Psalm 29:4 kjv
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
Psalm 29:4 nkjv
The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
Psalm 29:4 niv
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
Psalm 29:4 esv
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
Psalm 29:4 nlt
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
Psalm 29 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:3 | And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. | God's voice as creative power. |
| Gen 6:13 | Then God said to Noah, "I have decided to put an end to all people..." | God's voice giving powerful decrees. |
| Exod 19:16-19 | On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning...the voice of the trumpet grew louder... | Theophany at Sinai, God's powerful voice in storm. |
| Deut 4:12 | You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. | God's unseen power, manifest in His voice. |
| Psa 33:6 | By the word of the LORD the heavens were made... | Creation through God's spoken word. |
| Psa 33:9 | For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. | God's command as absolute power. |
| Psa 68:33 | ...to him who rides across the ancient heavens...and utters his voice... | God's voice resounding from heaven with power. |
| Psa 77:18 | Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind... | God's voice equated with thunder's might. |
| Psa 145:5 | They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty... | Reference to divine majesty. |
| Isa 6:3 | "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." | God's glory filling creation. |
| Isa 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven...so is my word... | God's word (voice) accomplishing its purpose. |
| Jer 10:13 | When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar... | God's voice causing cosmic phenomena. |
| Joel 3:16 | The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem... | God's powerful voice in judgment. |
| John 1:1-3 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Jesus as the living Word/Voice of God, powerful. |
| John 5:25 | ...the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God... | Christ's voice raising the dead, signifying power. |
| Acts 2:2-4 | ...a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven... | Divine manifestation through powerful sound (Holy Spirit). |
| Heb 1:3 | The Son is the radiance of God’s glory...sustaining all things by his powerful word. | Christ's powerful word upholding all creation. |
| Rev 1:10 | ...I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet... | Voice of glorified Christ, powerful and majestic. |
| Rev 1:15 | His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace...and his voice like the sound of rushing waters. | Description of Christ's majestic and powerful voice. |
| Rev 10:3 | He gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion... | Angelic figure's voice echoing divine authority. |
| 2 Pet 1:17 | For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him... | God's voice bestowing glory on Christ. |
Psalm 29 verses
Psalm 29 4 Meaning
Psalm 29:4 declares the transcendent and inherent nature of God's authority. The "voice of the LORD" represents not merely an audible sound, but the active, effective, and revealed power of God. This divine utterance is intrinsically characterized by immense strength and overwhelming glory, manifesting His absolute control and supreme majesty over all creation, particularly symbolized by the dramatic forces of nature like storms.
Psalm 29 4 Context
Psalm 29 is often referred to as a "Psalm of the Storm" or a "Theophany Psalm." The entire chapter describes the majesty and power of Yahweh manifested through a severe thunderstorm moving from north (Lebanon) to south (Kadesh). The recurring phrase "the voice of the LORD" (Qol Yahweh) is repeated seven times (often seen as a symbol of perfection or completeness) to emphasize God's absolute dominion over nature, which was traditionally associated with pagan deities like Baal in Canaanite religion.The historical and cultural context is crucial. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, storm gods like Baal were worshipped for their perceived control over rain, fertility, and cosmic order. Psalm 29 serves as a powerful polemic, asserting that it is Yahweh, the God of Israel, and not Baal, who truly commands the thunder, lightning, and destructive forces of the storm. The verse stands at the core of this declaration, focusing on the character and efficacy of God's voice as opposed to any false deity.
Psalm 29 4 Word analysis
The voice of the LORD (קֹול יְהוָה - Qol YHVH):
- Qol (קֹול): Hebrew for "voice," "sound," "thunder." It conveys not just an audible sound, but an impactful, active utterance. In biblical terms, God's "voice" is often synonymous with His word, decree, or manifest presence. It carries intrinsic power and is effective in accomplishing God's will. It’s not a mere physical vibration, but a force that causes phenomena (as seen in subsequent verses of Ps 29 where His voice breaks cedars, flashes fire, makes deserts quake).
- YHVH (יְהוָה): The sacred, covenantal name of God, revealing His self-existence and eternal nature. Using this specific name emphasizes that the God of Israel, distinct from all other gods, possesses this unique and awesome power. This reiterates the polemical aspect against rival deities.
is powerful (בַּכֹּחַ - ba'koach):
- Ba'koach (בַּכֹּחַ): "In strength," "with power." Koach (כֹּחַ) means strength, might, ability, vigor, and often refers to physical power or military might. When applied to God's voice, it means that His word or command inherently possesses the force to bring things into being, to sustain, or to destroy. It underscores His omnipotence; whatever His voice utters carries absolute potency and irresistible might.
is majestic (בַּהָדָר - ba'hadar):
- Ba'hadar (בַּהָדָר): "In majesty," "with splendor," "in glory," "with honor." Hadar (הָדָר) speaks of grandiosity, honor, adornment, beauty, and sublime splendor. It describes not just raw power, but a magnificent and awe-inspiring display. God's power is not chaotic or mere brute force; it is exercised with inherent glory and profound order. It evokes reverence and highlights God's unique dignity and eminence. This refers to the splendor of His character as well as the magnificent display of His power.
Word-Group Analysis: "The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic."
- The parallelism here is central. "Powerful" and "majestic" are two complementary attributes describing the nature of God's voice.
- "Powerful" emphasizes its effective strength and ability to command and execute.
- "Majestic" emphasizes its glorious display, inherent splendor, and ability to inspire awe and reverence.
- Together, they portray a God whose every utterance is not only mighty in its effect but also glorious in its essence, completely overwhelming any lesser power. The repetition of "the voice of the LORD" acts as a refrain, establishing this phrase as the foundational truth being amplified.
Psalm 29 4 Bonus section
The repeated "voice of the LORD" (Qol YHVH) throughout Psalm 29 is not simply rhetorical. In ancient Near Eastern literature, this literary device, particularly the number seven (as it appears in Ps 29), often symbolized perfection, completeness, or divine action. Thus, the psalm's repeated emphasis highlights the full, perfect, and comprehensive control God exerts. Some theological interpretations connect "the voice of the LORD" directly to the creative Word of God, understood through a Trinitarian lens in the New Testament as the Person of Jesus Christ (e.g., John 1:1, Col 1:16, Heb 1:3), who is the embodiment of God's powerful and majestic utterance. This verse can also be seen as setting the stage for divine revelation, where God's truth, expressed as His voice, holds all power and splendor.
Psalm 29 4 Commentary
Psalm 29:4 is a powerful declaration of the unchallengeable sovereignty of God. It articulates that the "voice of the LORD" is not merely an audible sound but the direct and active manifestation of His divine will and presence, carrying within it infinite power and profound glory. This divine utterance effectively orchestrates all things, whether it be creation (as seen in Genesis) or the cataclysmic forces of nature depicted in the surrounding verses of the Psalm. The attributes "powerful" (demonstrating His effective strength) and "majestic" (displaying His awe-inspiring glory) are inseparable descriptions of this divine expression. The verse stands as a core tenet that God's authority is supreme, perfect, and all-encompassing, dismissing any claims of rival deities to cosmic control and inviting true reverence towards the Creator alone. For instance, just as a spoken word of authority from an earthly king effects change in his kingdom, God's voice, imbued with infinite power and majesty, dictates reality itself.