Bible Strands
Psalms 74:6
and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God while recounting the systematic desecration of the temple by invading forces. The speaker describes the moment of national crisis when the sanctuary was targeted for deliberate architectural destruction.
The words — The Hebrew פִּתּוּחֶיהָ (pi.tu.Chei.ha) translates literally to "its engravings" or "its open carvings," referring to the specific decorative elements. The verb יַהֲלֹמוּן (ya.ha.lo.mun) means "they struck" or "smashed," denoting the physical force applied with axes and crowbars.
The thread — The targeted carvings correspond to the sacred cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers detailed in 1 Kings 6:18, 1 Kings 6:29, and 1 Kings 6:32. The psalmist contrasts the original holy craftsmanship with the invaders' violent dismantling of those same features.
Why it lands — The text requires acknowledging that violence systematically targets intentional craftsmanship and sacred architectural details. It demands the reader confront how deliberate destruction dismantles the physical structures meant to house worship.
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
But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 6:18 The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.
- 1 Kings 6:29 Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
- 1 Kings 6:32 The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
- 1 Kings 6:35 He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.