The Meaning of Psalms 29:3 Explained

Psalms 29:3

KJV: The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

YLT: The voice of Jehovah is on the waters, The God of glory hath thundered, Jehovah is on many waters.

Darby: The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth, Jehovah upon great waters.

ASV: The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth, Even Jehovah upon many waters.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The voice  of the LORD  [is] upon the waters:  the God  of glory  thundereth:  the LORD  [is] upon many  waters. 

What does Psalms 29:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 29:1-11 - Peace After Storm
This is a perfect specimen of Hebrew poetry, describing the march of a thunder-storm over Palestine from north to south.
The prelude, Psalms 29:1-2, is addressed to the angelic hosts, who stand above the tumult of earth and sky. Heaven is viewed as a temple in which the angels are the priests.
The storm, Psalms 29:3-9. The many waters are the Mediterranean. The tempest breaks first on the Lebanon, the cedars of which sway to and fro before its fury. Each thunder-clap is accompanied by forked lightning. The storm passes to Kadesh and the rock-hewn cities of Petra. The beasts are terror-stricken; the trees are stripped of their leafy dress. In the Temple the worshipers respond to the challenge of nature! Glory to the King! The voice of the Lord is mentioned seven times. Compare Revelation 10:3.
The conclusion, Psalms 29:10-11. This God is our God, and will give us strength and peace. The psalm begins with "glory in the highest" and ends with "peace on earth." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 29

1  David exhorts princes to give glory to God
3  by reason of is power
11  and protection of his people

What do the individual words in Psalms 29:3 mean?

The voice of Yahweh [is] over the waters the God of glory thunders Yahweh [is] over waters many
ק֥וֹל יְהוָ֗ה עַל־ הַ֫מָּ֥יִם אֵֽל־ הַכָּב֥וֹד הִרְעִ֑ים יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַל־ מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים

ק֥וֹל  The  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
יְהוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַל־  [is]  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַ֫מָּ֥יִם  the  waters 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
אֵֽל־  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
הַכָּב֥וֹד  of  glory 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
הִרְעִ֑ים  thunders 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָעַם 
Sense: to thunder.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַ֥יִם  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
רַבִּֽים  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.