“The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters.” (v.3)
In this verse, David, who reigned as king around 1010-970 BC, praises the LORD’s supreme power over creation. David lived in ancient Israel, which borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west and has numerous waters such as the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. By proclaiming that “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters” (v.3), he highlights God’s ability to bring order and might where humans see unstoppable power or chaos. The “waters” can be seen as both physical bodies of water as well as a symbol for powerful, uncontrollable forces that only the LORD can subdue. In this way, David heralds God’s sovereignty over nature, reminding his audience that no matter how untamed the sea appears, it must respond to the Creator.
Next, referring to “The God of glory thunders” (v.3), David describes that this same God, whose splendor rumbles like thunder, reigns beyond the storm. Thunder in the ancient Near East was often associated with deities, but David firmly ascribes the real power to the true God who surpasses any mere idol. It calls to mind the many times the LORD displayed His strength in storms or with loud displays of authority, such as His voice roaring from Zion (Joel 3:16). God’s voice is so exalted that when He speaks, all of creation must acknowledge His majesty. This invites a comparison to events in the New Testament where Jesus calmed the storm with His voice (Mark 4:39), revealing that the same God who “thunders” in Psalm 29 is embodied in Christ’s power to command wind and sea.
Finally, the phrase “The LORD is over many waters” (v.3) stresses that even the expansive seas remain under Yahweh’s sovereign watch. David’s declaration underscores how God’s domain is boundless, extending not merely over the land of Israel, but over the depths of every sea and ocean. The waters yield to the LORD who rules from everlasting to everlasting. Here, David encourages believers in every age to consider that when chaos or looming threats arise like towering waves, God’s voice can penetrate the turmoil and bring peace.
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Psalms 29:3 meaning
“The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters.” (v.3)
In this verse, David, who reigned as king around 1010-970 BC, praises the LORD’s supreme power over creation. David lived in ancient Israel, which borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west and has numerous waters such as the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. By proclaiming that “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters” (v.3), he highlights God’s ability to bring order and might where humans see unstoppable power or chaos. The “waters” can be seen as both physical bodies of water as well as a symbol for powerful, uncontrollable forces that only the LORD can subdue. In this way, David heralds God’s sovereignty over nature, reminding his audience that no matter how untamed the sea appears, it must respond to the Creator.
Next, referring to “The God of glory thunders” (v.3), David describes that this same God, whose splendor rumbles like thunder, reigns beyond the storm. Thunder in the ancient Near East was often associated with deities, but David firmly ascribes the real power to the true God who surpasses any mere idol. It calls to mind the many times the LORD displayed His strength in storms or with loud displays of authority, such as His voice roaring from Zion (Joel 3:16). God’s voice is so exalted that when He speaks, all of creation must acknowledge His majesty. This invites a comparison to events in the New Testament where Jesus calmed the storm with His voice (Mark 4:39), revealing that the same God who “thunders” in Psalm 29 is embodied in Christ’s power to command wind and sea.
Finally, the phrase “The LORD is over many waters” (v.3) stresses that even the expansive seas remain under Yahweh’s sovereign watch. David’s declaration underscores how God’s domain is boundless, extending not merely over the land of Israel, but over the depths of every sea and ocean. The waters yield to the LORD who rules from everlasting to everlasting. Here, David encourages believers in every age to consider that when chaos or looming threats arise like towering waves, God’s voice can penetrate the turmoil and bring peace.