Read & explore together
Ascribe Glory to the LORD
Psalm 29 is a song that calls hearers to give Yahweh the glory that belongs to him. It moves from a call to worship, to the power of Yahweh’s voice, and finishes with his kingship, strength and peace.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, the focus stays on Yahweh. The song begins by calling the “sons of the mighty” to ascribe glory and strength to him and to worship him. Then it repeats what Yahweh’s voice does in waters, forests and wilderness, before ending with Yahweh as King forever who gives strength and peace to his people.
Psalms 29:1–11Main takeaway
Psalm 29 teaches that Yahweh deserves glory, his voice is powerful and majestic, and he gives strength and peace to his people.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Give Yahweh the glory due to his nameThe psalm opens with a command to “ascribe” to Yahweh glory and strength. This is a call to speak of Yahweh in a way that matches his glory.
Explanation
The psalm opens with a command to “ascribe” to Yahweh glory and strength. This is a call to speak of Yahweh in a way that matches his glory. The next line says the glory is due to his name and calls people to worship Yahweh in holy array.
02Yahweh’s voice rules over great forcesThe middle of the psalm repeats the phrase “Yahweh’s voice”. His voice is on the waters, powerful and full of majesty.
Explanation
The middle of the psalm repeats the phrase “Yahweh’s voice”. His voice is on the waters, powerful and full of majesty. It breaks cedars, strikes with flashes of lightning, and shakes the wilderness. The repeated wording keeps attention on Yahweh and the force of his voice.
03The psalm shows far-reaching effects and a cry of gloryThe song continues with Lebanon and Sirion skipping like a young animal, the wilderness of Kadesh shaking, deer calving, and forests stripped bare.
Explanation
The song continues with Lebanon and Sirion skipping like a young animal, the wilderness of Kadesh shaking, deer calving, and forests stripped bare. These lines show wide-reaching effects. In Yahweh’s temple, everything says, “Glory!” That spoken response is the only word reported in the temple here.
04Yahweh is King forever and blesses his peopleThe psalm ends by saying Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood and sits as King forever. His kingship is presented as enduring.
Explanation
The psalm ends by saying Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood and sits as King forever. His kingship is presented as enduring. The final verse adds that Yahweh gives strength to his people and blesses his people with peace, so the song closes with both rule and blessing.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the psalm say is due to Yahweh, and how are worshippers told to respond?
Look closely at the repeated word “ascribe” and the command to worship in the opening lines.
02Which repeated phrase shapes the centre of the psalm, and what does it show about Yahweh?
List what Yahweh’s voice does in these verses, then notice the words “powerful” and “full of majesty”.
03How does the psalm move from Yahweh’s kingship to his people’s blessing?
Notice that the same Yahweh who sits as King forever is also the one who gives strength and peace.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 29:1–11
1Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
2Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
3Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters.
4Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty.
5Yahweh’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox.
7Yahweh’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
8Yahweh’s voice shakes the wilderness. Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9Yahweh’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!”
10Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
11Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.