Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 74:14
14you crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the creatures of the desert.
Psalms 74:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
- New International Version (NIV)It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
- English Standard Version (ESV)You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
Context of Psalms 74:14
12God my King is from ancient times, performing saving acts on the earth. 13You divided the sea with your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the water; you crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the creatures of the desert. 15You opened up springs and streams; you dried up ever-flowing rivers. 16The day is yours, also the night; you established the moon and the sun.
Read all of Psalms 74Psalms 74:14 word by word
אַתָּ֣ה רִ֭צַּצְתָּ רָאשֵׁ֣י לִוְיָתָ֑ן תִּתְּנֶ֥נּוּ מַ֝אֲכָ֗ל לְעָ֣ם לְצִיִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 74:14
- Psalms 104:25Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small.
- Job 3:8Let those who curse days condemn it, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
- Job 41:1Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie his tongue down with a rope?
- Isaiah 27:1On that day the Lord with his relentless, large, strong sword will bring judgment on Leviathan, the fleeing serpent — Leviathan, the twisting serpent. He will slay the monster that is in the sea.
- Revelation 20:2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
- Psalms 72:9May desert tribes kneel before him and his enemies lick the dust.
- Exodus 12:35The Israelites acted on Moses’s word and asked the Egyptians for silver and gold items and for clothing.
- Exodus 14:30That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
- Numbers 14:9Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”
Commentaries on Psalms 74:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14The heads of leviathan - Leviathan might be intended here as a personification of the Egypttan government; and its heads, Pharaoh and his chief captains. To the people inhabiting the wilderness - Probably meaning the birds and beasts of prey. These were the people of the wilderness, which fed on the dead bodies of the Egyptians, which the tides had cast ashore. The Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic read, "Thou hast given him for meat to the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces - On the meaning of the word “leviathan,” see the notes at Job 41:1. The word is used here as descriptive of sea monsters. And gavest him to be meat - Gavest him for “food.” To the people inhabiting the wilderness - That is, the sea monsters were killed, and, being thrown on shore, were gathered for food. The “inhabitants of the wilderness” or the desert, may refer either to the wild and savage tribes of men…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 The church silences her own complaints. What God had done for his people, as their King of old, encouraged them to depend on him. It was the Lord's doing, none besides could do it. This providence was food to faith and hope, to support and encourage in difficulties. The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that is faithful to his covenant about the day and the night, will never cast off those whom he has chosen. We have as much reason to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Leviathan: See Psalm 104:26; Job 3:8; 41:1, 12, 22, 31; Isaiah 27:1. Here, the creature’s multiple heads suggest a mythical monster.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1513-15. Examples of the "salvation wrought" are cited. divide the sea--that is, Red Sea. brakest ... waters--Pharaoh and his host (compare Is 51:9, 10; Eze 29:3, 4).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 74:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 74
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
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