Psalms 29:9

KJV

The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of [his] glory.

KJV (with Strong's)

The voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} maketh the hinds {H355} to calve {H2342}, and discovereth {H2834} the forests {H3295}: and in his temple {H1964} doth every one speak {H559} of his glory {H3519}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The voice of ADONAI causes deer to give birth and strips the forests bare -while in his temple, all cry, "Glory!"

Berean Standard Bible

The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

American Standard Version

The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, And strippeth the forests bare: And in his temple everything saith, Glory.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 29:9 powerfully culminates the psalm's depiction of God's majestic "voice," showcasing its awe-inspiring influence over the natural world—from bringing forth life in the wilderness to stripping bare the mighty forests—and ultimately revealing that this overwhelming display of divine power invariably leads to profound worship and declaration of His glory within His sacred temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 29 is a magnificent hymn often characterized as a "thunderstorm psalm," meticulously detailing the progression of a divine storm. It begins by summoning heavenly beings to ascribe glory to the Lord ([Psalms 29:1-2](/psalms/29-1 "Psalm 29:1-2 - Ascribe to the Lord")), then vividly portrays the "voice of the LORD" (a recurring motif) as it moves from the waters ([Psalms 29:3](/psalms/29-3 "Psalm 29:3 - The Voice Over the Waters")) across the cedars of Lebanon ([Psalms 29:5-6](/psalms/29-5 "Psalm 29:5-6 - The Voice Breaks the Cedars")) and through the wilderness of Kadesh ([Psalms 29:8](/psalms/29-8 "Psalm 29:8 - The Voice Shakes the Wilderness")). Verse 9 serves as the dramatic climax, transitioning from the external, raw power displayed in creation to the internal, reverent response of worship within God's sanctuary. This verse provides the ultimate purpose for the preceding display: the revelation of God's glory that compels praise.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed in a region where storm deities like Baal were widely worshipped, Psalm 29 stands in stark contrast, asserting Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all natural phenomena. Unlike the capricious and often malevolent storm gods of Canaanite mythology, the "voice of the LORD" in this psalm is not merely a force of chaos but a controlled, purposeful, and ultimately revelatory power. The psalm implicitly refutes the notion that any other deity commands the elements, firmly establishing the God of Israel as the sole, omnipotent Creator and Sustainer. The imagery of hinds calving and forests being stripped bare would have resonated deeply with an ancient audience familiar with the untamed power of severe storms and the vulnerability of life within them, further emphasizing the unique and overwhelming power of Yahweh.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes of the psalm and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the **Omnipotent "Voice of the LORD,"** portraying God's spoken word not merely as sound but as an active, creative, and transformative force that compels a response from all creation, even the most timid creatures. Secondly, it highlights **God's Absolute Sovereignty Over Nature**, demonstrating that even the most profound and unsettling aspects of the natural world, such as the difficult birth of a hind or the stripping of a dense forest, are under His command. This divine control reveals His power to expose and transform. Finally, the verse culminates in the theme of **Worship as a Natural Response to God's Glory**. The overwhelming display of God's power in creation, from the thundering voice to its profound effects, naturally leads to awe, reverence, and the declaration of His majesty within His dwelling place, the temple. This progression from creation's grandeur to sanctuary worship is a recurring motif, as seen in passages like [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes Seen in Creation"), where the invisible attributes of God are clearly perceived through what has been made.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Voice (Hebrew, _qol'_):** Throughout Psalm 29, the Hebrew word קֹול (_qol_) is used seven times to describe the "voice of the LORD." It signifies more than just an audible sound; it represents God's active, powerful, and authoritative utterance. In this context, it is the irresistible, dynamic force that commands and orchestrates creation, bringing about profound and sometimes unsettling effects. It is a word of creative power, judgment, and revelation.
* **Hinds (Hebrew, _'ayyalot'_):** The Hebrew term אַיָּלוֹת (_'ayyalot_) refers to female deer, specifically doe. Hinds are known for their timidity and for having particularly difficult and painful births, often seeking secluded places. The imagery of the "voice of the LORD" causing them to "calve" (literally, "to writhe" or "to give birth") under the impact of the storm emphasizes the overwhelming, inescapable power of God that affects even the most sensitive and hidden aspects of creation, compelling life to emerge even amidst chaos.
* **Discovereth (Hebrew, _chasaph'_):** The verb חָשַׂף (_chasaph_) means "to strip bare," "to lay bare," or "to expose." When applied to forests, it vividly portrays the storm's immense force stripping leaves from trees, breaking branches, or even uprooting them, thereby revealing what was previously hidden or obscured within the dense foliage. Metaphorically, this action symbolizes God's power to reveal, to make manifest, and to expose the innermost realities, whether in nature or in the spiritual realm.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve":** This clause highlights the extraordinary, life-altering power of God's voice. It is a force so profound that it impacts the most delicate and vulnerable creatures, causing them to undergo the intense process of giving birth. This imagery underscores the overwhelming and inescapable nature of divine power, demonstrating its reach even into the hidden and intimate processes of life, compelling them to unfold.
* **"and discovereth the forests":** This phrase depicts the destructive yet revelatory aspect of God's voice, manifested through the storm. The storm's power is so intense that it strips the forests bare, exposing their underlying structure, perhaps even uprooting trees. This act of "discovering" or "laying bare" symbolizes God's ability to reveal what is hidden, to expose the truth, and to demonstrate His absolute dominion over the mightiest elements of the natural world.
* **"and in his temple doth every one speak of [his] glory":** This final clause marks a profound shift from the external display of God's power in creation to the internal, spiritual response of humanity in worship. The overwhelming evidence of God's majesty in the natural world naturally leads to awe and praise within His sacred dwelling place. The phrase "every one" suggests a universal, collective, and enthusiastic declaration of God's "glory" (His weighty presence, honor, and majesty), indicating that the purpose of His awesome power is to elicit worship and adoration from His people.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 29:9 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is evident in the active role attributed to the "voice of the LORD," which "maketh" and "discovereth," imbuing an abstract sound with agency and power. **Hyperbole** is used to emphasize the extreme and miraculous effects of God's power, particularly in causing "hinds to calve" under such conditions, an event that would be extraordinary and deeply impactful. The vivid imagery also creates a strong sense of **sensory detail**, allowing the reader to almost hear the thunder and witness the storm's effects. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a significant **shift in focus** (or *volta*), moving from the raw, external power of God manifested in creation to the internal, spiritual response of worship within the temple. This transition underscores the theological truth that the natural world's testimony to God's power is meant to lead humanity to adoration and praise in His presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 29:9 powerfully bridges the gap between God's magnificent work in creation and the appropriate human response of worship. The "voice of the LORD," which orchestrates the most profound and even unsettling aspects of the natural world, is not merely a display of raw power but a revelation of divine glory that demands a response. This verse teaches that the awe inspired by God's sovereignty over creation should naturally culminate in a reverent and collective declaration of His majesty within the sanctuary. It underscores that all of creation, in its raw power and delicate intricacies, serves as a testament to the Creator, compelling His people to gather and articulate His praises.

* [Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Speaks and Light Appears")
* [Exodus 19:16](/exodus/19-16 "Exodus 19:16 - The Voice of God at Sinai")
* [1 Kings 8:11](/1_kings/8-11 "1 Kings 8:11 - The Cloud of Glory Fills the Temple")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 29:9 serves as a profound reminder that God's power is not a distant, abstract concept but an active, pervasive force evident throughout all creation. When we witness the majesty of a powerful storm, the intricate details of life emerging, or the vastness of the natural world, this verse calls us to move beyond mere observation to profound recognition: this is the "voice of the LORD" at work. This recognition should not merely evoke fear but lead us, like those in the temple, to declare His glory and worship Him wholeheartedly. It encourages us to find God's presence not only in moments of quiet devotion and structured worship but also in the raw, untamed forces of the natural world, understanding that all creation testifies to His magnificent power and worthiness of praise. Our worship in the sanctuary, therefore, becomes the appropriate and necessary response to the glory of God revealed in the cosmos, uniting our voices with the silent testimony of creation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does witnessing the power of nature (e.g., a storm, a complex ecosystem) deepen your appreciation for the "voice of the LORD"?**
* **In what ways can your personal and corporate worship reflect the awe and glory revealed through God's creation?**
* **How might recognizing God's power to "discover" or "lay bare" the hidden aspects of creation apply to His work in your own life?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalm mention "hinds to calve" in connection with a storm, and what is its significance?**

Answer: The mention of "hinds to calve" (female deer giving birth) in connection with the storm's impact is highly significant. Hinds are known for their timidity and for having particularly difficult and often solitary births. The imagery suggests that the "voice of the LORD" is so overwhelmingly powerful that it affects even the most sensitive and hidden aspects of creation, compelling life to emerge even amidst the chaos and stress of a severe storm. This detail emphasizes the absolute and inescapable dominion of God, demonstrating that His power extends beyond mere physical destruction to influence the very processes of life and reproduction. It highlights the miraculous and all-encompassing nature of God's control, asserting that nothing in creation is beyond the reach or influence of His authoritative word. This divine power, which can induce birth in such challenging circumstances, underscores the creative and life-giving aspect of God's "voice," even when manifested through a storm. It further distinguishes Yahweh from pagan storm deities, whose power was often depicted as purely destructive.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "voice of the LORD" in Psalms 29:9 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is Himself the eternal Word of God. Just as the psalmist describes God's voice as the active force behind creation and its phenomena, the New Testament reveals Jesus as the agent through whom all things were made and are sustained ([John 1:1-3](/john/1-1 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God") and [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16-17 - All Things Created Through Him")). His spoken word demonstrates absolute authority over nature, calming storms with a mere command ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and even raising the dead, echoing the life-giving power attributed to the "voice" in the psalm. Furthermore, the psalm's culmination in worship within God's temple foreshadows Christ's own body as the true temple ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Destroy This Temple")), and ultimately the Church, built on Him, where His glory is now proclaimed by "every one" ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Built on the Apostles and Prophets")). The awe and glory that creation speaks of are perfectly embodied in Christ, who is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature, upholding the universe by the word of His power ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Sustaining All Things by His Powerful Word")). Thus, the natural revelation of God's power in Psalm 29 points forward to the supreme revelation of God's glory in the person and work of Jesus Christ, compelling all who believe to worship Him.

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

Psalms 46:2

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Psalms 46:5

God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] right early.

Ezekiel 20:46

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

Ezekiel 20:48

And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

Psalms 26:8

LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Job 39:1

¶ Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? [or] canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

Job 39:3

They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.