The Meaning of Psalms 74:7 Explained

Psalms 74:7

KJV: They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.

YLT: They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,

Darby: They have set on fire thy sanctuary, they have profaned the habitation of thy name to the ground.

ASV: They have set thy sanctuary on fire; They have profaned the dwelling-place of thy name by casting it to the ground.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They have cast  fire  into thy sanctuary,  they have defiled  [by casting down] the dwelling place  of thy name  to the ground. 

What does Psalms 74:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: 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 74:7 mean?

They have set fire to Your sanctuary to the ground They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name
שִׁלְח֣וּ בָ֭אֵשׁ מִקְדָּשֶׁ֑ךָ לָ֝אָ֗רֶץ חִלְּל֥וּ מִֽשְׁכַּן־ שְׁמֶֽךָ

שִׁלְח֣וּ  They  have  set 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
בָ֭אֵשׁ  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
מִקְדָּשֶׁ֑ךָ  to  Your  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
לָ֝אָ֗רֶץ  to  the  ground 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
חִלְּל֥וּ  They  have  defiled 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
מִֽשְׁכַּן־  the  dwelling  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
שְׁמֶֽךָ  of  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.