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Psalm 29 · a question people ask

Who are the "sons of the mighty" (29:1)?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. It calls on them, "Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty" (29:1), and says nothing more about them. In Hebrew the words are bene elim; elim is the plural of el (tap mighty), which Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might". The Hebrew Bible has bene followed by elim in only one other verse: "Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD" (Psalm 89:6), where the WEB gives the two words as the sons of the heavenly beings. The songs that repeat Psalm 29's call name others: "you families of nations" (Psalm 96:7) and "you families of the peoples" (1 Chronicles 16:28). The book of Job speaks of "the sons of God" (Job 38:7), but that is another Hebrew phrase, bene elohim, with elohim rather than elim, and Job 38's notes look at it. These notes don't go beyond what the psalm says.

The verses

“A Psalm by David. Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.”
Psalm 29:1 · World English Bible
“For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD,”
Psalm 89:6 · World English Bible
“Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.”
Psalm 96:7 · World English Bible
“Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!”
1 Chronicles 16:28 · 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