The Meaning of Psalms 74:12 Explained

Psalms 74:12

KJV: For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

YLT: And God is my king of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Darby: But God is my king of old, accomplishing deliverances in the midst of the earth.

ASV: Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For God  [is] my King  of old,  working  salvation  in the midst  of the earth. 

What does Psalms 74:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 74:12 mean?

For God [is] my King from of old Working salvation in the midst of the earth
וֵ֭אלֹהִים מַלְכִּ֣י מִקֶּ֑דֶם פֹּעֵ֥ל יְ֝שׁוּע֗וֹת בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ

וֵ֭אלֹהִים  For  God  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מַלְכִּ֣י  my  King 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
מִקֶּ֑דֶם  from  of  old 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶדֶם 
Sense: east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime.
פֹּעֵ֥ל  Working 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.
יְ֝שׁוּע֗וֹת  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
בְּקֶ֣רֶב  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
הָאָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.