Psalm 74 9

Psalm 74:9 kjv

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

Psalm 74:9 nkjv

We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

Psalm 74:9 niv

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

Psalm 74:9 esv

We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.

Psalm 74:9 nlt

We no longer see your miraculous signs.
All the prophets are gone,
and no one can tell us when it will end.

Psalm 74 verses

Psalm 74 9 Meaning

This verse expresses a deep communal lament during a time of profound national crisis and apparent divine abandonment. It signifies a triple absence: the cessation of discernible divine interventions or miraculous demonstrations ("our signs"), the perceived end of prophetic communication through which God typically revealed His will and future plans, and the utter lack of any individual, whether prophet or sage, who possesses knowledge about how long their current period of suffering and desolation will endure. This creates a vacuum of hope and understanding, leading to intense theological confusion and despair.

Psalm 74 9 Context

Psalm 74 is a Maskil of Asaph, a deeply emotive communal lament written from the perspective of God's people suffering under an overwhelming national catastrophe. The prevailing historical context points to the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC, as detailed in 2 Kings 25 and Jer 52. The psalm opens with a desperate plea to God, questioning why He has "cast us off forever." It graphically describes the desecration of the sanctuary, the burning of the Temple, and the devastation wrought by the enemy throughout the land, which has become a source of taunts and ridicule for God Himself. Amidst this desolation, verse 9 amplifies the sense of hopelessness by highlighting the absence of any divine communication or guidance, leaving the people bereft of a future vision or a timeline for their suffering, profoundly affecting their spiritual well-being and understanding of God's covenant faithfulness.

Psalm 74 9 Word analysis

• "We do not see": Hebrew lo' ra'inu (לֹא־רָאִינוּ).

  • Lo' (לֹא): A common negation, "not," "no."
  • Ra'inu (רָאִינוּ): From the verb ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to observe," "to experience," "to discern." The past tense, "we have not seen," implies a past and ongoing absence, creating a profound sense of experiential deprivation. It's not just a physical lack of sight but an inability to perceive or encounter God's active presence or intervention.

• "our signs": Hebrew 'ototeinu (אֹתוֹתֵינוּ).

  • 'Ot (אוֹת): Singular noun meaning "sign," "mark," "token," "omen," "pledge," "miracle," "wonder," "signal." Often refers to divine demonstrations or wonders that affirm God's presence, power, or purpose. Examples include the signs Moses performed (Exod 4) or the miraculous works in Egypt. The plural 'otot emphasizes the complete absence of any such divine indications or confirmations. These were expected divine interventions to assure God's protective hand or signal an end to their distress.
  • The possessive suffix "-einu" ("our") indicates that these are signs they expected or relied upon for their deliverance or assurance.

• "there is no longer any prophet": Hebrew lo' 'od navi' (וְאֵין־עוֹד נָבִיא).

  • Lo' 'od (לֹא עוֹד): A common Hebrew phrase meaning "no longer," "no more." It signals a cessation of something previously present.
  • Navi' (נָבִיא): Noun, "prophet," "spokesperson," "one called by God." Prophets were God's primary channel of communication, delivering His word, foretelling events, interpreting His will, and guiding the nation. Their absence represents a perceived break in direct divine communication, exacerbating the despair as it removes the primary source of hope and instruction in a crisis. This implies a perceived divine silence or withdrawal.

• "nor is there anyone among us who knows how long": Hebrew wə'ein bannu yodea' 'ad-ma? (וְאֵין בָּנוּ יוֹדֵעַ עַד־מָה).

  • Wə'ein (וְאֵין): "And there is not" or "nor is there." Continues the theme of absence.
  • Bannu (בָּנוּ): Preposition bə ("in" or "among") + suffix for "us," meaning "among us." Emphasizes that within their own community, there is no one.
  • Yodea' (יוֹדֵעַ): Participle of yada' (יָדַע), "to know," "to understand," "to be aware of," "to discern." Here, "one who knows" or "a knowledgeable one." This points to a lack of wisdom or insight within the community itself, potentially from a sage, priest, or any divinely inspired person who could interpret the times.
  • 'Ad-ma? (עַד־מָה): An interrogative phrase, "until what?" or idiomatically "how long?" It encapsulates the fervent plea for an end to their suffering and the desperate need for a timeline. The uncertainty about the duration of their tribulation fuels anxiety and removes any concrete hope of resolution. This also implies an absence of a divinely revealed duration.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "We do not see our signs": This phrase captures the experiential void. The people are unable to perceive any visible evidence of God's active presence or intervention. These signs were the expected confirmation of His covenant and power, and their absence felt like divine desertion.
  • "there is no longer any prophet": This signifies the communicative void. The absence of a divine mouthpiece cuts off the direct flow of God's counsel and comfort, leading to spiritual darkness and confusion about God's will and intentions in the crisis. It suggests that God Himself is silent.
  • "nor is there anyone among us who knows how long": This highlights the cognitive and temporal void. Lacking both divine signs and prophetic guidance, there is no human agent, whether inspired or wise, who can offer any certainty about the duration of their suffering, trapping them in prolonged anguish and uncertainty. This compounds the despair as there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Psalm 74 9 Bonus section

The "silence" lamented in Psalm 74:9 resonates strongly with the "400 years of silence" (the Intertestamental Period) between the close of the Old Testament prophetic era (Malachi) and the appearance of John the Baptist. During this time, direct prophecy was perceived to have ceased, leaving the people in a period akin to the uncertainty expressed in this verse, waiting for a new divine word. The yearning for a prophet who knows "how long" is ultimately answered in the person of Jesus Christ, who is not just a prophet but the very Word of God incarnate (John 1:1, 14), who speaks with ultimate authority and fulfills all prior prophecies, thus overcoming the historical longing for divine communication. While suffering and asking "how long" persist for believers (e.g., in times of persecution or illness), the indwelling Holy Spirit in the New Covenant (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17-18) means that God's presence and revelation are no longer dependent on a sole prophetic office, but are accessible to the believing community, though distinct forms of guidance continue.

Psalm 74 9 Commentary

Psalm 74:9 profoundly articulates the spiritual desolation of a people grappling with catastrophe. It encapsulates their overwhelming sense of abandonment by Yahweh, not merely due to physical destruction but due to a perceived rupture in the very means of divine engagement. The "signs" represent God's overt acts of power and vindication, historically central to Israel's identity and hope. The "prophet" was God's voice, delivering His timely guidance, warning, and comfort. Without these, the people were cast into utter uncertainty, symbolized by the desperate "how long?" for which no one could provide an answer. This spiritual famine was, arguably, more devastating than the physical one, challenging their core understanding of God's faithfulness and their place in His covenant. It underscores humanity's profound need for divine communication, especially in profound distress, and highlights a key aspect of suffering: the torment of unknowing and silence from the heavens. The psalm cries out not only for relief but for re-establishment of the divine-human dialogue that defined their relationship.