Zohar on Tehillim 29 – 7 Voices and the Name of Ha-Shem Repeated 18 Times
Tehillim 29Tehillim 29 is called Sheva Kolot (7 Voices). It also contains the Name of Ha-Shem repeated 18 times, symbolizing Rachamim (Mercy), corresponding to the 18 blessings of the Amidah and the 18 vertebrae.
This psalm is included in Kabbalat Shabbat and consists of 91 words, which equals the gematria of the word "amen".
The expression "Kol Ha-Shem" (the voice of the Almighty) is repeated 7 times in this psalm, corresponding to the 7 sefirot that are revealed on Shabbat.
The 29th psalm is recited during Kabbalat Shabbat, corresponding to the sixth day of the week. It is recited standing, because of its correspondence to the Amidah prayer. Our Sages established the central prayer, the "Shemoneh Esrei" (the Eighteen Blessings), following the structure of this psalm.
In the psalm, the four-letter Name of Ha-Shem is repeated 18 times, symbolizing Rachamim (Mercy); 18 = "chai" (life).
Tehillim 29 and the Angel GavrielThe Zohar HaKadosh says that after midnight, a flame emerges from the pillar of Yitzchak and strikes the Rooster (Gavriel), who resembles the pillar of Yitzchak. Since the flame strikes this mighty one (Gavriel), he cries out with 6 Voices, all of them with understanding. When the angel Gavriel cries out, the crowing of all the roosters in the world is heard. Another flame erupts from him and bursts beneath their wings, and they raise their rooster-like cry.
What does Gavriel cry out?
At the first hour of the night, he proclaims: (29:4) “The voice of the Almighty is in strength; the voice of the Almighty is in majesty”; At the second hour, he proclaims: (29:5) “The voice of the Almighty breaks the cedars”; At the third hour, he proclaims: (29:7) “The voice of the Almighty hews out flames of fire”; At the fourth hour, he proclaims: (29:8) “At the voice of the Almighty, the wilderness trembles”; At the fifth hour, he proclaims: (29:3) “The voice of the L-rd is over the waters”; At the sixth hour, he proclaims: (29:9) “At the voice of the Almighty, the does writhe”; Then he cries out and says: “The voice speaks, proclaims, and declares what I will read.”
What does he read? He reads an account of all people's deeds, since all the decrees, records, and letters are entrusted to him. He has a special quill for writing at his thigh, and every day he records the deeds of all people. At night, after completing all the “proclamations,” he reads everything he recorded during the day.
The Zohar HaKadosh says that the 29th psalm is "Sheva Kolot" (7 Voices), and that it corresponds to the Kabbalistic prayer "Ana BeKoach", whose 7 lines correspond to the 7 sefirot. "Ana BeKoach" is also included in Kabbalat Shabbat. There is a tradition at the graves of tzadikim such as Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair and Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai to perform 7 hakafot with the 29th psalm and the prayer "Ana BeKoach". Tehillim 29- Mizmor le-David, havu la-A-donai b'nei elim, havu la-A-donai kavod va-oz.
- Havu la-A-donai kevod Shemo, hishtachavu la-A-donai behadrat kodesh.
- Kol A-donai al ha-mayim, El ha-kavod hirim, A-donai al mayim rabim.
- Kol A-donai ba-koach, Kol A-donai ba-hadar.
- Kol A-donai shover arazim, va-yeshaper A-donai et arzei ha-Levanon.
- Va-yarkidem kemo egel, Levanon ve-Siryon kemo ven re'emim.
- Kol A-donai hotzev lahavot esh.
- Kol A-donai yachil midbar, yachil A-donai midbar Kadesh.
- Kol A-donai yecholel ayalot, va-yechesof ye'arot, u-ve-heichalo kulo omer kavod.
- A-donai la-mabul yashav, va-yeshev A-donai Melech le-olam.
- A-donai oz le-amo yiten. A-donai yevarech et amo va-shalom.
