Psalm 29:6

Psalm 29:6

ESV: He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

KJV: He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

NIV: He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.

NKJV: He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

NLT: He makes Lebanon's mountains skip like a calf;
he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.

Meaning

Psalm 29:6 describes the overwhelming power of the LORD's voice, which is depicted as thunder and a mighty storm. This verse specifically illustrates this power by stating that He makes the majestic mountains of Lebanon and Sirion (Mount Hermon) skip and leap as if they were energetic calves or young wild oxen. This vivid imagery conveys God's absolute dominion over even the most immense and seemingly unmovable elements of creation, demonstrating His dynamic and irresistible might.

Cross References

Context

Psalm 29 is a majestic psalm of praise to the LORD for His glorious power revealed in a powerful thunderstorm. It opens by calling heavenly beings ("sons of God" or "divine beings") to ascribe glory and strength to the LORD. The "voice of the LORD" is a recurring motif (appearing seven times) that signifies the thunder, the destructive winds, the flashes of lightning, and the effects of a storm that sweeps across the land from the Mediterranean Sea towards the wilderness. Verse 6, along with verse 5, highlights the extraordinary force of this divine voice by showing its impact on the mightiest trees (cedars of Lebanon) and then on the most formidable geographical features, the mountains themselves. Historically and culturally, the ancient Near East was awestruck by thunderstorms, often attributing them to powerful storm deities like Baal. Psalm 29 functions as a direct polemic, unequivocally asserting that Yahweh, the God of Israel, not any pagan deity, holds supreme, sovereign power over nature, even shaking the mountains considered sacred or strong by other cultures. Lebanon and Sirion were towering symbols of strength and permanence in the ancient world, their movement signifying an unimaginable display of divine power.

Word analysis

• He makes them skip: The subject is "the LORD" from preceding verses. The Hebrew verb is raqad (רָקַד), meaning "to skip," "to leap," or "to dance." When applied to mountains, this imagery is profoundly evocative, implying violent seismic movement, an earthquake, or being lifted and cast down by immense power, shattering their perceived stability. It conveys a dynamic and uncontrollable force.
• like a calf: The Hebrew word is ‘ēgel (עֵגֶל), referring to a young bull or calf. Calves are known for their playful, energetic, and sometimes unruly movements. The comparison highlights the unbridled vigor and perhaps unexpected agility attributed to these colossal landforms when acted upon by God's power.
• Lebanon: Lĕbānōn (לְבָנוֹן) refers to the prominent mountain range north of Israel, renowned for its towering, durable cedars (cf. Ps 29:5) and its great height and majesty. It served as a symbol of strength, stability, and human pride or ambition in biblical literature. Its "skipping" denotes God's dominion over even the strongest elements of the natural world.
• and Sirion: Siryōn (שִׂרְיוֹן) is the Sidonian name for Mount Hermon (Deut 3:9), part of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, which is the highest mountain in Bashan. Its inclusion alongside Lebanon emphasizes that God's power extends over all significant, seemingly immutable landmarks, illustrating His universal and unchallenged might.
• like a young wild ox: The Hebrew term is re'em (רְאֵם), often translated as "wild ox," "aurochs," or sometimes "unicorn" in older translations. This animal was renowned for its immense size, untamable strength, and formidable power (cf. Job 39:9-12). Comparing mountains to a re'em reinforces the sheer, raw, and irrepressible force with which they move at the command of the LORD's voice, highlighting the active, energetic, and overwhelming nature of divine power.

Commentary

Psalm 29:6 stands as a testament to the uncontainable and terrifying majesty of the LORD's power, primarily illustrated through the metaphor of a severe storm. The shaking and leaping of mighty mountains like Lebanon and Sirion at the sound of God's voice demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over all creation, including that which appears most permanent and unmovable. This hyperbole challenges any notion of independent strength in creation, directing all awe and worship towards the Creator. It also serves as a polemic against pagan deities, particularly Baal, the storm god, proving that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is the sole true divine force capable of wielding such cosmic power. The imagery of wild, strong animals (calf, wild ox) further emphasizes the untamed and dynamic nature of divine might, leaving no doubt about the LORD's unmatched glory and strength.

Bonus section

The anthropomorphic portrayal of mountains "skipping" and "leaping" adds a vivid, almost playful yet utterly overwhelming, dimension to God's power. It implies that these vast landforms are not passive observers but become active participants, however unwillingly, in the grand display of God's might, akin to creatures responding to their master's command. This verse, embedded within a storm psalm, underlines the Israelite worldview where natural phenomena are direct manifestations of divine action and presence, rather than arbitrary forces or the work of lesser gods. The consistent mention of "the voice of the LORD" throughout Psalm 29 elevates a common meteorological event into a theological revelation, ensuring the audience perceives God's personal, active involvement in the world's most formidable forces.

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