Psalm 74:6
ESV
And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
NIV
They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
NASB
And now they break down all its carved work With axe and hammers.
CSB
then smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.
NLT
With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling.
KJV
But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
NKJV
And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers.
What does Psalm 74:6 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 74, verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 74:1–11 mourns what the psalmist sees as God's inaction in the face of a terrible enemy. This invader has destroyed the temple of God. Beyond that devastation, the nation has no prophetic voice. No one speaks God's truths. The psalmist wonders how long God will allow the enemy to act in such an unholy way, scoffing and reviling God's name. He urges God to arise and destroy the evil invaders, and to do so quickly. This is followed by a confident declaration of the Lord's mighty power.
This is a "maskil," probably referring to a musical arrangement. The psalmist mourns that God has allowed an enemy to obliterate the temple: the sanctuary of God in Israel. The nation is overrun and there is no prophetic voice. Though this is a low point, the psalmist knows that the Lord is all-powerful and all-knowing. He prays that God will reverse these terrible events soon, bringing justice to Israel's enemies.
