Psalms Chapter 74 verse 5 Holy Bible
They seemed as men that lifted up Axes upon a thicket of trees.
read chapter 74 in ASV
They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees.
read chapter 74 in BBE
[A man] was known as he could lift up axes in the thicket of trees;
read chapter 74 in DARBY
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
read chapter 74 in KJV
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
read chapter 74 in WBT
They behaved like men wielding axes, Cutting through a thicket of trees.
read chapter 74 in WEB
He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood -- axes.
read chapter 74 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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 signs of the heathen and the signs of Israel in Psalm 74:9 is not preserved. If, with the LXX., we read the verb in the plural, are known instead 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 withaxes and hammers." . . .
