Psalms 74:11

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

Psalms 74:11 in Other Translations

11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!

11 Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.

11 Why don't you do something? How long are you going to sit there with your hands folded in your lap?

11 Why do You hold back Your hand? Stretch out Your right hand and destroy [them]!

Psalms 74:11 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 74:11

Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even that right hand?
&c.] By which is meant the power of God; by which he made the heavens and the earth, and all things therein, and supports them in their beings; by which the work of his grace is wrought in the hearts of his people, and they are upheld; and by which he conquers their enemies, and saves them: this may be said to be withdrawn when he denies his people the help and succour they have had from him; when he seems to have forsaken the work of his hands; when there is not that success in the ministry of the word there formerly was, his arm being not revealed and made bare; and when the enemies of religion prosper and get ground; and when the Lord seems to be altogether inactive and unconcerned, like a man that folds up his arms under his arm holes, or hides his hands in his bosom, see ( Psalms 44:23-26 ) ( Proverbs 19:24 ) ( Lamentations 2:3-8 ) wherefore it follows:

pluck it out of thy bosom;
as he will one day, and strike with a home blow, antichrist and his followers, and destroy them with his rod of iron, with which he will break them in shivers as a potter's vessel; and all his enemies shall feel the lighting down of his arm with the indignation of his anger; and then this request will be fulfilled: the word used signifies to "consume" ^F1; and Kimchi interprets it, consume the enemy out of thy bosom, which is the house of the sanctuary; his secret place, as the bosom is to man; but both senses of the word maybe retained, and the meaning be, pluck it out of thy bosom to consume them {b}: also it signifies to restrain ^F3; and the sense may be, as the above writer observes, restrain it, that it may not return to thy bosom, till thou hast executed judgment on the wicked.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (hlk) "consume", Montanus, Gejerus.
F2 So some in Vatablus.
F3 "Cohibe", Junius & Tremellius.

Psalms 74:11 In-Context

9 We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.

10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

12 But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 15:6; Lamentations 2:3
• 2. Nehemiah 5:13; Ezekiel 5:3