Psalms 74:5 — Word Study
WLCיִ֭וָּדַע כְּמֵבִ֣יא לְמָ֑עְלָה בִּֽסֲבָךְ־ עֵ֝֗ץ קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת׃
BSAlike menyâdaʻ▸ [chopping down] wieldingbôwʼ axesqardôm in a thicketçᵉbâk [of dense trees, a small group of trees or bushes] of treesʻêts [strong and firm, like a wooden plank]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִ֭וָּדַע | it was known | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| כְּמֵבִ֣יא | like [one who] brings | Preposition, verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular |
| לְמָ֑עְלָה | upwards | Preposition, suffix |
| בִּֽסֲבָךְ־ | in a thicket of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| עֵ֝֗ץ | tree[s] | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת׃ | axes | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees |
| KJV | A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. |
| ASV | They seemed as men that lifted up Axes upon a thicket of trees. |
| YLT | He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood — axes. |
| WEB | They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees. |
| BBE | They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees. |
Translations agree on the imagery of axes in this verse.
The sentence presents a simile that emphasizes the violent imagery of the enemies' actions.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָדַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 74:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Destruction of the Sanctuarygenerated
Psalms 74:5 depicts the enemies of God as violent intruders, comparing their actions to men wielding axes in a thicket. This imagery illustrates the brutal and destructive nature of their assault against the sacred space of worship. The verses surrounding this one highlight the psalmist's deep anguish over the desecration of God's dwelling, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 5:6 | Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 2:14 | He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 46:22–23 | Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent, for the enemy will advance in force; with axes they will come against her like woodsmen cutting down trees. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת, kar.du.Motgenerated
The word קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת (kar.du.Mot) refers to axes, tools used for chopping, particularly in the context of destruction. Its parsing as a feminine plural noun indicates multiple axes, emphasizing the collective force of the enemies' attack.
This term evokes a sense of violence and aggression, as axes are associated with the act of cutting down trees, paralleling the enemies' intent to dismantle and destroy the sanctuary.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the imagery of men with axes, as seen in the Berean Standard Bible, KJV, and ASV all using 'axes' for קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb י֭וָּדַע (Yi.va.da') governs the sentence, indicating a state of being known or recognized. The structure presents a simile, with the clause 'like men wielding axes' functioning as a descriptive comparison.
The sentence is constructed with a series of phrases that elaborate on the action and setting, emphasizing the violent imagery through the use of prepositional and participial phrases.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates י֭וָּדַע as ἔγνωσαν (egnōsan), meaning 'they knew,' which suggests an awareness or recognition of the enemies' actions.
This choice may reflect a broader understanding of the situation, emphasizing the knowledge of the destruction rather than just the act itself.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 74:5 compares the enemies of God to men using axes in a thicket, illustrating their violent attack on the sanctuary. This imagery emphasizes the seriousness of their actions and the psalmist's lament over the destruction of God's dwelling.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The imagery suggests a violent and aggressive attack on the sanctuary, highlighting the destructive nature of the enemies' actions.
The sanctuary represents God's dwelling place and the center of worship, making its destruction a profound loss for the community.
This verse reflects the psalmist's deep anguish over the desecration of sacred space, a recurring theme throughout the psalm.
The psalmist's lament teaches us about the importance of sacred spaces and the impact of their destruction on the community's relationship with God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways we can honor and protect sacred spaces in our lives?
- How do we respond to feelings of loss or destruction in our communities?
- In what ways can we be vigilant against forces that seek to undermine our faith?
- How can we find hope and restoration in times of distress, as the psalmist does?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary from Augustine of Hippo reflects on the significance of this verse, emphasizing its implications for understanding the enemies' actions.
"They have set signs, their own signs, and they have not known" [Psalms 74:5].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 74 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 74:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA man was famous,.... Or, "it was", or "is known" (m); the desolations the enemy made, the wickedness they committed, the terror they spread, and the signs they set in the sanctuary of the Lord:
Read John Gill on Psalms 74 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. -The enemy has destroyed God's sanctuary and synagogues, and there are no tokens of God's presence in the land.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 74 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleSo the meaning is this, The temple was so noble a structure, that it was a great honour to any man to be employed in the meanest part of the work, though it were but in cutting down the trees of Lebanon. And this translation may seem to be favoured by the opposition in the next verse, But now, &c. But others understand the words thus translated in another sense, that every one of the enemies got renown accordingly as they showed most barbarous rage in destroying the thick wood work (which in the next verse is called the carved work) of the temple. But this seems not to suit well with the opposition between this work and that of the next verse, which is ushered in by but now. The words…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 74 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 74:5 [A man] was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.Ver. 5. A man was famous according as, &c.] i.e. Time was when the workmen got them a name, by cutting down and fitting the timber for this building the temple, renowned throughout the whole world for costly and choice materials, for curious and exact workmanship, for spiritual employment, and for mystical signification; never was there the like edifice.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 74 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) The Authorised Version, with the ancient versions, has entirely mistaken the meaning of this verse, though, unlike the LXX. and Vulgate, it has the merit of being intelligible. Literally the words run, he (or it) is known like one causing to come in on high against the thicket of trees axes, which is generally understood, it seems as if men were lifting up axes against a thicket of trees. The ruthless destroyers go to work like woodcutters in a forest—the carved pillars are no more than so many trees to fell. But though this is intelligible, it does not read like Hebrew, and the contrast apparently intended between the signs of the heathen and the signs of Israel in Psalms 74:9 is not…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 74 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4–9. A graphic picture of the desecration of the Temple by the heathen enemies of Israel.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 74 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleA man was famous - literally, “He is known;” or, shall be known. That is, he was or shall be celebrated.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 74 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5. Lifted up axes upon the thick trees—The description, in Psalms 74:5-6, is to this effect: The temple appeared as when one had lifted up axes in a thick wood, for they had struck down the beautiful
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 74 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees
They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.
like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees
They invade like lumberjacks swinging their axes in a thick forest.
Tyndale line
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
They seemed as men that lifted up Axes upon a thicket of trees.
They seemed as men that lifted up axes upon a thicket of trees.
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
He that lifted the axes vpon the thicke trees, was renowmed, as one, that brought a thing to perfection:
Strictly literal
[A man] was known as he could lift up axes in the thicket of trees;
He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood — axes.
He is known as one bringing in on high || Against a thicket of wood—axes.
[The enemy] is known as one that lifteth up high axes against the thickets of a forest.
They hacked away with axes as in a thick forest.
From the Latin
I said to the wicked: Do not act wickedly: and to the sinners: Lift not up the horn.
Simplified
They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for this verse, with five of the six words matching. The Septuagint's word order differs, but it preserves the same imagery of destruction.
יִ֭וָּדַע כְּמֵבִ֣יא לְמָ֑עְלָה בִּֽסֲבָךְ־ עֵ֝֗ץ קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 74:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,
can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause
to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have
(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Prep | V-Hiphil — Preposition · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singularHR/Vhrmsa
מַ֫עַל (ma'al) refers to the concept of being above or upward. It is primarily used as a noun meaning 'higher part' but appears adverbially and prepositionally in phrases indicating positions such as 'above' or 'on higher ground.' The word is built from a root meaning 'to go up' and is found in various contexts in the Old Testament.
מַ֫עַל 140 subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
base
H4605 מַ֫עַל subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
4605 ma`al mah'al
from 5927; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially
with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.:--
above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on (X very) high, over,
up(-on, -ward), very.
see HEBREW for 05927
מַ֫עַל (ma.al) — above.
subst
1) higher part, upper part
adv
1a) above
prep
1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than
with locative
1c) upwards, higher, above
HR/Acbsa/Sd — Preposition · suffixHR/Acbsa/Sd
סְבַךְ (se.vakh) means 'thicket' and is derived from the root meaning related to a copse. The entries consistently define it as a thick or dense area of vegetation.
סְבַךְ n.[m.] thicket
base
H5442 סְבַךְ thicket
5442 cbak seb-awk'
from 5440, a copse:--thick(-et).
see HEBREW for 05440
סְבַךְ (se.vakh) — thicket.
thicket
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.
עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood
(c. 150 t.)
a standing tree
coll. trees
(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
base
H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree
. coll. trees
. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
6086 `ets ates
from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural
sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,
stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
see HEBREW for 06095
עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.
: wood
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree.
: tree
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.
: stick/log
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.
: stake/shaft
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.
: carpenter/wood(worker)
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
קַרְדֹּם (qardom) means 'axe' in Hebrew. The word is straightforwardly defined across the lexicons as a noun referring to an axe, possibly derived from a root meaning to strike. There are no significant disagreements among the entries.
[קַרְדֹּם] n.[m.] axe
base
H7134 קַרְדֹּם
7134 qardom kar-dome'
perhaps from 6923 in the sense of striking upon; an
axe:--ax.
see HEBREW for 06923
קַרְדֹּם (qar.dom) — axe.
axe
N-cp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa