Psalm 29:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

NIV: A psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

NASB: Ascribe to the Lord, sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

CSB: Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

NLT: Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings ; honor the Lord for his glory and strength.

KJV: {A Psalm of David.} Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

NKJV: {A Psalm of David.} Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength.

This first and last verses of Psalm 29 mention the Lord's strength. Omnipotent—literally meaning "all-powerful"—is one of God's descriptors. Anything which can be done, He can do. Nothing is too hard for Him. God is also glorious. "Glory" is typically used to describe something that makes God's nature and wonder apparent. In some cases, this means the visible manifestation of His divine power. David calls upon the heavenly beings to attribute glory and strength to the Lord.

Similarly, Psalm 96:6 refers to strength and beauty as being in the Lord's sanctuary. Wherever the Lord is, strength and glory accompany Him. Heavenly beings associate glory and honor and thanks with God, according to Revelation 4:8–11, where twenty-four elders join in their praise. They say, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

It should comfort and encourage believers to know the Lord has unlimited strength and glory. Paul was uplifted by knowing this fact. He writes in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Psalm 29:1–2 call on angels to credit God for his glory and power. Three times David uses a word translated "ascribe" to direct the angels. In response to all that the Lord stands for, these spiritual beings should worship Him in the splendor of holiness. These two verses are an apt introduction. What follows is the psalmist's description of the Lord's power and sovereign control of nature.

David depicts the power of God's will—referred to as His "voice"—using imagery from thunderstorms and earthquakes. He calls on heaven to praise God. The Lord's voice has the power to shatter great trees, uproot mountains, shake deserts, strip forests, and strike terror into all living things. None of these events are mere change, but God is control of them all. David asks God to provide confidence and strength to Israel as they remember His omnipotent power.

This psalm of David magnifies the Lord's attribute of omnipotence. David draws pictures from nature to illustrate God's power. The psalm parallels Psalm 8 in its revelation of God through nature. Based on the imagery, David may have witnessed a potent thunderstorm moving from the Mediterranean Sea across the region. The theme of trust in God, thanks to His demonstrated power, is common in Scripture (Hebrews 11).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.