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Epiphany · The Baptism of Our Lord (First Sunday after the Epiphany) · Year A

Psalm 29

The Voice of the Lord

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)
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 3:13-17Mt 3:13-17
EpistleRom. 6:1-11Rom 6:1-11
Old TestamentIsa. 42:1-9Is 42:1-9
PsalterPs. 29Ps 29

Overview & Insights

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders.” (Psalm 29:3)

In this beautiful psalm of praise, the “voice of the Lord,” the central thrust of Psalm 29, heard in the frightful storm, announces in nature’s accent the lordship of Yahweh, ending in the peaceful lull of the storm. In Psalm 96 (v. 10a) the announcement of the Lord’s reign sends the heavens and the earth and all creation into passionate jubilation.[1] See the sidebar “Psalms of Praise” in the introduction. In both a literary and theological sense, Psalm 29 is beautifully balanced. The call to worship of 29:1–2 is balanced by 29:10–11, the final announcement of God’s enthronement as “King forever,” and from that truth issues forth the blessing of strength and peace for God’s people. The middle part of the psalm (29:3–9) develops the reasons why the Lord should be praised and why he as “King forever” can, by virtue of his enthronement, give strength to his people and bless them with peace.

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Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 29Commentary on Ps 29 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the voice of the Lord over the waters echoing at Jesus' baptism.

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

David Guzik's verse-by-verse exposition of the sevenfold voice of the Lord.

Psalm 29:1 CommentariesPs 29:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators on ascribing glory and strength to the Lord.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 29Ps 29 Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and Jewish commentary for the psalm.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 29 (Catena)Ps 29 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comment chained verse by verse across the psalm.

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