The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

PSALMS 29:9KJV
Know the Bible

Psalms 29:9 (KJV)

What does Psalms 29:9 mean?

Psalms 29:9 portrays the LORD’s voice as a power that reaches living creatures and forests. The verse then shifts to his temple, where everyone speaks of his glory: the greatness and honor due to him.

In the KJV, “hinds” means female deer, and “calve” means give birth. After the wilderness shakes in verse 8, the scene moves to animals giving birth and forests laid bare. The temple provides a contrasting scene of people responding to the LORD’s greatness.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 29:9

  • “calve” — חוּל (ḥul): This word can carry the sense of twisting, writhing, or being in labor. The KJV understands the image here as female deer giving birth.
  • “discovereth” — חָשַׂף (ḥasaph): This word means to uncover or strip bare. In the KJV, the LORD’s voice exposes the forests rather than finding them for the first time.
  • “glory” — כָּבוֹד (kavod): This word can mean honor or greatness. In the temple scene, it names what everyone speaks about in response to the LORD.

Why Psalms 29:9 matters

  • The “voice of the LORD” is presented through its effects. The verse shows that voice at work among animals and trees before turning to the temple.
  • “Every one” points to a shared response in the temple. The KJV pictures the people there speaking of the LORD’s glory together.

Where else these words appear

“forests” Hebrew H3295 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

“hinds” Hebrew H355 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 49:21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
  • Job 39:1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
  • Song of Solomon 2:7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

“discovereth” Hebrew H2834 · used in 10 verses

  • Isaiah 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
  • Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
  • Ezekiel 4:7 Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

“calve” Hebrew H2342 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
  • Psalms 29:8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
  • Isaiah 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.