Psalm 107 29

Psalm 107:29 kjv

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Psalm 107:29 nkjv

He calms the storm, So that its waves are still.

Psalm 107:29 niv

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:29 esv

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:29 nlt

He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 29 Meaning

Psalm 107:29 proclaims God's absolute and instantaneous sovereignty over the most tumultuous forces of nature. It asserts that He possesses the unique power to command a violent storm to become completely calm, leading to the perfect stillness of its waves. This demonstrates His supreme authority, transforming overwhelming chaos into profound peace and order.

Psalm 107 29 Context

Psalm 107 is a communal thanksgiving psalm structured around four distinct groups of people whom God delivers from various forms of trouble after they cry out to Him. These groups are: wanderers lost in the desert (vv. 4-9), prisoners in darkness (vv. 10-16), the sick afflicted by sin (vv. 17-22), and mariners caught in a violent sea storm (vv. 23-32).

Verse 29 falls specifically within the "mariners at sea" section. Here, sailors, having encountered a life-threatening tempest, are portrayed as being utterly helpless, driven to despair. In their distress, they "cry to the Lord" (v. 28). This verse then presents God's direct and immediate answer to their desperate plea, showcasing His unparalleled might and responsiveness. For the original audience, living in a region with maritime activity, the sea often represented an unpredictable and dangerous realm, associated with chaos. This declaration of Yahweh's dominion over such forces served as a powerful assertion of His absolute supremacy, standing in stark contrast to contemporary pagan beliefs where various deities were thought to govern different aspects of nature, especially the seas. It decisively declared that Yahweh alone controls every element, demonstrating His omnipotence and compassionate care for those who call upon Him.

Psalm 107 29 Word analysis

• He: Refers implicitly to Yahweh, the Lord. Throughout Psalm 107, God is the consistent active agent and deliverer (e.g., Ps 107:6, 8, 15, 21, 28, 31). This pronoun emphasizes His singular, personal, and mighty intervention, acting directly to save.
• made calm: Hebrew יָקֵם (yakem). This is the Hiphil perfect form of the verb קוּם (qum), which means "to rise," "to stand up," or "to establish." In the Hiphil (causative) sense, it means "to cause to stand," "to establish," or, in this context, "to cause to stand still" or "to make quiet/still." It highlights God's purposeful and effective action in imposing stability upon a chaotic situation.
• the storm: Hebrew סְעָרָה (s'arah). This term signifies a violent wind, tempest, or whirlwind. It conveys an image of intense, uncontrollable natural disaster, posing an extreme threat to life and highlighting human helplessness in the face of such power.
• so that its waves were still: This phrase comprises two key Hebrew expressions detailing the transformative effect of God's action.
  • so that... stillness: Hebrew לִדְמָמָה (lidmamah), literally "unto silence" or "to stillness." It derives from the root דָּמַם (damam), meaning "to be silent," "to cease," or "to be still." This word choice conveys not merely a reduction in noise or movement but a profound, absolute quietude and cessation of the tumult.
  • its waves: Hebrew גַּלֵּיהֶם (galleihem), meaning "their waves." The suffix "them" refers to the waters of the sea that were previously raging. This pinpoints the physical elements of the storm that directly experience God's powerful quieting.
  • were still: Hebrew וַיִּחְשׂוּ (vayichasu). This is a Piel imperfect (with Waw-consecutive) from the root חָשָׁה (hashah), which means "to be silent," "to be quiet," or "to subside." It beautifully parallels "lidmamah," reinforcing the complete and authoritative calming of the waves, bringing them to an immediate halt.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "He made the storm calm": This emphasizes divine causation, where God is the sole source of control and order over natural chaos. The agency is entirely His; it is not a natural subsidence but an active, commanded stillness.
  • "so that its waves were still": This describes the profound and total effect of God's power. It conveys a complete cessation of the sea's turbulent force, a transition from maximum chaos to absolute peace, observable in the calm state of the very elements of the storm.

Psalm 107 29 Bonus section

• The structure of Psalm 107, with its repeated refrain of distress, crying out, deliverance, and praise, emphasizes God's consistent character as a rescuer for all who seek Him in their trouble. This verse is the pinnacle of the fourth example, showcasing His most spectacular physical intervention.
• The Hebrew terms used, specifically yakem (establishing stillness) and the dual description of silence (lidmamah from damam and vayichasu from hashah), indicate not just a quietening, but an absolute, comprehensive cessation of the storm's power, reflecting a divine, all-encompassing control.
• This verse underpins a foundational biblical truth: creation, though mighty and often fearsome to humans, remains entirely subordinate to the Creator's command. This reinforces the Lord's unique deity against all forms of idolatry or reliance on naturalistic explanations that exclude divine agency.

Psalm 107 29 Commentary

Psalm 107:29 is a majestic portrayal of God's unassailable power and responsive love. When humans are at the very end of their own capabilities, facing existential threats like a raging sea beyond any human control, their only recourse is to cry out to their Creator. This verse reveals God's immediate and dramatic answer. The transition from "storm" (סְעָרָה – violent chaos) to "stillness" (לִדְמָמָה – profound quietude) highlights His ultimate sovereignty. He is not merely a force in nature but the Controller of nature. This demonstration of power resonates deeply, not only showing His might over physical elements but also implicitly over the metaphorical storms of human life. The historical and cultural context of the verse further enhances its significance; in an ancient world where people often appeased various deities for control over specific elements, this Psalm unambiguously declares Yahweh's sole, comprehensive authority over all creation. Moreover, this divine act powerfully foreshadows the miracles of Jesus Christ, who Himself would later rebuke winds and waves with a mere word, proving His own divine identity and shared authority over creation (Mk 4:39). This verse serves as an enduring assurance that no situation, however overwhelming, is beyond the Lord's power to transform and bring peace to those who call upon His name.