Psalm 29

Origin

Psalm 29 is an example of an enthronement psalm wherein the supreme deity is described in theophanic terminology as taking his place of rulership. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, scholars like Charles and Emilie Grace Briggs argued that it "seems to belong to the Persian period subsequent to Nehemiah", that is, between 445 and 333 BCE.

However, more recent scholarship has undermined this conclusion; archaic language and content have been identified in the Psalm, akin to other early strata such as the Song of the Sea, befitting an early pre-exilic context. Cross opines that generations of scholars have firmly identified literary dependence on Canaanite mythology, particularly the Baal Cycle, and concludes on this basis that its present form is "no later than the 10th century BC." Similarly, Freedman cites "considerable scholarly sentiment" supporting a pre-monarchic provenance, and suggests that Psalm 29 may be dated as early the 12th century BCE, making it among the oldest portions of literature in the Hebrew Bible.

Theme

Uses

Judaism

• Is the recited during Kabbalat Shabbat; in Ashkenazic, Hasidic and some Sephardic communities. In other Sephardic communities, Kabbalat Shabbat begins with this Psalm.
• Is recited on Shabbat during the Torah service as when returning the Torah Scroll to the ark.
• Is recited in some congregations before Maariv on Motzei Shabbat.
• Is recited on the third day of Sukkot in some traditions.
• Is recited on Shavuot in some traditions.
• Verse 11 is part of Talmud Berachos 64a. It is the final verse of Birkat Hamazon, is recited during the prayers following Motzei Shabbat Maariv, and is recited when opening the Hakafot on Simchat Torah.
• In some communities, it is recited at the end of weekday maariv (along with Psalms 24 and 8) when maariv is recited after nightfall.

Coptic Orthodox Church

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Terce.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the fifth day of the month.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a metric paraphrase of Psalm 28 in German, "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Gott, mein Hort", SWV 125, for the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 28.

Verse 2

:Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The same words as verse 2b, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, arise in . These words form the title of a hymn by Irish clergyman John Samuel Bewley Monsell. Alexander Kirkpatrick comments that

Notes

References

References

1. [http://medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps28.htm Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 28 (29)] {{webarchive. link. (10 October 2016 medievalist.net)
2. (1960). "A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms". T & T Clark.
3. James D. G. Dunn. (19 November 2003). "Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible". Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
4. (14 June 2013). "Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets". InterVarsity Press.
5. Cross, Frank Moore. (1997-09-01). "Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic: Essays in the History of the Religion of Israel". Harvard University Press.
6. Freedman, David Noel Freedman. (1987). "Ancient Israelite Religion: Essays in Honor of Frank Moore Cross". Fortress Press.
7. (1960). "A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms". T & T Clark.
8. The Complete Artscroll [[Siddur]], page 314
9. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 458
10. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 592
11. The Artscroll Tehillim, page 329
12. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 479
13. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 195
14. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 607
15. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 759
16. Seder Avodat Yisrael.
17. "Terce". agpeya.org.
18. Church of England, [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/The%20Book%20of%20Common%20Prayer%201662.pdf Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter] as printed by [[John Baskerville]] in 1762, pp. 196ff
19. "Psalms – Chapter 29". Mechon Mamre.
20. "Psalms 29 - JPS 1917". [[Sefaria.
21. "Psalm 28 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos.
22. {{bibleverse. Psalm. 29:2. KJV: King James Version
23. Jubilate Hymns Ltd., [https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/o_worship_the_lord_in_the_beauty_of_holiness_jubilate_version O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness], accessed 23 October 2021
24. Kirkpatrick, A. (1906), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/psalms/29.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Psalm 29, accessed 23 October 2021