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Psalm 93 · a question people ask

What are the floods in this psalm?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say they stand for anything. It names floods, their voice and their waves (93:3), and then "many waters" and "the mighty breakers of the sea" (93:4). Other psalms speak of the sea and the nations in the same breath: "You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations" (Psalm 65:7), and Psalm 46 has "though its waters roar and are troubled" (Psalm 46:3) a few lines before "The nations raged" (Psalm 46:6). Psalm 89 speaks to the LORD of the sea itself: "You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them" (Psalm 89:9). Psalm 93 doesn't say its floods are nations, or anything other than floods and the sea, and these notes don't either. What it does say is where the LORD is: "Above the voices of many waters … the LORD on high is mighty" (93:4).

The verses

“The floods have lifted up, LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves. Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty.”
Psalm 93:3-4 · World English Bible
“You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.”
Psalm 65:7 · World English Bible
“though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.”
Psalm 46:3 · World English Bible
“The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted.”
Psalm 46:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 93

Psalm 93: The LORD reigns

Psalm 93 says mighty twice in one verse: the breakers of the sea are mighty, and "the LORD on high is mighty" (93:4). And the word for the majesty the LORD wears (93:1) is the word Psalm 89 uses for the pride of the sea, which he rules (Psalm 89:9).

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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