Psalm 74 22

Psalm 74:22 kjv

Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

Psalm 74:22 nkjv

Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

Psalm 74:22 niv

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.

Psalm 74:22 esv

Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

Psalm 74:22 nlt

Arise, O God, and defend your cause.
Remember how these fools insult you all day long.

Psalm 74 verses

Psalm 74 22 Meaning

Psalm 74:22 is an impassioned plea to God for divine intervention, specifically asking Him to champion His own cause against those who defy Him. The psalmist implores God to act decisively in response to the constant and insolent reproaches aimed at Him by the wicked, reminding the Lord that His honor and reputation are continually slandered. It is a call for God to manifest His power and vindicate His Name in the face of ongoing blasphemy and desecration.

Psalm 74 22 Context

Psalm 74 is a communal lament (a Maskil of Asaph) likely composed after a significant national catastrophe involving the destruction and defilement of the Jerusalem Temple. While the exact historical event is debated by scholars, strong arguments suggest it pertains to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 586 BC (as described in 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52). The psalm opens with a desperate question to God regarding His apparent abandonment of His people amidst widespread devastation (Ps 74:1-3). The psalmist graphically describes the enemy's complete destruction of the sanctuary (Ps 74:4-7), the burning of all sacred places, and the eradication of visible signs of God's covenant with Israel (Ps 74:8-9). The core grievance expressed throughout the psalm, culminating in verse 22, is the ongoing "reproach" and "blasphemy" by the enemies (Ps 74:10, 18). These actions are not merely directed at Israel but directly at God's name and honor. The cultural context implies that the defeat of a nation meant the defeat of its god in the eyes of the surrounding polytheistic peoples. Thus, the defilement of the Temple and the suffering of Israel were seen as an indictment of the Lord's power, prompting the psalmist to implore God to rise and defend His own divine reputation. The polemic is evident: by demanding God's action, the psalmist asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and power over the pagan gods whose worshippers mock Him.

Psalm 74 22 Word Analysis

• Arise (קוּמָה - qumah): This is an imperative verb, "stand up," "rise up," "get up." In biblical prayers, it's a strong call for divine intervention, suggesting God's current perceived inactivity or hiddenness in the face of crisis. It implies an urgent need for Him to cease His quietude and display His power, often associated with a warrior-God who rises for battle or judgment (Num 10:35, Psa 7:6).
• O God (אֱלֹהִים - ʾĕlōhîm): The generic Hebrew word for God, often used in a powerful, authoritative sense, emphasizing God's role as the sovereign judge and creator. It calls upon His inherent nature and authority.
• Plead thine own cause (רִיבָה רִיבֶךָ - rivah riveka): A powerful legal and juridical idiom. Rivah is an imperative verb from the root riv, meaning "to strive, contend, dispute." Riveka is the noun "your contention," "your cause," "your case." Together, it means "contend your contention," or "present your legal argument." The psalmist isn't asking God to defend Israel (though that's implied), but primarily to defend His own name and honor that has been put on trial by the "foolish man." It emphasizes that God's very being and covenant faithfulness are being challenged.
• Remember (זְכֹר - zĕkhōr): Another imperative, meaning "call to mind," "bring to remembrance," "be mindful of." It doesn't suggest God has literally forgotten, but serves as a fervent appeal for Him to act on what He knows. It often accompanies a request for God to remember His covenant, His promises, or a past act of deliverance, urging Him to respond in kind to the present distress.
• how the foolish man (חֶרְפָּתְךָ֙ מִנָּבָ֔ל - ḥerpātĕkhā mināvāl): While the KJV renders "how the foolish man reproacheth thee," a more literal translation of the Hebrew here is "your reproach from the fool" or "your disgrace by the fool."
  • "reproacheth thee" / "your reproach" (חֶרְפָּתְךָ֙ - ḥerpātĕkhā): A noun, "your shame," "your disgrace," "your contempt." It denotes the humiliation and contempt heaped upon God through the actions and blasphemies of the wicked. This is the heart of the matter – the divine honor is being violated. In the ancient world, public shaming was a severe punishment; here it's God who is being shamed by His enemies.
  • "the foolish man" / "from the fool" (מִנָּבָ֔ל - mināvāl): From the word nāvāl, meaning "fool." This is not merely someone lacking intellect but someone who is morally perverse, insolent, arrogant, and especially someone who shows contempt for God and His laws (cf. Ps 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'"). These are those who actively disdain divine authority and wisdom, embodying moral corruption. Their actions are driven by defiance and practical atheism.
• daily (כָּל־הַיּ֖וֹם - kol-hayyōm): Meaning "all the day," "every day," "continually." This adverbial phrase intensifies the plea, highlighting that the reproach is not a singular event but an unceasing, pervasive mockery. This constant stream of insolence underscores the urgency and righteous indignation driving the psalmist's petition for divine action.

Psalm 74 22 Bonus Section

• Divine Pathos: The verse implies a concept of divine pathos—God's deep involvement in human affairs, to the extent that His reputation is affected by human actions. It underscores the biblical truth that God is not a detached deity but one whose honor and Name are central to His covenant relationship with His people.
• Theological Foundation of Prayer: This verse highlights a theological principle often found in the Psalms and prophetical books: humans can appeal to God based on His character and reputation. The appeal isn't primarily for human comfort, but for the glorification of God's Name. It asserts that God is glorified not just in salvation but also in His just response to evil.
• A Call for Vindication, not Revenge: The plea "plead your own cause" is for God's self-vindication and justice, distinct from a human desire for revenge. It trusts God to dispense perfect justice at the opportune moment.

Psalm 74 22 Commentary

Psalm 74:22 represents a crucial turning point in a national lament. Having meticulously detailed the widespread devastation and sacrilege, the psalmist shifts from complaint to a direct, urgent appeal for God's intervention. The core of the plea is God's own honor. The enemies' destruction of the Temple and their continued taunts were perceived not just as an attack on Israel but as a direct assault on the Almighty. In the ancient Near East, the fate of a nation was often tied to the perceived power of its god. Thus, the defeat of Israel by Babylon could be interpreted as the triumph of Babylonian gods over Yahweh. This polemic against false gods underpins the fervent appeal for God to "plead His own cause." It’s a call for the Lord to demonstrate His singular, unchallenged sovereignty and might.

The repeated emphasis on the "foolish man" and his "daily" reproach highlights the audacity and persistence of the blasphemy. The "fool" (nāvāl) is more than just unintelligent; he is morally corrupt and defies God's very existence or authority. This persistent contempt makes God's perceived inaction intolerable, requiring a display of divine justice that will vindicate His holy name before His people and the nations. This verse implicitly assures the psalmist's belief that God is fully capable of addressing this defiance and that His character demands a response to such public mockery. It encapsulates the prayer that God's glory will be manifested, restoring both His people and His name.