Bible Strands
Psalms 74:12
Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly amid a national crisis marked by perceived divine absence. This declaration immediately follows a plea for God to stop withholding His power and stretch out His right hand to destroy enemies.
The words — The Hebrew מַלְכִּי־מִקֶּֽדֶם (malchi-miqqedem) literally means "my King from antiquity." The phrase פֹּעֵל יְשׁוּעוֹת (po'el yeshu'ot) translates to "working salvation" or "doing salvations."
The thread — This identification of God as ancient King and active saver appears in Psalms 44:4, which calls God the King who ordains victories for Jacob, and Isaiah 33:22, which names the Lord as King who will save. The motif of salvation enacted within the earth connects to the surrounding context's references to dividing the sea and crushing sea monsters.
Why it lands — The text asserts God's historical sovereignty as the factual basis for present circumstance. It requires the reader to anchor current distress in documented past action rather than demanding immediate visible proof.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.
- Psalms 44:4 You are my King, O God, who ordains victories for Jacob.
- Exodus 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
- Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
- Numbers 23:21 He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them.
- Judges 4:23 On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.
- 1 Samuel 19:5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
- Isaiah 63:8 For He said, “They are surely My people, sons who will not be disloyal.” So He became their Savior.
- Habakkuk 3:12 You marched across the earth with fury; You threshed the nations in wrath.