storm.
Why would a sacred text use such seemingly exaggerated language? Is it just poetic flair, or is there a deeper truth about God's power being conveyed?
The language used in Psalm 29:6 is indeed hyperbolic, but this isn't just for poetic effect. It serves to emphasize the overwhelming majesty and absolute sovereignty of God over creation.
Hyperbole as Truth
When Scripture employs hyperbole, it's often to convey a truth that literal language cannot capture. Here, the "skipping" mountains aren't meant to be taken as a literal, physical dance. Instead, it's a powerful metaphor to illustrate:
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Understand the original words
Lebanon · Hebrew Proper Noun
A reference to the massive mountain range in northern Israel, often used as a symbol of majesty, strength, and the heights of God's creation. It is known for its prominent cedar trees, which represent glory and stability.
Siryon · Hebrew Proper Noun
A name for Mount Hermon, representing extreme height and northern boundary markers of the land. In the Old Testament, it signifies God’s power over the most impressive physical landmarks.
Psalm 29 vividly describes a powerful thunderstorm rolling across the land of Israel, from the northern mountains of Lebanon and Hermon (Sirion) down to the southern wilderness. This powerful imagery was likely composed or used during a time of intense national upheaval and divine judgment, such as the Babylonian conquest and exile, reminding the people of God's ultimate sovereignty and power over all creation, even in the midst of destruction.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Expansion and Influence
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant force in the Near East, exerting pressure and demanding tribute from the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. This period of geopolitical tension would have been well-known to the psalmists.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib launched a massive invasion of Judah, conquering many fortified cities and ultimately besieging Jerusalem. This event instilled deep fear and awe of divine power.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians, marking the rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The first wave of Judean exiles, including figures like Daniel, were deported to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population into exile. This was a devastating national trauma.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ushering in the Persian period. This shift in power allowed for the eventual return of Jewish exiles to their homeland.
c. 520-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
Under Persian rule, the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem and, with much difficulty and opposition, rebuilt the Second Temple. This marked a significant step in the restoration of Jewish religious life.
This passage uses similar imagery of mountains 'skipping' and 'leaping' to describe the earth's reaction to God's presence and power, paralleling the effect of the storm in Psalm 29.
Job 39:19-25This passage vividly describes the war horse, a creature of immense power and spirit, which can be compared to the 'young wild ox' or 'unicorn' mentioned here, emphasizing the untamed energy of God's power.
Isaiah 2:13-14This prophecy speaks of God's judgment upon the proud 'cedars of Lebanon' and 'high mountains,' echoing the theme of God's voice breaking even the mightiest structures of nature.
Nahum 1:3-6This passage describes the Lord's power as He comes to judge, making the mountains tremble and the earth shake, much like the effect of His voice depicted in Psalm 29.
calvinPsalms 29:5-8: "The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon."
The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; I say, Jehovah breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6. And he maketh Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7. The voice of Jehovah striketh out [or heweth out] flames of fire. 8. The voice of Jehovah maketh the wilderness to quake, the voice of Jehovah maketh the wilderness of Kadesh to tremble.
The voice of Jehovah breaket…
cambridgePsalms 29:6: "He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn."
6 . them ] Not the cedars, but the mountains generally, to be understood from Lebanon and Sirion in the next line. Cp. Psalm 114:4 ; Psalm 114:6 ; Psalm 18:7 ff. Sirion ] The old Sidonian name for Hermon ( Deuteronomy 3:9 ), derived probably from the glistening of the snow on its summit. Lebanon and Sirion are specified as the noblest mountains of Palestine, and also as forming the northern boundary…
The verse emphasizes God's power not just by breaking things, but by making solid mountains leap like young, energetic animals. This vivid image highlights how even the most immense and stable parts of creation are utterly subject to God's voice, moving as he wills.
This psalm describes God's powerful voice, depicted as a roaring thunderstorm sweeping across the land. Following the thunder's assault on the mighty cedars of Lebanon, the focus shifts to the very mountains themselves, Lebanon and Sirion (Hermon), which are made to tremble and "skip" like young, energetic animals. This vivid imagery emphasizes the overwhelming force of God's voice, shaking even the most solid parts of creation.
This psalm describes God's powerful voice, depicted as a roaring thunderstorm sweeping across the land. Following the thunder's assault on the mighty cedars of Lebanon, the focus shifts to the very mountains themselves, Lebanon and Sirion (Hermon), which are made to tremble and "skip" like young, energetic animals. This vivid imagery emphasizes the overwhelming force of God's voice, shaking even the most solid parts of creation.
"He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox." — The verse emphasizes God's power not just by breaking things, but by making solid mountains leap like young, energetic animals. This vivid image highlights how even the most immense and stable part…
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Last reviewed October 2026