The Meaning of Psalms 74:4 Explained

Psalms 74:4

KJV: Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

YLT: Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.

Darby: Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy place of assembly; they set up their signs for signs.

ASV: Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of thine assembly; They have set up their ensigns for signs.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thine enemies  roar  in the midst  of thy congregations;  they set up  their ensigns  [for] signs. 

What does Psalms 74:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 74:1-11 - The Sanctuary Of God Profaned
This psalm probably dates from the time when the Chaldeans destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. Compare Psalms 74:8 with Jeremiah 3:13-17. The main emphasis of Psalms 74:1 lies in the argument which arose from Israel's close relationship with God. Were they not His congregation! Was not the Temple His own chosen sanctuary? Did not these facts constitute the reason why He should come with swift footsteps to undo the evils that their foes were inflicting? The invaders were His (Thine) adversaries. The Temple was the dwelling-place of His (Thy) name. The whole psalm is dominated by this note. It says very little of the sufferings which the enemy has inflicted, but constantly recurs to the insult and reproach, done to God.
When we live only for Jesus Christ, so that our case and His have become one, we can use language like this. But this position is not acquired lightly, nor without much watchfulness and prayer. We by nature watch out for our own dignity and welfare much more quickly than for the interests of God's kingdom and glory. When, however, we are absolutely identified with the kingdom and glory of Jesus, our argument for deliverance is omnipotent. [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 74:4 mean?

Roar Your enemies in the midst of Your meeting place they set up their banners [for] signs
שָׁאֲג֣וּ צֹ֭רְרֶיךָ בְּקֶ֣רֶב מוֹעֲדֶ֑ךָ שָׂ֖מוּ אוֹתֹתָ֣ם אֹתֽוֹת

שָׁאֲג֣וּ  Roar 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁאַג  
Sense: (Qal) to roar.
צֹ֭רְרֶיךָ  Your  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צָרַר 
Sense: to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound.
בְּקֶ֣רֶב  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
מוֹעֲדֶ֑ךָ  of  Your  meeting  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
שָׂ֖מוּ  they  set  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
אוֹתֹתָ֣ם  their  banners 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
אֹתֽוֹת  [for]  signs 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.