English Standard Version
Psalms 74:14
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
- New Living Translation (NLT)You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him.
Context of Psalms 74:14
12Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. 16Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights 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, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
- Job 3:8Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.
- Job 41:1"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?
- Isaiah 27:1In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.
- Revelation 20:2And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
- Psalms 72:9May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
- Exodus 12:35The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing.
- Exodus 14:30Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
- Numbers 14:9Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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