Psalm 74:14

Translations

Modern

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

Traditional

Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

Literal

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food to the people of the dry places.

Latin

Tu confregisti capita draconis; dedisti eum escam populis Æthiopum.

Original

Hebrew

English

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

Notes

Psalms 74:14

Leviathan: 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.

Psalms 74:1–23

The psalmist laments the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. This happened in 586 BC. The psalmist uses vivid imagery, asks questions, recalls fresh memories, and directly asks the Lord to act (Psalm 74:19–23).

Psalms 73:1–75:10

The seeming success of the wicked (Psalm 73) and God's apparent rejection of his people (Psalm 74) raise questions about his justice. God rules the entire world and decides when to judge (Psalm 75).

Theme notes and profiles

Questions and Doubt

Related verses

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
Job 41:1–34
“Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie down his tongue with a rope?
Psalm 72:9
May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
Psalm 104:25–26
Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small.
Numbers 14:9
Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”
Job 3:8
May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.
Exodus 14:30
That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore.
Exodus 12:35–36
Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing.
Revelation 20:2
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

Parallels

Psalm 79:1–13 Jeremiah 52:1–11

People

Leviathan: A large sea creature mentioned in the Bible

Glossary

Asaph Imprecatory Psalms Leviathan Lord Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Crocodiles Fishes: Leviathan Leviathan: Figurative Leviathan: God's Power, Exhibited in Destroying

Psalm 74:14

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