Psalms 74:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist recalls God's power displayed in the exodus, when He parted the sea and defeated the Egyptian forces.
The Context of Psalms 74:13
Recalling the exodus: God's power over natural forces and enemies.
What Does Psalms 74:13 Mean?
This verse draws explicitly on the exodus narrative, Israel's foundational story of divine deliverance. 'Divide the sea by thy strength' recalls the parting of the Red Sea—an act of power that defied natural law. The phrase 'brake the heads of dragons in the waters' uses mythological language (dragons, leviathan) to describe the destruction of Egypt's military forces. This is God's power manifested in history, not in abstract theology.
By invoking this memory, the psalmist establishes a pattern: God has shown such power before. If God could perform such miracles for Israel once, why not again? The historical reality of the exodus becomes the basis for hope in the present crisis. The psalmist is not asking God to do something new, but to repeat what He has already proven capable of doing.
Psalms 74:13 in the Original Language
tannin (תַּנִּין), 'dragons' — often used metaphorically for great powers or forces of chaos, here representing Egypt's military might.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 74:13
What does Psalms 74:13 mean?
The psalmist recalls God's power displayed in the exodus, when He parted the sea and defeated the Egyptian forces.
What is the context of Psalms 74:13?
Recalling the exodus: God's power over natural forces and enemies.