Psalms 74:14

KJV

Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou brakest {H7533}{H8765)} the heads {H7218} of leviathan {H3882} in pieces, and gavest {H5414}{H8799)} him to be meat {H3978} to the people {H5971} inhabiting the wilderness {H6728}.

Complete Jewish Bible

you crushed the heads of Livyatan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.

Berean Standard Bible

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

American Standard Version

Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces; Thou gavest him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 74:14, a poignant verse within a communal lament, vividly recounts God's decisive, historical victory over "Leviathan," a primeval monster symbolizing chaotic forces and formidable enemies. This past act of divine power, where God shattered the monster's heads and provided its remains as sustenance for His people in the wilderness, serves as a profound reminder of His sovereign control over all creation and His unwavering faithfulness to deliver and sustain His covenant people, even in their deepest distress.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 74 is a communal lament (a *maskil*, or "instructive psalm") expressing profound anguish and bewilderment over the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, likely during the Babylonian exile. The psalmist appeals to God's character and past mighty deeds, contrasting them with the current devastation. Verses 12-17 form a central section where the psalmist recounts God's historical acts of creation and salvation (e.g., dividing the sea, crushing Pharaoh), using these as a basis for pleading for divine intervention in the present crisis. Verse 14 specifically highlights God's triumph over cosmic chaos, immediately preceding God's control over the natural world (sun, moon, seasons) and His establishment of boundaries, as seen in [Psalm 74:15-17](/psalms/74-15-17 "Psalm 74:15-17 - God's Control Over Creation"). This section serves to remind God of His own power and covenant faithfulness, providing a foundation for the psalmist's urgent plea for deliverance from the current oppression.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The psalm most likely reflects the national catastrophe of 586 BC, when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the exile of the Jewish people. This event challenged Israel's understanding of God's covenant faithfulness and power. The imagery of "Leviathan" draws from ancient Near Eastern mythology, where divine warriors (e.g., Baal, Marduk) battled primordial sea monsters (e.g., Yam, Tiamat) to establish cosmic order and kingship. The biblical authors, however, demythologize this imagery, portraying Yahweh as the sole sovereign God who effortlessly defeats such chaotic forces, demonstrating His absolute power over creation and history. The phrase "people inhabiting the wilderness" is a clear allusion to the Exodus event, where God defeated the ultimate earthly "Leviathan" (Pharaoh and Egypt) at the Red Sea, leading His people through the wilderness and miraculously providing for them, as detailed throughout [the book of Exodus](/exodus/1 "The Book of Exodus").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Psalm 74 and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores **God's supreme power and sovereignty** over all forces, whether cosmic or historical, that oppose His divine order. It highlights God as the **Creator and Sustainer**, whose past acts of ordering chaos (creation) and delivering His people (Exodus) are foundational to His character. The theme of **divine justice and judgment** is also present, as God decisively defeats those who stand against Him, as also prophesied in [Isaiah 27:1](/isaiah/27-1 "Isaiah 27:1 - God's Future Judgment on Leviathan"). Ultimately, the verse serves as a profound expression of **covenant faithfulness**, reminding both God and the lamenting community that God's past actions provide a solid basis for hope and trust in His future deliverance and provision, echoing the miraculous provision seen throughout [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Leviathan (Hebrew, _livyâthân'_):** This term (H3882) refers to a powerful, often serpentine or dragon-like sea creature. In ancient Near Eastern mythology, such creatures symbolized primeval chaos. In the biblical context, while retaining an element of awe-inspiring power, "Leviathan" is demythologized, becoming a creature entirely subject to God's sovereign will. Here, it functions as a potent symbol for formidable, chaotic, or oppressive forces, often interpreted as a metaphor for Egypt/Pharaoh in the Exodus event, or more broadly, any enemy that seems insurmountable.
* **Brakest (Hebrew, _râtsats'_):** Derived from the primitive root *râtsats* (H7533), meaning "to crack in pieces," "to break," "to bruise," or "to crush." The intensity of this verb emphasizes the absolute and decisive nature of God's victory. It is not a mere defeat but a complete and utter annihilation of the enemy's power, leaving no doubt as to God's overwhelming might and ensuring the total incapacitation and demise of the foe.
* **Heads (Hebrew, _rôʼsh'_):** The use of the plural "heads" (H7218) is significant. It could literally imply a multi-headed monster, common in ancient mythological depictions, further emphasizing Leviathan's monstrous nature and power. Metaphorically, it signifies the complete and utter destruction of the creature's vitality, leadership, and ability to pose any further threat. Breaking *all* its heads ensures its total incapacitation and demise, leaving no remnant of its power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces":** This clause vividly portrays God's decisive and overwhelming power. The active verb "brakest" (past tense) asserts a completed divine action, emphasizing God's historical intervention. The imagery of shattering the "heads" of Leviathan underscores the completeness and totality of God's victory over the most formidable and chaotic forces imaginable. This is an act of cosmic ordering, where God asserts His absolute sovereignty over chaos and evil, demonstrating His unmatched strength.
* **"and gavest him [to be] meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness":** This second clause describes the beneficial consequence of God's victory for His people. The defeated "Leviathan" is transformed from a threat into a source of sustenance. This is widely understood as a clear allusion to the Exodus event, where God defeated Pharaoh and the Egyptian army at the Red Sea (symbolically depicted as Leviathan), leading His people through the wilderness and miraculously providing for them with manna and quail. It links God's cosmic power to His specific, historical acts of deliverance and provision for His covenant people, turning a symbol of chaos into an instrument of life for His chosen ones.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 74:14 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where "Leviathan" serves as a powerful symbol for chaotic forces, formidable enemies, or oppressive empires (most notably Egypt/Pharaoh). This allows the psalmist to evoke a sense of overwhelming threat while simultaneously magnifying God's power in overcoming it. Closely related is **Allusion**, specifically to the Exodus event. The phrase "people inhabiting the wilderness" is a direct and unmistakable reference to Israel's journey from Egypt, implying that God's defeat of "Leviathan" is a symbolic representation of His victory over Pharaoh at the Red Sea. The use of the plural "heads" could be seen as **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the monster's features to emphasize its monstrous nature and, by extension, the magnitude of God's triumph. Furthermore, the verse functions as a form of **Parallelism** (though not strictly syntactic), where God's past act of ordering chaos and providing for His people serves as a powerful precedent and plea for His continued intervention and provision in the present crisis.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. By recalling God's past triumph over "Leviathan," the psalmist anchors the hope of a suffering nation in the undeniable reality of God's power. This act is not merely a mythological feat but a theological statement: God is the one who establishes order from chaos, defeats the most formidable adversaries, and ensures the sustenance and survival of His chosen ones. It connects the cosmic battle for order with the historical deliverance of Israel, demonstrating that God's power is always exercised for the benefit of His people. In times of national devastation, the memory of God's past victories serves as a potent reminder that no enemy, no matter how overwhelming, is beyond His control, and no wilderness is too desolate for His provision.

* [Job 41:1](/job/41-1 "Job 41:1 - Description of Leviathan")
* [Psalm 89:9-10](/psalms/89-9-10 "Psalm 89:9-10 - God's Dominion over the Sea and Rahab")
* [Isaiah 27:1](/isaiah/27-1 "Isaiah 27:1 - God's Judgment on Leviathan")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 74:14 offers profound encouragement for believers facing overwhelming challenges today. Just as God "brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces" and provided for His people in the wilderness, He remains sovereign over every "leviathan" in our lives—whether it be a seemingly insurmountable personal struggle, a pervasive societal injustice, a spiritual attack, or a global crisis. This verse reminds us that no power, no matter how chaotic, destructive, or formidable it appears, is beyond the control of our almighty God. When we find ourselves in a "wilderness" season—a period of desolation, uncertainty, or intense trial—we can look to God's past faithfulness, both in biblical history and in our own lives, as a firm foundation for our hope. He is not only capable of defeating our enemies but also committed to sustaining us through the most barren circumstances. Our faith is not in our own strength or the absence of opposition, but in the God who has consistently demonstrated His power to deliver and provide.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "leviathans" (overwhelming challenges, chaotic forces, or spiritual oppositions) are you facing in your life or in the world today?**
* **How does remembering God's past acts of decisive deliverance (biblical or personal) strengthen your faith in His present ability to act on your behalf?**
* **In what ways has God provided for you in your own "wilderness" experiences, demonstrating His faithfulness even when circumstances seemed bleak?**

### FAQ
**Is "Leviathan" a literal creature or symbolic?**

Answer: In Psalm 74:14, "Leviathan" is primarily symbolic, representing powerful, chaotic forces or oppressive empires. While the imagery may draw from ancient Near Eastern myths of sea monsters, the biblical text demythologizes it, portraying Leviathan not as an independent deity or cosmic force, but as a creature entirely subject to God's absolute power. Here, it functions as a potent metaphor for any formidable enemy or chaotic power that stands in opposition to God's order and His people, most notably alluding to Pharaoh and Egypt, whom God decisively defeated during the [Exodus](/exodus/1 "The Book of Exodus").

**How does this verse relate to the Exodus?**

Answer: The phrase "and gavest him [to be] meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness" is a strong and widely accepted allusion to the Exodus event. God's defeat of Pharaoh and the Egyptian army at the Red Sea is symbolically depicted as the "breaking of the heads of leviathan." This victory directly paved the way for God's miraculous provision for the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness, including manna, quail, and water, as described in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail"). Thus, the verse connects God's cosmic victory over chaos with His historical deliverance and sustenance of His covenant people, demonstrating that His power is always exercised for their benefit.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 74:14 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the divine warrior who decisively conquered the ultimate "Leviathan"—sin, death, and the devil. The Old Testament accounts of God's triumph over chaotic forces and oppressive enemies foreshadow Christ's victory on the cross. Just as God "brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces," Christ, through His crucifixion and resurrection, "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). He came to "destroy the works of the devil" ([1 John 3:8](/1_john/3-8 "1 John 3:8 - Christ Destroys the Devil's Works")) and "deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery" ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Defeat of Death")). Furthermore, the provision of "meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness" finds its spiritual parallel in Christ, who declared Himself to be the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), offering eternal sustenance to all who believe. His victory over the spiritual forces of chaos and His ongoing provision for His people in the "wilderness" of this world ensure that we are not left without hope or sustenance, but are sustained by His very life and Spirit until His glorious return, when the ancient "dragon" ([Revelation 12:9](/revelation/12-9 "Revelation 12:9 - The Dragon, Satan")) will be finally and eternally bound and cast into the lake of fire ([Revelation 20:10](/revelation/20-10 "Revelation 20:10 - The Devil Cast into the Lake of Fire")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 27:1

¶ In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.

Psalms 104:25

[So is] this great and wide sea, wherein [are] things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

Psalms 104:26

There go the ships: [there is] that leviathan, [whom] thou hast made to play therein.

Exodus 14:30

Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

Exodus 12:35

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

Exodus 12:36

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them [such things as they required]. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

Psalms 72:9

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.