The Meaning of Psalms 74:20 Explained

Psalms 74:20

KJV: Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

YLT: Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.

Darby: Have respect unto the covenant; for the dark places of the earth are full of the dwellings of violence.

ASV: Have respect unto the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Have respect  unto the covenant:  for the dark  places of the earth  are full  of the habitations  of cruelty. 

What does Psalms 74:20 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 74:20 mean?

Have respect to the covenant for are full of the dark places of the earth the haunts of cruelty
הַבֵּ֥ט לַבְּרִ֑ית כִּ֥י מָלְא֥וּ מַחֲשַׁכֵּי־ אֶ֝֗רֶץ נְא֣וֹת חָמָֽס

הַבֵּ֥ט  Have  respect 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
לַבְּרִ֑ית  to  the  covenant 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
מָלְא֥וּ  are  full 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
מַחֲשַׁכֵּי־  of  the  dark  places 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַחְשָׁךְ  
Sense: dark place, darkness, secrecy.
אֶ֝֗רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
נְא֣וֹת  the  haunts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: נָוָה  
Sense: .
חָמָֽס  of  cruelty 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָמָס  
Sense: violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.