Psalms 29:4

KJV

The voice of the LORD [is] powerful; the voice of the LORD [is] full of majesty.

KJV (with Strong's)

The voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} is powerful {H3581}; the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} is full of majesty {H1926}.

Complete Jewish Bible

the voice of ADONAI in power, the voice of ADONAI in splendor.

Berean Standard Bible

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

American Standard Version

The voice of Jehovah is powerful; The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 29:4 delivers a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and magnificent character, asserting that the "voice of the LORD" is not only inherently powerful but also utterly saturated with divine majesty. This verse, central to a psalm celebrating Yahweh's dominion over creation, encapsulates the awe-inspiring nature of God's active presence and irresistible authority as revealed through the elements of a thunderous storm. It serves as a foundational statement regarding the Lord's unique and unrivaled control over all things, demanding worship and reverence from all creation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 29:4 is embedded within a "storm psalm" that vividly portrays the power and majesty of Yahweh through the metaphor of a thunderous tempest. The psalm opens with a call for heavenly beings to [ascribe glory and strength to the Lord](/psalms/29-1 "Psalms 29:1 - Ascribe to the Lord") (vv. 1-2), setting a tone of profound reverence. Immediately following this call to worship, verses 3-9 describe the "voice of the LORD" (קֹול יְהוָה, *qôwl Yᵉhôvâh*), which is repeated seven times, echoing the seven days of creation. This deliberate repetition emphasizes God's active, authoritative, and pervasive presence in the natural world. Verse 4 specifically introduces the attributes of this divine voice—its power and majesty—setting the stage for the subsequent descriptions of its effects, such as shaking the wilderness and stripping the forests bare, culminating in the declaration that [the Lord sits enthroned over the flood](/psalms/29-10 "Psalms 29:10 - The Lord Enthroned Forever") and reigns as King forever. The structure builds from a universal call to worship to a detailed exposition of God's power in creation, concluding with a reaffirmation of His kingship and blessing for His people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed in an ancient Near Eastern context, Psalm 29 stands in stark contrast to the polytheistic beliefs prevalent at the time. Surrounding cultures, particularly the Canaanites, worshipped storm gods like Baal, attributing control over weather phenomena to them and often depicting them as chaotic or capricious. This psalm, however, unequivocally asserts that Yahweh alone possesses ultimate dominion over the natural world. The vivid imagery of the storm, moving from the Mediterranean Sea across the land to the wilderness, would have been immediately recognizable to the original audience, who would have understood the profound theological statement: the God of Israel, not Baal or any other deity, is the true sovereign over creation. The psalm's structure and language also suggest its use in temple worship, where the declaration of God's power would have reinforced the unique identity and supremacy of Yahweh, providing a powerful theological counter-narrative to pagan mythologies.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme of Psalms 29, powerfully articulated in verse 4, is **Divine Sovereignty**. The "voice of the LORD" is presented as the ultimate expression of God's absolute control over all creation, from the mightiest storms to the smallest details of the natural world. This theme directly challenges any notion of competing deities or autonomous natural forces, declaring Yahweh as the sole ruler. Closely related is the theme of **Awe and Worship**. The overwhelming display of God's power and majesty through His voice is intended to evoke profound reverence and adoration from all beings, both heavenly and earthly. The psalm begins and ends with a call to worship, emphasizing that the proper response to such a powerful God is to [ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name](/psalms/29-2 "Psalms 29:2 - Worship in Holy Array"). Finally, the psalm highlights **God's Revelation in Creation**. While [the heavens declare the glory of God](/psalms/19-1 "Psalms 19:1 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory"), Psalm 29 focuses on the active, dynamic revelation of God's character through His powerful voice, demonstrating His presence and authority in the very fabric of the created order. This revelation is not passive but an active display of His might and splendor, compelling a response of praise from all who witness it.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Voice (Hebrew, _qôwl'_):** The Hebrew word קֹול (*qôwl*) refers to a sound or voice, often used in the context of thunder or a loud utterance. In Psalm 29, its repeated use (seven times) in the phrase "the voice of the LORD" (קֹול יְהוָה, *qôwl Yᵉhôvâh*) is highly significant. It personifies God's active, authoritative utterance, emphasizing that the storm is not a random natural phenomenon but a direct manifestation of God's spoken command and presence. This repetition underscores the overwhelming and pervasive nature of God's divine agency, implying that every aspect of the storm is a direct result of His powerful word.
* **Powerful (Hebrew, _kôach'_):** The Hebrew word כֹּחַ (*kôach*) denotes vigor, force, might, or ability. When applied to the "voice of the LORD," it conveys an inherent, irresistible force. This is not merely a loud sound, but a dynamic, effective power that can shake, strip, and cause creation to tremble. It speaks to the raw, uncontainable energy and omnipotence embedded in God's very word, capable of bringing about profound physical and spiritual effects. The term emphasizes the efficacy and potency of God's command, highlighting that His voice is not just heard but acts.
* **Majesty (Hebrew, _hâdâr'_):** The Hebrew word הָדָר (*hâdâr*) signifies magnificence, ornament, splendor, beauty, glory, honor, or excellency. It describes an awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur that compels admiration and worship. When the "voice of the LORD" is described as "full of majesty," it implies that God's power is not just brute force but is imbued with an inherent glory and worthiness that evokes reverence. His actions, even in the destructive power of a storm, reveal His intrinsic splendor and incomparable greatness, inviting a response of adoration and acknowledging His supreme dignity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The voice of the LORD [is] powerful":** This clause establishes the foundational attribute of God's divine utterance. It is not merely a sound but an active, potent force. The power of God's voice is absolute and irresistible, capable of commanding creation, shaking the wilderness, and causing natural phenomena to obey His will. This speaks to God's omnipotence and His direct involvement in the world through His word, emphasizing that His spoken word carries inherent, effective might.
* **"the voice of the LORD [is] full of majesty":** This second clause complements the first by adding a qualitative dimension to God's voice. Beyond mere power, it is imbued with inherent splendor, dignity, and honor. The "majesty" of God's voice conveys His intrinsic glory and awe-inspiring presence. It suggests that every manifestation of God's power is also a revelation of His incomparable greatness, inspiring not just fear but profound reverence and adoration. The parallelism highlights that God's power is always glorious, and His glory is always powerful, demonstrating that His might is always exercised in a way that reveals His supreme worthiness.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 29:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("the voice of the LORD [is] full of majesty") reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first ("The voice of the LORD [is] powerful"). This repetition deepens the understanding of God's voice as both effective and glorious, reinforcing the concept that God's power is inherently majestic. **Repetition** of the phrase "the voice of the LORD" (anaphora) throughout the psalm, including this verse, serves to emphasize divine agency and underscore Yahweh's singular authority. This is a deliberate rhetorical strategy to contrast God's control with the claims of pagan deities. **Imagery** of a powerful storm is central to the psalm, with God's voice being likened to thunder, evoking a visceral sense of His overwhelming presence and might. While not strictly personification, the "voice" is treated as an active agent, shaking and stripping, which lends a sense of divine intentionality and direct action to the natural phenomena described, making God's presence tangible and formidable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 29:4 profoundly emphasizes God's immanent presence and transcendent power, revealing Him as the active, sovereign ruler over all creation. It underscores that God's word is not merely descriptive but performative, bringing about what it declares. This divine voice, imbued with both raw power and inherent majesty, serves as a testament to Yahweh's unique identity as the Creator and Sustainer, distinct from and superior to any created thing or pagan deity. The verse invites humanity to recognize God's absolute authority and respond with profound awe and worship, understanding that the very forces of nature are but instruments of His glorious will, all working in concert to display His incomparable attributes.

* [Psalm 19:1](/psalms/19-1 "Psalms 19:1 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory")
* [Job 37:5](/job/37-5 "Job 37:5 - God's Voice Thunders Wondrously")
* [Revelation 1:10](/revelation/1-10 "Revelation 1:10 - The Voice Like a Trumpet")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Understanding the "voice of the LORD" as both powerful and full of majesty in Psalms 29:4 offers profound encouragement and a call to worship for believers today. In a world often characterized by chaos, uncertainty, and the perceived randomness of natural events, this verse reminds us that an all-powerful, majestic God is ultimately in control. This truth should inspire a deep sense of awe and reverence, prompting us to approach God with humility and wonder, recognizing His transcendence and absolute authority over all things, including the "storms" of our own lives. It builds trust, assuring us that if God's voice can command the most formidable forces of nature, He is certainly capable of guiding, protecting, and sustaining us through any challenge. Furthermore, recognizing His inherent majesty should move us beyond mere fear to genuine adoration and worship, cultivating a heart that delights in His glory and responds with praise to His sovereign rule, knowing that His power is always exercised with perfect wisdom and magnificent purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's voice as "powerful" and "full of majesty" impact your perception of His control over your personal circumstances?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender control and trust in the sovereign voice of the Lord?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God's power and majesty in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**Why is "the voice of the LORD" repeated so often in this psalm, particularly in relation to a storm?**

Answer: The repetition of "the voice of the LORD" (קֹול יְהוָה, *qôwl Yᵉhôvâh*) seven times in Psalm 29 is a deliberate literary and theological device. Firstly, it emphasizes the singular agency and authority of Yahweh over all natural phenomena, directly countering the polytheistic beliefs of the ancient Near East where storm gods like Baal were worshipped. By attributing every aspect of the storm—its thunder, lightning, and destructive force—to the "voice of the LORD," the psalmist unequivocally declares God's unrivaled sovereignty. Secondly, the sevenfold repetition may subtly allude to the seven days of creation in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), where God's voice (His spoken word) brings all things into existence. This connection reinforces the idea that the same powerful, majestic voice that created the world continues to govern and sustain it. It underscores that the storm is not chaotic but a controlled, purposeful manifestation of God's active presence and power, intended to evoke awe and worship from all who witness His magnificent display.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 29:4, declaring the "voice of the LORD" to be powerful and full of majesty, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the incarnate "Word" (Logos) of God, through whom all things were created and by whom all things are sustained, as stated in [John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God"). The very voice of God that thunders across creation is embodied in Christ. We see the power and majesty of His voice demonstrated in His earthly ministry; He spoke with inherent authority, not only teaching with power but also commanding the elements, as when He [rebuked the wind and the waves, and there was a great calm](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm"). Furthermore, Jesus Himself declared that [the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live](/john/5-25 "John 5:25 - The Voice of the Son of God"), signifying His ultimate authority over life and death, even over the grave. The majestic voice of the Father, which spoke creation into being and thunders in the storm, is perfectly revealed and powerfully expressed through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the [radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus, the Radiance of God's Glory"), through whom God has [spoken to us in these last days](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 10:5

And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard [even] to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.

Jeremiah 51:15

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.

Jeremiah 51:16

When he uttereth [his] voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Psalms 68:33

To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, [which were] of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, [and that] a mighty voice.

Psalms 33:9

For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Luke 4:36

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word [is] this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Isaiah 66:6

A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.