The Meaning of Psalms 74:16 Explained

Psalms 74:16

KJV: The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

YLT: Thine is the day, also Thine is the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver -- the sun.

Darby: The day is thine, the night also is thine; thou hast prepared the moon and the sun:

ASV: The day is thine, the night also is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The day  [is] thine, the night  also [is] thine: thou hast prepared  the light  and the sun. 

What does Psalms 74:16 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 74:16 mean?

[is] Yours the day also [is] Yours the night You have prepared the light and the sun
לְךָ֣ י֭וֹם אַף־ לְךָ֥ לָ֑יְלָה אַתָּ֥ה הֲ֝כִינ֗וֹתָ מָא֥וֹר וָשָֽׁמֶשׁ

לְךָ֣  [is]  Yours 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵבֶה  
Sense: reed, papyrus.
י֭וֹם  the  day 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אַף־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
לְךָ֥  [is]  Yours 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
לָ֑יְלָה  the  night 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
הֲ֝כִינ֗וֹתָ  have  prepared 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
מָא֥וֹר  the  light 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָאֹור  
Sense: light, luminary.
וָשָֽׁמֶשׁ  and  the  sun 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.