The Meaning of Psalms 74:15 Explained

Psalms 74:15

KJV: Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.

YLT: Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.

Darby: Thou didst cleave fountain and torrent, thou driedst up ever-flowing rivers.

ASV: Thou didst cleave fountain and flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou didst cleave  the fountain  and the flood:  thou driedst up  mighty  rivers. 

What does Psalms 74:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 74:12-23 - "plead Thine Own Cause, O God"
Yet! Psalms 74:12, r.v. There is always some compensating and consolatory thought. God is in the background of our thought. Not only the King, but my King, ever working salvation in the midst of the earth. Faith is quickened as she reviews the marvels of the past, or considers the constant forth-putting of God's power in nature. See Psalms 74:12-15.
The dove is a tender emblem of the Church in her simplicity, weakness, and defenselessness; and there is no plea so potent as to remind God of His Covenant, which has been sealed with the blood of the Cross. Though we are utterly unworthy, He cannot deny Himself. Every time we put the cup to our lips in the Holy Supper, we say in effect. Have respect unto the Covenant, Psalms 74:20. This is an invincible argument with God. Go over the different items of that Covenant enumerated in Hebrews 8:1-13. Place your finger on the one that fits your case, and present that at the bank of heaven, endorsed by the countersign of our Lord. See to it that your cause is so identified with God's that, in soliciting His help, you may be able to add: Arise, O God; plead thine own cause, Psalms 74:22. God is faithful to those whom He has called into the fellowship of His Son. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 74

1  The prophet complains of the desolation of the sanctuary
10  He moves God to help in consideration of his power
18  Of his reproachful enemies, or his children and of his covenant

What do the individual words in Psalms 74:15 mean?

You broke open the fountain and the flood dried up rivers enduring
אַתָּ֣ה בָ֭קַעְתָּ מַעְיָ֣ן וָנָ֑חַל ה֝וֹבַ֗שְׁתָּ נַהֲר֥וֹת אֵיתָֽן

בָ֭קַעְתָּ  broke  open 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַע  
Sense: to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear.
מַעְיָ֣ן  the  fountain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעְיָן  
Sense: spring.
וָנָ֑חַל  and  the  flood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַחַל 
Sense: torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley.
ה֝וֹבַ֗שְׁתָּ  dried  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָבֵשׁ  
Sense: to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered.
נַהֲר֥וֹת  rivers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
אֵיתָֽן  enduring 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֵיתָן  
Sense: perpetual, constant, perennial, ever-flowing.