The Meaning of Psalms 74:14 Explained

Psalms 74:14

KJV: Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

YLT: Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.

Darby: Thou didst break in pieces the heads of leviathan, thou gavest him to be meat to those that people the desert.

ASV: Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces; Thou gavest him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou brakest  the heads  of leviathan  in pieces, [and] gavest  him [to be] meat  to the people  inhabiting the wilderness. 

What does Psalms 74:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 74:12-23 - "plead Thine Own Cause, O God"
Yet! Psalms 74:12, r.v. There is always some compensating and consolatory thought. God is in the background of our thought. Not only the King, but my King, ever working salvation in the midst of the earth. Faith is quickened as she reviews the marvels of the past, or considers the constant forth-putting of God's power in nature. See Psalms 74:12-15.
The dove is a tender emblem of the Church in her simplicity, weakness, and defenselessness; and there is no plea so potent as to remind God of His Covenant, which has been sealed with the blood of the Cross. Though we are utterly unworthy, He cannot deny Himself. Every time we put the cup to our lips in the Holy Supper, we say in effect. Have respect unto the Covenant, Psalms 74:20. This is an invincible argument with God. Go over the different items of that Covenant enumerated in Hebrews 8:1-13. Place your finger on the one that fits your case, and present that at the bank of heaven, endorsed by the countersign of our Lord. See to it that your cause is so identified with God's that, in soliciting His help, you may be able to add: Arise, O God; plead thine own cause, Psalms 74:22. God is faithful to those whom He has called into the fellowship of His Son. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 74

1  The prophet complains of the desolation of the sanctuary
10  He moves God to help in consideration of his power
18  Of his reproachful enemies, or his children and of his covenant

What do the individual words in Psalms 74:14 mean?

You broke in pieces the heads of Leviathan [And] gave him [as] food to the people inhabiting the wilderness
אַתָּ֣ה רִ֭צַּצְתָּ רָאשֵׁ֣י לִוְיָתָ֑ן תִּתְּנֶ֥נּוּ מַ֝אֲכָ֗ל לְעָ֣ם לְצִיִּֽים

רִ֭צַּצְתָּ  broke  in  pieces 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָצַץ  
Sense: to crush, oppress.
רָאשֵׁ֣י  the  heads 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
לִוְיָתָ֑ן  of  Leviathan 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לִוְיָתָן  
Sense: leviathan, sea monster, dragon.
תִּתְּנֶ֥נּוּ  [And]  gave  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
מַ֝אֲכָ֗ל  [as]  food 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַאֲכָל  
Sense: food, fruit, meat.
לְעָ֣ם  to  the  people 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לְצִיִּֽים  inhabiting  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: צִי  
Sense: a wild beast, desert-dweller, crier, yelper.