Psalm 29 8

Psalm 29:8 kjv

The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

Psalm 29:8 nkjv

The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

Psalm 29:8 niv

The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

Psalm 29:8 esv

The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

Psalm 29:8 nlt

The voice of the LORD makes the barren wilderness quake;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

Psalm 29 verses

Psalm 29 8 Meaning

Psalm 29:8 declares the profound power and sovereign action of the Lord (Yahweh), stating that His majestic voice, akin to a mighty thunderclap, causes even the desolate wilderness to writhe and tremble. The verse specifically repeats and intensifies this declaration by naming the Wilderness of Kadesh, a region known for its historical significance and formidable terrain, highlighting the all-encompassing reach and undeniable force of God's word and presence, capable of impacting even the most resistant or desolate parts of creation.

Psalm 29 8 Context

Psalm 29 is often referred to as "The Thunderstorm Psalm" due to its vivid portrayal of a mighty thunderstorm moving from the northern mountains (Lebanon/Sirion) southwards to the wilderness of Kadesh. The psalm is a majestic hymn of praise to Yahweh, exalting His singular power and glory. The psalmist attributes the awe-inspiring phenomena of a powerful storm—thunder, lightning, wind, rain—not to the Canaanite storm-god Baal, but exclusively to the voice (power) of Yahweh, directly confronting and polemizing against prevailing pagan beliefs in the ancient Near East. The "wilderness" (midbar) is a common biblical setting for divine revelation, testing, and judgment, particularly referencing Israel's formative period. Kadesh, or Kadesh Barnea, specifically mentioned here, was a historically significant location on the southern border of Israel's promised land, renowned as the place where Israel rebelled against God during their wilderness wanderings, signifying its importance as a place where God's power and judgment were displayed. The psalm's structure escalates the intensity of the storm and God's power, culminating in a declaration of Yahweh's reign enthroned above the flood.

Psalm 29 8 Word analysis

• Voice (קוֹל - qôl): This word signifies sound, voice, cry, or thunder. In the context of God, qôl denotes not merely an audible sound but the powerful, active manifestation of His command, presence, and divine energy. It is His declarative Word that effects change, reveals Himself, and executes judgment or blessing. Its usage throughout Psalm 29 underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, specifically contrasting it with the impotent claims of false deities like Ba'al, who was thought to control thunder and rain.
• Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): This is the covenantal, personal name of God, revealed to Moses (Exod 3:15). It signifies God's self-existent, eternal, and faithful nature. The repeated use of "Yahweh" in the psalm, especially paired with "voice," emphasizes that the awesome power of the storm is a direct expression of the one true God, Israel's deliverer and sovereign Ruler, reinforcing His unique identity and authority over creation and history.
• Shakes (יָחִיל - yāḥîl): This verb is the Hiphil imperfect of חוּל (ḥûl), meaning "to writhe," "to travail," "to be in labor," or "to tremble violently." In this causative Hiphil form, it means "He causes to writhe" or "He causes to tremble violently." It conveys an intense, convulsive, and even painful shaking, similar to birth pangs or a great earthquake. This deep internal disturbance reflects the overwhelming force of God's voice upon the natural world, suggesting both a destructive power and a potential for new beginnings (as in birth pangs often precede new life).
• Wilderness (מִדְבָּר - midbār): Refers to an uninhabited, arid, and desolate region. Biblically, the wilderness often symbolizes wildness, danger, chaos, but also a place of solitude, testing, divine provision, and encounter with God. God's voice "shaking" the wilderness highlights His power extending to the untamed and desolate, areas often perceived as beyond human control or understanding.
• Wilderness of Kadesh (מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ - midbar Qāḏēš): A specific and identifiable location (Kadesh Barnea), notorious in Israelite history as a site of rebellion against God (Num 13-14, 20). The specification of Kadesh emphasizes that God's power is not vague or generalized, but impacts particular, geographically and historically significant places. The shaking of Kadesh, a site associated with Israel's faithlessness and divine judgment, underscores that God's power can effect transformative and disciplinary action even in historically rebellious territories.

• The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh: The poetic repetition of the phrase (parallelism) with the slight addition of "Kadesh" serves to emphasize, amplify, and confirm the universal and specific power of Yahweh's voice. It moves from a general declaration about His power over any "wilderness" to a precise application, reinforcing that His dominion extends everywhere and impacts known historical locations profoundly. The identical phrasing wayyāḥîl Yahweh midbar Qāḏēš at the end mirrors and solidifies the first clause, providing a forceful, almost climactic conclusion to the verse's statement of divine might.

Psalm 29 8 Bonus section

The progressive movement of the "voice of the Lord" throughout Psalm 29 is a key feature, building to verse 8. It begins "over the waters" (v. 3), "shatters cedars" (v. 5), "strips forests bare" (v. 9), and here, it reaches and violently affects the wilderness, specifically the Wilderness of Kadesh. This geographical progression demonstrates that no part of creation, however remote or seemingly chaotic, is beyond the immediate and overwhelming influence of God's power. The use of "voice" as the active agent throughout the psalm draws a theological connection between God's Word and His power to act. Just as God spoke creation into being, His "voice" continues to sustain, command, and sometimes, shake and judge it. The intensity conveyed by yāḥîl ("shakes"/"writhes") highlights the radical, overwhelming nature of divine encounter, whether for judgment or transformation. The terror evoked by this shaking should lead to a holy awe that recognizes God's absolute sovereignty over both the natural and the historical spheres.

Psalm 29 8 Commentary

Psalm 29:8 profoundly portrays God's absolute dominion by demonstrating His power over nature, particularly through the metaphor of a violent storm. The "voice of the Lord" is the central agent, personifying God's active, effectual word that brings about creation, judgment, and transformation. The verb "shakes" (Hebrew: yāḥîl) conveys a deep, convulsive trembling, similar to earth-shaking or labor pains, indicating the profound and uncontrollable impact of God's power on the desolate, wild regions of the earth. By specifically naming the Wilderness of Kadesh—a site laden with historical significance due to Israel's rebellion—the verse intensifies its message. It teaches that God's authority extends not only over the general forces of nature but also reaches into specific, challenging historical and geographical locations. This polemical aspect implicitly refutes ancient Near Eastern polytheistic beliefs, asserting Yahweh as the sole sovereign deity controlling all elements. The verse thus serves as a powerful reminder of God's terrifying majesty, His capacity to judge, and His unfathomable control over all things, prompting awe and worship.