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Epiphany Season · Baptism of the Lord · Year A

Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3b+9b-10 (11b)

The Voice of the Lord Over the Waters

January 11, 2026

Ships in Distress off a Rocky Coast, Ludolf Backhuysen
Ships in Distress off a Rocky Coast, Ludolf Backhuysen, 1667National Gallery of Art, Washington (CC0 open access)
Backhuysen went out in storms in open boats to study them. The ships here are already past saving and the rocks are painted harder than the water.The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord over mighty waters.Ludolf BackhuysenA German-born Dutch marine painter who put to sea in storms to study them, and whose shipwrecks were bought across Europe.National Gallery of Art, Washington (CC0 open access)Founded on Andrew Mellon's collection and his insistence that it carry no one's name, and free to the public by law.National Gallery of Art, Washington (CC0 open access)
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 3:13-17Mt 3:13-17
Second ReadingActs 10:34-38
First ReadingIsa. 42:1-4, 6-7Is 42:1-4, 6-7
Responsorial PsalmPs. 29:1-2, 3-4, 3b+9b-10 (11b)Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3b+9b-10 (11b)

Overview & Insights

"The voice of the Lord is over the waters... the Lord sits enthroned over the flood." (Psalm 29:3, 10)

This psalm pictures a thunderstorm sweeping in off the sea as the voice of the Lord itself, cracking the cedars and shaking the wilderness. It ends by declaring that the God who rules the flood waters is the same Lord enthroned as king forever, a reading placed alongside Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan.

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Take it further: Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3b+9b-10 (11b)

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 29Commentary on Ps 29 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary pairing God's voice over the waters with the voice from heaven at the Jordan.

Psalm 29 CommentaryPs 29 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary tracing the sevenfold voice of the Lord through the storm.

Psalm 29 Commentary: The Voice of the LORD in the StormPs 29 Commentary: The Voice of the LORD in the Storm Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse commentary on the Lord's voice in the storm and his enthronement over the flood.

Psalm 29:1 CommentariesPs 29:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the ascription of glory and the Lord's kingship over the waters.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 29Ps 29 Sefaria

Hebrew text of the psalm for study of qol Adonai, the voice of the Lord repeated seven times.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 29Ps 29 Catena

Verse-by-verse comment from the Fathers on Psalm 29.

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