The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

PSALMS 93:3KJV
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Psalms 93:3 (KJV)

What does Psalms 93:3 mean?

Psalms 93:3 pictures powerful floodwaters rising and roaring as the speaker addresses the LORD. The waters sound like a great force making itself heard, but the surrounding passage places their noise within a song about the LORD’s rule.

The repeated phrase “have lifted up” builds the sound and movement of the scene. The floods are given a “voice,” so the water seems almost like a living thing calling out. After the statement about the LORD’s lasting throne in verse 2, the speaker turns directly to him.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 93:3

  • “floods” — נָהָר (nahar): This word often means a river or stream. Its use here brings flowing waters to mind, rather than only the rising water that English speakers may associate with a flood.
  • “waves” — דֳּכִי (dokhi): This rare word is often understood to refer to the pounding or crashing of water. It adds the sense of a forceful impact to the picture of waves.

Why Psalms 93:3 matters

  • The verse makes the waters prominent through repetition. “The floods” appears three times, giving their rising and roaring a strong place in the song.
  • The water’s power is set against the LORD’s greater power in the next verse. Verse 4 says the LORD is “mightier than the noise of many waters,” so the floods’ loud voice is not the final word in the passage.

Where else these words appear

“floods” Hebrew H5104 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
  • Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
  • Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.