The Meaning of Psalms 75:5 Explained

Psalms 75:5

KJV: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

YLT: Raise not up on high your horn, (Ye speak with a stiff neck.)

Darby: Lift not up your horn on high; speak not arrogantly with a stiff neck.

ASV: Lift not up your horn on high; Speak not with a stiff neck.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Lift not up  your horn  on high:  speak  [not with] a stiff  neck. 

What does Psalms 75:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 75:1-10 - God Putteth Down And Lifteth Up
This psalm dates probably from Sennacherib's invasion, and therefore the North is omitted in Psalms 75:6, that being the quarter from which the enemy came.
God is near, Psalms 75:1-3. There are high moments in life when we realize how real and near God is. The ground on which we stand is holy. We know that we are safe in the pavilion of our Father's care. Then we give repeated thanks, Psalms 75:1. Presently God speaks and assures us that when the earth and its inhabitants dissolve, He will sustain its pillars. What an encouragement is this, when the whole world seems about to be dissolved!
Turning from God to man, the psalmist rebukes his enemies and bids them cease their arrogant talk and behavior, Psalms 75:4. The horn is the strength of certain beasts, and is a symbol of power, Deuteronomy 33:17; Daniel 7:7. But God is the supreme Ruler of men. Our position or promotion in life is His arrangement, to be held as a sacred trust for Him. Let us, amid a world in arms, be light-hearted and sing. God will take care of those who trust Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 75

1  The prophet praises God
2  He promises to judge uprightly
4  He rebukes the proud by consideration of God's providence
9  He praises God, and promises to execute justice

What do the individual words in Psalms 75:5 mean?

not do lift up on high your horn do [not] speak with a neck stiff
אַל־ תָּרִ֣ימוּ לַמָּר֣וֹם קַרְנְכֶ֑ם תְּדַבְּר֖וּ בְצַוָּ֣אר עָתָֽק

תָּרִ֣ימוּ  do  lift  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
לַמָּר֣וֹם  on  high 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָרֹום  
Sense: height.
קַרְנְכֶ֑ם  your  horn 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: קֶרֶן 
Sense: horn.
תְּדַבְּר֖וּ  do  [not]  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בְצַוָּ֣אר  with  a  neck 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַוָּאר 
Sense: neck, back of neck.
עָתָֽק  stiff 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָתָק  
Sense: forward, bold, arrogant.