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Psalm 29 · a question people ask

"Worship the LORD in holy array" (29:2). What is holy array?

In the text

The psalm doesn't describe it. Array is hadarah (tap array), which Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "adornment, glory", and holy is qodesh. The Hebrew Bible has hadarah five times, and four of them are these same two words: here; in Psalm 96:9 and 1 Chronicles 16:29, each with the same line as 29:2; and in 2 Chronicles 20:21, where Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:20) appointed singers to "give praise in holy array as they go out before the army" (2 Chronicles 20:21). None of these verses describes it further, and these notes don't add to them.

The verses

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array.”
Psalm 29:2 · World English Bible
“Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.”
Psalm 96:9 · World English Bible
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD in holy array.”
1 Chronicles 16:29 · World English Bible
“They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.” When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his loving kindness endures forever.””
2 Chronicles 20:20-21 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 29

Psalm 29: The LORD's voice

"The LORD’s voice" comes seven times in Psalm 29 (29:3-9). Its opening call, "Ascribe to the LORD … glory and strength" (29:1), comes again in Psalm 96:7 to the families of nations. And its Flood is the Hebrew word Genesis uses for the flood in Noah's time, found only once outside Genesis in the Hebrew Bible: here (29:10).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions