like men wielding axesThis phrase evokes imagery of destruction and violence, suggesting a forceful and deliberate action. In biblical times, axes were common tools for both construction and destruction, symbolizing power and authority. The use of axes in this context may allude to the Babylonians or other invading forces who destroyed the temple, as described in
2 Kings 25:9. The imagery of wielding axes can also be seen as a metaphor for judgment, as in
Jeremiah 46:22, where the sound of an army is likened to the cutting down of a forest.
in a thicket of trees
The thicket of trees represents a dense and tangled area, symbolizing complexity and perhaps the perceived strength of the temple or the people of Israel. In ancient Near Eastern culture, forests and thickets were often seen as places of mystery and danger, sometimes associated with the dwelling places of deities or spirits. The destruction of such a thicket could symbolize the breaking down of barriers or the removal of protection. This imagery may also connect toIsaiah 10:34, where the Lord is described as cutting down the thickets of the forest with an axe, symbolizing divine judgment and the clearing away of obstacles.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
AsaphTraditionally attributed as the author of
Psalm 74, Asaph was a Levite and one of the leaders of David's choir. He is known for his role in temple worship and his contributions to the Psalms.
2.
The TempleThe context of
Psalm 74 suggests the destruction or desecration of the temple, a central place of worship for the Israelites, symbolizing God's presence among His people.
3.
Babylonian InvasionWhile not explicitly mentioned in the verse, the historical backdrop of the psalm is often associated with the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC.
4.
Enemies of IsraelThe psalm speaks of those who have come against God's people, often interpreted as foreign invaders who have defiled the holy places.
5.
Axes and ThicketsSymbolic imagery used to describe the destruction and desecration of sacred spaces, likening the invaders to woodsmen cutting down trees.
Teaching Points
Understanding LamentRecognize the importance of lament in the life of faith. It is a biblical way to express grief and seek God's intervention in times of distress.
The Reality of Spiritual WarfareAcknowledge that spiritual battles are real and can manifest in physical and emotional challenges. The imagery of axes and thickets reminds us of the destructive power of sin and evil.
God's Sovereignty Amidst DestructionTrust in God's ultimate control and plan, even when circumstances seem dire. The psalmist's lament is rooted in a deep faith that God will eventually restore and redeem.
Preserving Sacred SpacesReflect on the importance of maintaining the sanctity of our places of worship and our hearts as temples of the Holy Spirit.
Hope in RestorationHold onto the hope of restoration and renewal, as God has promised to rebuild and restore what has been broken.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Psalm 74:5?
2.How does Psalm 74:5 illustrate the destruction of sacred places today?
3.What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Psalm 74:5's imagery?
4.How does Psalm 74:5 connect to the theme of spiritual warfare in Ephesians?
5.How can we apply the lessons of Psalm 74:5 to modern church challenges?
6.What actions can believers take when facing spiritual "axes" in their lives?
7.What historical context surrounds Psalm 74:5 and its depiction of destruction?
8.How does Psalm 74:5 reflect the theme of divine abandonment?
9.What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Psalm 74?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 74?
11.Is there any archeological or historical data to validate the specific conflicts described in Psalm 140, or are these events unsubstantiated?
12.In Psalm 74:9, the claim of having no prophet conflicts with other biblical texts that record active prophets around that era--how can both accounts be true?
13.Psalm 74:6-7 describes enemies hacking at woodwork and burning the temple; are there archaeological findings that confirm such extensive destruction?
14.How can the concept of inherited sin be considered just?What Does Psalm 74:5 Mean
setting the scene“ They were like men wielding axes, to hack through a thicket of trees.” (Psalm 74:5)
The psalmist is describing what happened when foreign invaders stormed Jerusalem and desecrated the sanctuary. Earlier verses (Psalm 74:3–4) mention enemies roaring in God’s meeting place, setting up their own emblems, and then our verse zooms in on the sound and sight of relentless destruction. The picture is vivid, matching2 Kings 25:9–10 and2 Chronicles 36:18–19 where Babylon’s troops burned and broke every sacred article they could reach.
like men• The comparison stresses ordinariness: ordinary soldiers, not divine beings, shattering holy things.
• Yet these “men” seem unstoppable for the moment, echoingHabakkuk 1:6–11 where God allows the Chaldeans to march in unchecked.
• The psalmist’s choice to call them merely “men” reminds us ofPsalm 9:20—“Let the nations know they are but men”—hinting that their triumph will be short-lived under God’s ultimate rule.
wielding axes• Axes are tools of forceful penetration. InIsaiah 10:15 the Assyrian king is likened to an axe in God’s hand; here the invaders grip their own axes, exercising brutal strength.
• The temple’s cedar beams (1 Kings 6:9–10) and carved panels (1 Kings 6:18) become targets. Verses 6–7 confirm they “smashed all the carved paneling… and set Your sanctuary on fire,” parallelingJeremiah 52:13.
• The axe also calls to mindDeuteronomy 19:5, where a woodcutter’s accidental swing shows blunt force without finesse—exactly how the marauders treated what was holy.
to hack through a thicket of trees• A “thicket” suggests dense, tangled growth; likewise, the temple’s ornate woodwork appeared as layered artistry. The invaders saw no beauty, only obstacles to chop down.
• The line evokes brutal efficiency: no pause for reverence, just repeated blows until every barrier yields.Ezekiel 24:21 foretold such desecration: “I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power.”
• The imagery also carries a warning to anyone who hardens his heart;Hebrews 3:12–13 reminds believers not to let sin thicken into a hardened mass that invites judgment.
why it mattered then• The destruction fulfilled covenant warnings likeLeviticus 26:31–33: if Israel persisted in rebellion God would “lay waste” their sanctuaries.
• It publicly humiliated Israel, tempting onlookers to scoff at the living God (Psalm 79:10).
• Yet God’s sovereignty remains intact;Isaiah 44:28 had already named Cyrus, who would later authorize the rebuilding (Ezra 1:1–4).
why it matters now• Sacred spaces can be violated, but God Himself is never overthrown (Psalm 46:1–3).
• The church is called God’s temple today (1 Corinthians 3:16–17). Attacks may come—whether cultural, ideological, or physical—but Christ promises “the gates of Hades will not prevail” (Matthew 16:18).
• Personal faith can feel hacked by suffering; yetRomans 8:37 assures us we are “more than conquerors” through Him who loves us.
• The verse prompts vigilance:Ephesians 6:10–17 urges believers to take up spiritual armor, not axes, because our battle is fought on different terms.
summaryPsalm 74:5 paints a shocking close-up of enemies chopping through God’s sanctuary as casually as lumberjacks clearing brush. It underscores human arrogance, divine judgment, and the stark reality that even the most beautiful earthly symbols can be shattered when a nation ignores God. Yet the very ordinariness of the attackers (“men”) hints that the Almighty remains supreme, able to rescue, rebuild, and restore His dwelling among His people.
(5) The Authorised Version, with the ancient versions, has entirely mistaken the meaning of this verse, though, unlike the LXX. and Vulgate, it has the merit of being intelligible. Literally the words run,
he(or
it)
is known like one causing to come in on high against the thicket of trees axes,which is generally understood,
it seems as if men were lifting up axes against a thicket of trees.The ruthless destroyers go to work like woodcutters in a forest--the carved pillars are no more than so many trees to fell. But though this is intelligible, it does not read like Hebrew, and the contrast apparently intended between the
signsof the heathen and the
signsof Israel in
Psalm 74:9 is not preserved. If, with the LXX., we read the verb in the plural,
are knowninstead of
is known,and supply the subject from the last clause, we get this contrast clearly brought out:
"They have set up their idols as signs,
They (these signs) are known in the lifting up on high."
"These visible idols are easily seen and recognised as soon as set up, but (Psalm 74:9) we see not our signs."
According as . . .--We have now, as so frequently, to supply the sign of comparison, and this clause with the next verse runs plainly enough--
"As in a thicket of trees with axes,
So now they break down all the carved work thereof with
axes and hammers." . . .
Verse 5. -
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees; rather,
they seemed as men that plied aloft hatchets in a thicket of trees (so Kay, Canon Cook, Professor Cheyne, and the Revised Version);
i.e. they plied their hatchets with as little reverence as if they had been hewing timber in a copse of wood.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
like menיִ֭וָּדַע(yiw·wā·ḏa‘)Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045:To knowwieldingכְּמֵבִ֣יא(kə·mê·ḇî)Preposition-k | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goaxes,קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת׃(qar·dum·mō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7134:An axein a thicketבִּֽסֲבָךְ־(bi·să·ḇāḵ-)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5442:A thicketof trees,עֵ֝֗ץ(‘êṣ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086:Tree, trees, wood
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OT Poetry: Psalm 74:5 They behaved like men wielding axes cutting (Psalm Ps Psa.) 
