Psalm 29:5
New International Version
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

New Living Translation
The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

English Standard Version
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

Berean Standard Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

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

New King James Version
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

New American Standard Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.

NASB 1995
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

NASB 1977
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Legacy Standard Bible
The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars; Indeed, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Amplified Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Christian Standard Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

American Standard Version
The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; Yea, Jehovah breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Contemporary English Version
The voice of the LORD destroys the cedar trees; the LORD shatters cedars on Mount Lebanon.

English Revised Version
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars. The LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

Good News Translation
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, even the cedars of Lebanon.

International Standard Version
The voice of the LORD snaps the cedars; the LORD snaps the cedars of Lebanon.

Majority Standard Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

NET Bible
The LORD's shout breaks the cedars, the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

New Heart English Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Webster's Bible Translation
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yes, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

World English Bible
Yahweh’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The voice of YHWH [is] shattering cedars, "" Indeed, YHWH shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

Young's Literal Translation
The voice of Jehovah is shivering cedars, Yea, Jehovah shivers the cedars of Lebanon.

Smith's Literal Translation
The voice of Jehovah broke the cedars; and Jehovah will break the cedars of Lebanon.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars: yea, the Lord shall break the cedars of Libanus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The voice of the Lord shatters the cedars. And the Lord will shatter the cedars of Lebanon.

New American Bible
The voice of the LORD cracks the cedars; the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon,

New Revised Standard Version
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; yea, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The voice of LORD JEHOVAH that breaks the cedars and LORD JEHOVAH shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There is the voice of the Lord who breaks the cedars; the Lord will break the cedars of Libanus.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ascribe Glory to the LORD
4The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. 6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.…

Cross References
Isaiah 2:13
against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,

Isaiah 10:33-34
Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. / He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.

Jeremiah 22:7
I will appoint destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut down the choicest of your cedars and throw them into the fire.

Ezekiel 31:3-14
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...

Amos 2:9
Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.

Zechariah 11:1-2
Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may consume your cedars! / Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down!

1 Kings 19:11-12
Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.

Job 9:5-6
He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger. / He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.

Job 40:19
He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.

Nahum 1:4-5
He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. / The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

Revelation 16:18-20
And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake. / The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. / Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found.

Matthew 3:10
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:17-19
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. / Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Luke 3:9
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”


Treasury of Scripture

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; yes, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

Isaiah 2:13
And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

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Psalm 29
1. David exhorts princes to give glory to God
3. by reason of is power
11. and protection of his people














The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
The phrase "the voice of the LORD" emphasizes the power and authority of God's spoken word. In biblical context, God's voice is often associated with creation, command, and judgment. The breaking of the cedars signifies God's ability to dismantle even the strongest and most majestic elements of nature. Cedars, particularly those from Lebanon, were renowned for their strength and durability, often used in ancient construction, including Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 5:6). This imagery underscores God's supremacy over creation, illustrating that nothing is too mighty for Him to overcome. The breaking of cedars can also symbolize the breaking of human pride and self-reliance, as these trees were often seen as symbols of strength and stability.

the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
Lebanon's cedars were famous throughout the ancient Near East, prized for their quality and used extensively in building and trade. The mention of Lebanon specifically highlights the geographical and cultural significance of these trees. Historically, Lebanon was known for its lush forests, and the cedars were considered a national symbol. The shattering of these cedars by the LORD's voice indicates His dominion over nations and their resources. This act can be seen as a metaphor for God's ability to bring down nations or powers that stand in opposition to His will. The imagery of shattering also connects to themes of divine judgment found throughout Scripture, where God dismantles the proud and exalts the humble (Isaiah 2:12-13). In a typological sense, this can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate victory over the powers of the world, breaking down barriers and establishing His kingdom.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, representing God's power and authority. His voice is depicted as mighty and capable of breaking the strongest of trees.

2. Cedars of Lebanon
These are renowned for their strength and durability. In ancient times, they were highly valued for construction and symbolized majesty and power.

3. Voice of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the power and authority of God's spoken word, which is capable of altering the natural world.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Power
The verse highlights God's supreme power over creation. Just as He can break the cedars, He can intervene in our lives with authority and might.

The Authority of God's Word
The voice of the LORD is not just powerful but authoritative. It reminds us of the importance of listening to and obeying God's word in our daily lives.

Humility Before God
The breaking of the cedars symbolizes the humbling of human pride. We are called to recognize our limitations and submit to God's greater wisdom and strength.

God's Presence in Nature
This verse encourages us to see God's hand in the natural world, reminding us of His ongoing involvement and care for His creation.(5) The voice of the Lord breaketh.--Better more literally, The voice of Jehovah breaking the cedars, and Jehovah hath shivered the cedars of Lebanon. (The verb in the second clause is an intensive of that used in the first.) The range of Lebanon receives the first fury of the storm. Its cedars, mightiest and longest-lived of Eastern trees, crash down, broken by the violence of the wind. (For cedar, see 2Samuel 7:2.) It has been objected that the thunder should not be made the agent in the destruction; but comp. Shakespeare--

"And thou, all-shaking thunder,

Smite flat the thick rotundity o' the world!

Crack Nature's moulds, all germens spill at once.

That make ingrateful man!"--King Lear, Acts 3, sc. 2.

Verse 5. - The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars. At length down swoops the hurricane - wind and rain and forked flashes of lightning all blended together, and violently tearing through the forest. The tall cedars - the pride and glory of Syria and Palestine - are snapped like reeds, and fall in a tangled mass. The Lord, who erstwhile "planted them" (Psalm cir. 16), now breaketh the cedars of Lebanon - breaketh and destroyeth them in his fury. Such storms, though rare in Palestine and Syria, are sometimes witnessed; and descriptions have been given by travellers which bear out this one of David (comp. Wilson, 'Travels,' p. 146; Cunningham Geikie, vol. 2. pp. 57, 335; Tristram, 'Land. of Israel,' pp. 40, 194, 227, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The voice
ק֣וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the LORD
יְ֭הוָה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

breaks
שֹׁבֵ֣ר (šō·ḇêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

the cedars;
אֲרָזִ֑ים (’ă·rā·zîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

the LORD
יְ֝הוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

shatters
וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר (way·šab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

the cedars
אַרְזֵ֥י (’ar·zê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

of Lebanon.
הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ (hal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3844: Lebanon -- a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel


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OT Poetry: Psalm 29:5 The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 29:4
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