Psalms 29:1

With the Hebrew beneath

Psalms 29:1, word by word

A psalmמִזְמוֹרmizmor

psalm

Psalm: a song sung with instruments. It is the title of many of the poems in the book of Psalms.

Where else “mizmor” appears

of Davidדָוִדdavid

David

David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."

Where else “david” appears

Giveהָבוּhavu

give

To hand something to someone, or to ascribe to him what is due.

Where else “havu” appears

to YHWHיהוָהyhva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yhva” appears

sonsבְּנֵיbene

descendant

A descendant or member of a people: "sons of Israel".

Where else “bene” appears

of Elאֵלִיםelim

El, God, god

"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".

Where else “elim” appears

gloryכָּבוֹדkavod

glory

God's majesty and presence.

Where else “kavod” appears

and strengthעֹזoz

strength

Power to act or to withstand, attributed above all to God.

Where else “oz” appears

Translation note

“Sons of El”: in Hebrew the word is plural (“sons of the gods”); it is an ancient way of naming the heavenly beings who serve God (compare Job 1:6 and 38:7). The psalm calls them to acknowledge YHWH.

The context