What Does Psalm 29:4 Mean in the King James?
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Hebrew qōl can mean voice, sound, or thunder, gathering speech and storm-force into one word.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s voice reaches you now with force and majesty together. Its sound carries the presence of the One who speaks into the moment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that the LORD’s voice is only a message, with no force beyond the words themselves.
THE ROOT
קוֹל
qōl
GROWS FROM
קול
q-w-l
An audible sound or call, ranging from a speaking voice to thunderous noise.
English uses “voice” here and “thunderings” elsewhere, while Hebrew uses the same word-family for both. The verse holds speech and the force of sound together: the LORD’s voice carries power and majesty.
ALSO GROWS
qōl: voice, sound
קוֹל
This is the word repeated in the verse; its range lets the voice be heard as an audible presence, not only as spoken words.
qōlōt: sounds, thunderings
קוֹלוֹת
Exodus 9:28 uses this plural for thunderings, showing the same word-family can name storm-force as well as voice.
THE PATTERN
The LORD’s utterance acts with power, bringing what is spoken into presence.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.THE THREAD
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.The same Hebrew word, qōl (קוֹל, voice or sound), anchors both verses. Verse 3 lets thunder enter the meaning of voice; verse 4 names that sound’s power and majesty.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us