The Meaning of Psalms 74:8 Explained

Psalms 74:8

KJV: They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

YLT: They said in their hearts, 'Let us oppress them together,' They did burn all the meeting-places of God in the land.

Darby: They said in their heart, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all God's places of assembly in the land.

ASV: They said in their heart, Let us make havoc of them altogether: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They said  in their hearts,  Let us destroy  them together:  they have burned up  all the synagogues  of God  in the land. 

What does Psalms 74:8 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 74:8 mean?

They said in their hearts let us destroy them altogether they have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land
אָמְר֣וּ בְ֭לִבָּם נִינָ֣ם יָ֑חַד שָׂרְפ֖וּ כָל־ מוֹעֲדֵי־ אֵ֣ל בָּאָֽרֶץ

אָמְר֣וּ  They  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְ֭לִבָּם  in  their  hearts 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
נִינָ֣ם  let  us  destroy  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common plural, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄונָה 
Sense: to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong.
יָ֑חַד  altogether 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
שָׂרְפ֖וּ  they  have  burned  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׂרַף  
Sense: to burn.
מוֹעֲדֵי־  the  meeting  places 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
אֵ֣ל  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
בָּאָֽרֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.