Bible Strands
Psalms 29:7
The voice of the LORD strikes with flames of fire.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist declares Yahweh’s sovereign authority during a moment of cosmic disruption that dwarfs natural landmarks like Lebanon and Sirion. The statement addresses an audience witnessing divine manifestations that transcend ordinary weather or geography.
The words — The Hebrew term חֹצֵב (cho.Tzev) literally means “striking” or “hewing,” describing the active force behind the flames of fire. This verb directly modifies קוֹל יְהוָ֥ה (kol-Yahweh) to show that the voice itself performs the physical action.
The thread — This pairing of divine voice and consuming fire appears in Exodus 9:23 where lightning strikes the earth, and in Leviticus 10:2 where fire emerges from Yahweh’s presence. Psalm 77:18 similarly connects thunder, lightning, and a trembling earth to Yahweh’s theophanic activity.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that Yahweh’s speech carries irreversible physical force. It demands a response of sober recognition that divine declaration actively judges and reshapes the created order.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
Cross-references
- Psalms 77:18 Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
- Exodus 9:23 So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.
- Leviticus 10:2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.
- Psalms 144:5 Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
- 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.
- Job 37:3 He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
- Job 38:35 Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
- Numbers 16:35 And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.