The Meaning of Psalms 74:18 Explained

Psalms 74:18

KJV: Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

YLT: Remember this -- an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.

Darby: Remember this, that an enemy hath reproached Jehovah, and a foolish people have contemned thy name.

ASV: Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Jehovah, And that a foolish people hath blasphemed thy name.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Remember  this, [that] the enemy  hath reproached,  O LORD,  and [that] the foolish  people  have blasphemed  thy name. 

What does Psalms 74:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 74:12-23 - "plead Thine Own Cause, O God"
Yet! Psalms 74:12-1584 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 1714042090_5.
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 74:18 mean?

Remember this the enemy [that] has reproached Yahweh and a people foolish [that] has blasphemed Your name
זְכָר־ זֹ֗את א֭וֹיֵב חֵרֵ֣ף ׀ יְהוָ֑ה וְעַ֥ם נָ֝בָ֗ל נִֽאֲצ֥וּ שְׁמֶֽךָ

זְכָר־  Remember 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
זֹ֗את  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
א֭וֹיֵב  the  enemy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
חֵרֵ֣ף ׀  [that]  has  reproached 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרַף 
Sense: to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְעַ֥ם  and  a  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
נָ֝בָ֗ל  foolish 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָבָל  
Sense: foolish, senseless, fool.
נִֽאֲצ֥וּ  [that]  has  blasphemed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.
שְׁמֶֽךָ  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.