The Meaning of Psalms 74:19 Explained

Psalms 74:19

KJV: O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

YLT: Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.

Darby: Give not up the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast; forget not the troop of thine afflicted for ever.

ASV: Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: Forget not the life of thy poor for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O deliver  not the soul  of thy turtledove  unto the multitude  [of the wicked]: forget  not the congregation  of thy poor  for ever. 

What does Psalms 74:19 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 74:19 mean?

Not Oh do deliver to the wild beast the life of Your turtledove the life of Your poor do forget forever
אַל־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לְ֭חַיַּת נֶ֣פֶשׁ תּוֹרֶ֑ךָ חַיַּ֥ת עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗יךָ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח לָנֶֽצַח

תִּתֵּ֣ן  Oh  do  deliver 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְ֭חַיַּת  to  the  wild  beast 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
נֶ֣פֶשׁ  the  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
תּוֹרֶ֑ךָ  of  Your  turtledove 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: תֹּור  
Sense: dove, turtledove.
חַיַּ֥ת  the  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗יךָ  of  Your  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח  do  forget 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.
לָנֶֽצַח  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵצַח  
Sense: eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness.