Psalms 74:15
Psalms 74:15 in Multiple Translations
You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
Thou didst cleave fountain and flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers.
You made valleys for fountains and springs; you made the ever-flowing rivers dry.
You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers.
Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.
You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou didst dry up mighty rivers.
You caused springs and streams to flow, and you also dried up rivers that had never dried up previously.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 74:15
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 74:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַתָּ֣ה
בָ֭קַעְתָּ
מַעְיָ֣ן
וָ/נָ֑חַל
אַתָּ֥ה
ה֝וֹבַ֗שְׁתָּ
נַהֲר֥וֹת
אֵיתָֽן
אַתָּ֣ה
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Pron
בָ֭קַעְתָּ
bâqaʻ
H1234
to break up/open
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
מַעְיָ֣ן
maʻyân
H4599
spring
N-ms
וָ/נָ֑חַל
nachal
H5158
Brook
Conj | N-ms
אַתָּ֥ה
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Pron
ה֝וֹבַ֗שְׁתָּ
yâbêsh
H3001
to wither
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
נַהֲר֥וֹת
nâhâr
H5104
river
N-mp
אֵיתָֽן
ʼêythân
H386
strong
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 74:15
אַתָּ֣ה
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
בָ֭קַעְתָּ
bâqaʻ
H1234
"to break up/open"
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to break or open something, like a door or a wall, and is used in the Bible to describe God breaking through to help his people, as seen in Psalm 107:16.
Definition: 1) to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cleave, cleave open 1a2) to break through, break into 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cleft, be rent open, be split open 1b2) to be broken into 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cleave, cut to pieces, rend open 1c2) to break through, break down 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be ripped open, be torn open 1d2) to be rent 1d3) to be broken into 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to break into 1e2) to break through 1f) (Hophal) to be broken into 1g) (Hithpael) to burst (themselves) open, cleave asunder
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces, through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out, divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win. See also: Genesis 7:11; Psalms 78:13; Psalms 74:15.
מַעְיָ֣ן
maʻyân
H4599
"spring"
N-ms
A mayan was a spring or fountain, and can also refer to a source of satisfaction. It is mentioned in the Bible as a physical spring, but also figuratively as a source of joy or comfort.
Definition: spring
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: fountain, spring, well. See also: Genesis 7:11; Psalms 87:7; Psalms 74:15.
וָ/נָ֑חַל
nachal
H5158
"Brook"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Definition: palm-tree Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream, valley. See also: Genesis 26:17; 1 Kings 18:5; Psalms 18:5.
אַתָּ֥ה
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
ה֝וֹבַ֗שְׁתָּ
yâbêsh
H3001
"to wither"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to wither or dry up, like a plant without water. It can also mean to be ashamed or disappointed. The Bible uses it to describe things that have lost their freshness or vitality.
Definition: 1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture 1a2) to be dried up 1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to dry up, make dry 1c1a) to dry up (water) 1c1b) to make dry, wither 1c1c) to exhibit dryness
Usage: Occurs in 62 OT verses. KJV: be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up), (do) shame(-fully), [idiom] utterly, wither (away). See also: Genesis 8:7; Jeremiah 6:15; Psalms 22:16.
נַהֲר֥וֹת
nâhâr
H5104
"river"
N-mp
In the Bible, a river symbolizes prosperity, like the Nile or Euphrates, and is often used figuratively. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing the life-giving waters of the Promised Land. This word is also used to describe underground streams.
Definition: 1) stream, river 1a) stream, river 1b) (underground) streams Aramaic equivalent: ne.har (נְהַר "river" H5103H)
Usage: Occurs in 108 OT verses. KJV: flood, river. See also: Genesis 2:10; Psalms 93:3; Psalms 24:2.
אֵיתָֽן
ʼêythân
H386
"strong"
Adj
The Hebrew word for strong or mighty, often used to describe a leader or a powerful force. It can also mean permanent or enduring, like a constantly flowing stream. In the Bible, it's used to describe God's strength and power.
Definition: 1) perpetual, constant, perennial, ever-flowing 1a) ever-flowing (of a stream) 1b) permanence, permanent, enduring (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: hard, mighty, rough, strength, strong. See also: Genesis 49:24; Psalms 74:15; Proverbs 13:15.
Study Notes — Psalms 74:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 74:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 74:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 74:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 74:15
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 74:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
- Sermons on Psalms 74:15
Context — Why Have You Rejected Us Forever?
13You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.
15You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun. 17You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 20:11 | Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. |
| 2 | Isaiah 48:21 | They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out. |
| 3 | Psalms 105:41 | He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. |
| 4 | Exodus 17:5–6 | And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. |
| 5 | Joshua 2:10 | For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. |
| 6 | Joshua 3:13–17 | When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.” So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan. |
| 7 | 2 Kings 2:8 | And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. |
| 8 | Isaiah 11:16 | There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. |
| 9 | Exodus 14:21–22 | Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. |
| 10 | Habakkuk 3:9 | You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers. |
Psalms 74:15 Summary
This verse is saying that God is the one who controls the forces of nature, including the oceans and rivers. He has the power to create and to destroy, as seen in Psalm 104:6-9. Just like He 'broke open the fountain' and controlled the rivers, He can also take care of us and provide for our needs (Matthew 6:25-34). We can trust in His power and sovereignty over all things, and praise Him for His amazing creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'fountain' being referred to in Psalms 74:15?
The 'fountain' likely refers to the primordial waters or the sources of the earth's rivers and oceans, as seen in Genesis 1:9-10 and Psalm 104:6-9, where God is praised for His power over the creation of the world.
Why does the verse mention 'ever-flowing rivers'?
The mention of 'ever-flowing rivers' highlights God's control over the natural world, as seen in Jeremiah 10:13, where His power over the creation is demonstrated by His ability to control the weather and the forces of nature.
Is this verse talking about a specific historical event or a general truth about God?
While this verse may be referencing specific events in Israel's history, such as the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:13-31, it is also making a general statement about God's power and control over creation, as seen in Job 38:8-11.
How does this verse relate to our everyday lives as believers?
This verse reminds us of God's sovereignty over all things, including the natural world, and encourages us to trust in His power and provision, as seen in Matthew 6:25-34 and Psalm 23:1-4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can see God's power and control in my own life, just as He demonstrated power over the natural world in Psalms 74:15?
- How can I apply the truth of God's sovereignty over creation to my daily struggles and challenges?
- In what ways can I trust God to 'dry up' the difficult circumstances in my life, just as He dried up the 'ever-flowing rivers'?
- What are some ways I can praise and worship God for His power and control over the world around me?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 74:15
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood,.... That is, the rocks at Horeb and at Kadesh, from whence water flowed as out of a fountain, and became a flood, whereby the people of Israel were
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 74:15
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood, i.e. thou didst by cleaving the rock make a fountain in it, and a flood or stream to flow from it, for the refreshment of thy people in those dry deserts. The phrase is like that , grind meal, i.e. by grinding the corn make meal. Mighty rivers; either, 1. Jordan, which was then more mighty than ordinarily, as having overflowed all his banks, and therefore may be called rivers, because it was now equivalent to two or three such rivers; or it is only an ensilage of the plural number for the singular, whereof I have given many instances formerly. Or rather, 2. Both Jordan and the Red Sea; for the sea itself, yea, a greater sea than that, is called a river, ; for the Hebrew word is the same which is here used, though there it be rendered floods. And the same title is expressly given to the sea by Homer and other ancient writers. To these the ancient Chaldee interpreter addeth the rivers of Amen and Jabbok, in or about which some extraordinary work was wrought, yea, something which was like God’ s work at the Red Sea, as may seem by the conjunction of these together, .
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
Psalms 74:15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.Ver. 15. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood] i.e. Fontium et torrentium scatebras et latebras, thou didst set the rock abroach once and again, Exodus 17:6 Numbers 20:11, rescissis ipsius naturae legibus. Thou driedst up mighty rivers] Jordan (wherein some say met two great rivers, Jor and Dan), whereunto the Chaldee here addeth Arnon and Jabbok, whereof see Numbers 21:14 Deuteronomy 2:37.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
(15) Thou didst cleave . . .—Another pregnant expression for “thou didst cleave the rock, and a fountain came forth.” Flood.—Better, brook. Heb., nâchal.Mighty rivers.—See margin. But, perhaps, rather. rivers of constant flow, that did not dry up in summer like the “brooks.” The same word is used of the sea (Exodus 14:27), to express the return to the regular flow of the tide. The verb “driest up” is that used (Joshua 2:10) of the Red Sea, and Joshua 4:23; Joshua 5:1 of the Jordan.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
Verse 15. Thou didst cleave the fountain] Thou didst cleave the rock in the wilderness, of which all the congregation drank. Thou driedst up mighty rivers.] Does not this refer to the cutting off the waters of the Jordan, so that the people passed over dryshod?
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 74:15
15. Thou didst cleave fountain and torrent: Thou didst dry up perennial rivers. God’s omnipotence was shewn alike in cleaving the rock so that water flowed out (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8; Psalms 78:15; Isaiah 48:21), and in drying up the perennial stream of the Jordan (Joshua 3; Joshua 4:23).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 74:15
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood - That is, the source of the streams and the streams themselves.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 74:15
15. Driedst up mighty rivers—This was done when he dried up the rivers of the desert after having miraculously created them.
Sermons on Psalms 74:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
A Plea for Relief Part 4 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith begins by expressing a plea to God for relief from the adversary and the reproach of the enemy. He acknowledges God's power manifested in nature |
|
(Exodus) Exodus 17:1-7 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of the smitten rock and its significance in relation to spiritual blessings. He emphasizes that although God has blessed us abund |
|
Is the Lord Among Us, or Not by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the advancements of technology, particularly the TV camera, and how it has brought both incredible discoveries and disturbing events into ou |
|
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit by Randy Krahn | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of guarding what we listen to and watch, as they can influence and corrupt us. He warns against the infiltration of worldly in |
|
Wilderness Journey by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson illustrates the Christian life as a wilderness journey, akin to the Israelites' experience, where faith is the only means of crossing the treacherous terrain of lif |
|
|
Why Read the Old Testament? by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the relevance of the Old Testament for modern believers, arguing that it provides essential context and understanding for the New Testament. He illustrat |
|
New Years' Address, January 1853 by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot delivers a powerful sermon reflecting on the state of the church amidst worldly progress and material prosperity, questioning the lack of vital godliness and grace des |