What Does Psalm 29:7 Mean in the King James?

The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.

Psalm 29:7 · KJV

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

The LORD’s voice hews even flame, revealing division as an act of shaping.

THE MEANING

The LORD’s voice is active within what burns, dividing the flames. Even a force that seems consuming and whole is not beyond that voice’s reach; it can be distinguished and shaped.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that overwhelming force is beyond God’s reach or cannot be divided.

THE ROOT

חֹצֵב

ḥōṣēv

GROWS FROM

חצב

ḥ-ṣ-b

To hew, cut out, or quarry.

The verb translated “divideth” is a form of ḥāṣab, “to hew out” or “quarry.” The same root describes cisterns hewn from stone and workers cutting stone, so this verse pictures the LORD’s voice cutting form into what burns.

ALSO GROWS

borot ḥaṣuvim: Cisterns hewn out

בֹּרוֹת חֲצוּבִים

In Deuteronomy 6:11, the root describes cutting vessels from rock; here it gives the division of fire the same concrete force of shaping.

ḥōṣəvē ʾeven: Hewers of stone, stonecutters

חֹצְבֵי אֶבֶן

This branch names people who shape hard material by cutting it, bringing the root’s physical image into the verse’s action upon flame.

THE PATTERN

The divine voice acts within creation, separating or subduing forces into discernible form.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:4 · KJVAs in this verse, division is part of how the divine presence gives distinction within creation.

The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

Psalm 29:5 · KJVThe same voice acts directly upon creation’s forces, breaking what seems unyielding.

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39 · KJVThe spoken command reaches into wind and sea and changes their force.

THE THREAD

And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Deuteronomy 6:11 · KJV

The Hebrew behind “wells digged” uses the same root, ⁨חצב⁩ (ḥ-ṣ-b), “to hew or quarry,” as “divideth” here. One verse uses that root for carving capacity out of stone; the other pictures the LORD’s voice hewing through flame.

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