The Meaning of Psalms 74:9 Explained

Psalms 74:9

KJV: We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

YLT: Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.

Darby: We see not our signs; there is no more any prophet, neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

ASV: We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet; Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

We see  not our signs:  [there is] no more any prophet:  neither [is there] among us any that knoweth  how long. 

What does Psalms 74:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The writer bewailed the fact that no prophet could give the people a revelation about the length of God"s present judgment of His people. There were no prophetic signs that would indicate this.

Context Summary

Psalm 74:1-11 - The Sanctuary Of God Profaned
This psalm probably dates from the time when the Chaldeans destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. Compare Psalms 74:8 with Jeremiah 3:13-17. The main emphasis of Psalms 74:1 lies in the argument which arose from Israel's close relationship with God. Were they not His congregation! Was not the Temple His own chosen sanctuary? Did not these facts constitute the reason why He should come with swift footsteps to undo the evils that their foes were inflicting? The invaders were His (Thine) adversaries. The Temple was the dwelling-place of His (Thy) name. The whole psalm is dominated by this note. It says very little of the sufferings which the enemy has inflicted, but constantly recurs to the insult and reproach, done to God.
When we live only for Jesus Christ, so that our case and His have become one, we can use language like this. But this position is not acquired lightly, nor without much watchfulness and prayer. We by nature watch out for our own dignity and welfare much more quickly than for the interests of God's kingdom and glory. When, however, we are absolutely identified with the kingdom and glory of Jesus, our argument for deliverance is omnipotent. [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 74:9 mean?

Our signs not we do see [There is] no longer any prophet nor [is there] among us any who knows how long -
אֽוֹתֹתֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֥א רָ֫אִ֥ינוּ אֵֽין־ ע֥וֹד נָבִ֑יא וְלֹֽא־ אִ֝תָּ֗נוּ יֹדֵ֥עַ עַד־ מָֽה

אֽוֹתֹתֵ֗ינוּ  Our  signs 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
רָ֫אִ֥ינוּ  we  do  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֵֽין־  [There  is]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
ע֥וֹד  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
נָבִ֑יא  any  prophet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
וְלֹֽא־  nor  [is  there] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אִ֝תָּ֗נוּ  among  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
יֹדֵ֥עַ  any  who  knows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
עַד־  how  long 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
מָֽה    - 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.