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Psalms 83

BSB·18 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1O Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, be not silentדֳּמִי־do·mî- — Silence, quietness, cessation, or restH1824 — Full Word Study →; be not speechlessתֶּחֱרַ֖שׁte·ḥĕ·raš — to engrave, plow, devise, or keep silentH2790 — Full Word Study →; be not stillתִּשְׁקֹ֣טtiš·qōṭ — to rest, be quiet, or settle in peaceH8252 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֵֽל׃’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →. 2Seeהִנֵּ֣הhin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → howכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Your enemiesא֭וֹיְבֶיךָ’ō·wy·ḇe·ḵā — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → rageיֶהֱמָי֑וּןye·hĕ·mā·yūn — to roar, murmur, or sound with tumultH1993 — Full Word Study →, how Your foesוּ֝מְשַׂנְאֶ֗יךָū·mə·śan·’e·ḵā — to hate, despise, regard with hostilityH8130 — Full Word Study → have rearedנָ֣שְׂאוּnā·śə·’ū — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → their headsרֹֽאשׁ׃rōš — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study →. 3With cunningיַעֲרִ֣ימוּya·‘ă·rî·mū — to be shrewd, prudent, or craftyH6191 — Full Word Study → they schemeס֑וֹדsō·wḏ — Secret counsel, intimate advice, private gatheringH5475 — Full Word Study → againstעַֽל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Your peopleעַ֭מְּךָ‘am·mə·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → and conspireוְ֝יִתְיָעֲצ֗וּwə·yiṯ·yā·‘ă·ṣū — to advise, counsel, or devise a planH3289 — Full Word Study → againstעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → those You cherishצְפוּנֶֽיךָ׃ṣə·p̄ū·ne·ḵā — to hide, conceal, treasure up, or keep secretH6845 — Full Word Study →, 4sayingאָמְר֗וּ’ā·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Comeלְ֭כוּlə·ḵū — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, let us erase themוְנַכְחִידֵ֣םwə·naḵ·ḥî·ḏêm — to hide, conceal, or be hiddenH3582 — Full Word Study → as a nationמִגּ֑וֹיmig·gō·w — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →; may the nameשֵֽׁם־šêm- — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → be rememberedיִזָּכֵ֖רyiz·zā·ḵêr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → noוְלֹֽא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → moreעֽוֹד׃‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study →.” 5Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → with one mindלֵ֣בlêḇ — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → they plotנוֹעֲצ֣וּnō·w·‘ă·ṣū — to advise, counsel, or devise a planH3289 — Full Word Study → togetherיַחְדָּ֑וyaḥ·dāw — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study →, they formיִכְרֹֽתוּ׃yiḵ·rō·ṯū — To cut; to make a covenantH3772 — Full Word Study → an allianceבְּרִ֣יתbə·rîṯ — A binding agreement or covenant between partiesH1285 — Full Word Study → against Youעָ֝לֶ֗יךָ‘ā·le·ḵā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → 6the tentsאָהֳלֵ֣י’ā·ho·lê — A tent; portable dwelling placeH168 — Full Word Study → of Edomאֱ֭דוֹם’ĕ·ḏō·wm — Red, EdomH123 — Full Word Study → and the Ishmaelitesוְיִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗יםwə·yiš·mə·‘ê·lîm — Descendant of IshmaelH3459 — Full Word Study →, of Moabמוֹאָ֥בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → and the Hagritesוְהַגְרִֽים׃wə·haḡ·rîm — Father of MibharH1905 — Full Word Study →, 7of Gebal, Ammonוְ֭עַמּוֹןwə·‘am·mō·wn — Ammon or AmmonitesH5983 — Full Word Study →, and Amalekוַעֲמָלֵ֑קwa·‘ă·mā·lêq — Amalek the EnemyH6002 — Full Word Study →, of Philistia withעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → the peopleיֹ֥שְׁבֵיyō·šə·ḇê — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → of Tyreצֽוֹר׃ṣō·wr — TyreH6865 — Full Word Study →. 8Evenגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → Assyriaאַ֭שּׁוּר’aš·šūr — Assyria, ancient empireH804 — Full Word Study → has joinedנִלְוָ֣הnil·wāh — To join, unite, or borrow; to cleave togetherH3867 — Full Word Study → themעִמָּ֑ם‘im·mām — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study →, lendingהָ֤י֥וּhā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → strengthזְר֖וֹעַzə·rō·w·a‘ — arm; power, strength, mightH2220 — Full Word Study → to the sonsלִבְנֵי־liḇ·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Lotל֣וֹטlō·wṭ — Covered, hiddenH3876 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 9Doעֲשֵֽׂה־‘ă·śêh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → to them as You did to Midianכְּמִדְיָ֑ןkə·miḏ·yān — Desert region and peopleH4080 — Full Word Study →, as to Siseraכְּֽסִֽיסְרָ֥אkə·sî·sə·rā — His horse or horsemanH5516 — Full Word Study → and Jabinכְ֝יָבִ֗יןḵə·yā·ḇîn — God understandsH2985 — Full Word Study → at the Riverבְּנַ֣חַלbə·na·ḥal — A stream or winter torrent; a narrow valleyH5158 — Full Word Study → Kishonקִישֽׁוֹן׃qî·šō·wn — A river in northern IsraelH7028 — Full Word Study →, 10who perishedנִשְׁמְד֥וּniš·mə·ḏū — to destroy utterly, annihilate, or lay wasteH8045 — Full Word Study → at Endorדֹּ֑ארdōr — En-dor, a town in northern IsraelH5874 — Full Word Study → and becameהָ֥יוּhā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → like dung on the groundלָאֲדָמָֽה׃lā·’ă·ḏā·māh — Land, soil, ground, earthH127 — Full Word Study →. 11Makeשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹšî·ṯê·mōw — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → their noblesנְ֭דִיבֵמוֹnə·ḏî·ḇê·mōw — Noble, willing, generous person or heartH5081 — Full Word Study → like Orebכְּעֹרֵ֣בkə·‘ō·rêḇ — RavenH6159 — Full Word Study → and Zeebוְכִזְאֵ֑בwə·ḵiz·’êḇ — wolfH2062 — Full Word Study →, and allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → their princesנְסִיכֵֽמוֹ׃nə·sî·ḵê·mōw — libation; molten idol; anointed rulerH5257 — Full Word Study → like Zebahוּֽכְזֶ֥בַחū·ḵə·ze·ḇaḥ — Sacrifice, offeringH2078 — Full Word Study → and Zalmunnaוּ֝כְצַלְמֻנָּ֗עū·ḵə·ṣal·mun·nā‘ — Shadow of DarknessH6759 — Full Word Study →, 12whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → saidאָ֭מְרוּ’ā·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Let us possessנִ֣ירֲשָׁהnî·ră·šāh — to possess, inherit, dispossessH3423 — Full Word Study → for ourselves the pasturesנְא֣וֹתnə·’ō·wṯ — Pleasant dwelling place, habitation, or pastureH4999 — Full Word Study → of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →.” 13Make themשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹšî·ṯê·mōw — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → like tumbleweedכַגַּלְגַּ֑לḵag·gal·gal — wheel; circular object or cycleH1534 — Full Word Study →, O my Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהַ֗י’ĕlō·hay — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, like chaffכְּ֝קַ֗שׁkə·qaš — Stubble; remnant of grain stalksH7179 — Full Word Study → beforeלִפְנֵי־lip̄·nê- — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the windרֽוּחַ׃rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. 14As fireכְּאֵ֥שׁkə·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → consumesתִּבְעַר־tiḇ·‘ar- — to burn, consume, or act brutishlyH1197 — Full Word Study → a forestיָ֑עַרyā·‘ar — Forest; woodland; honeycombH3293 — Full Word Study →, as a flameוּ֝כְלֶהָבָ֗הū·ḵə·le·hā·ḇāh — A flame or blaze of fireH3852 — Full Word Study → setsתְּלַהֵ֥טtə·la·hêṭ — To kindle, ignite, or burn intenselyH3857 — Full Word Study → the mountains ablaze, 15soכֵּ֭ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → pursue themתִּרְדְּפֵ֣םtir·də·p̄êm — to pursue, chase, or persecuteH7291 — Full Word Study → with Your tempestבְּסַעֲרֶ֑ךָbə·sa·‘ă·re·ḵā — A violent storm, tempest, or whirlwindH5591 — Full Word Study →, and terrify themתְבַהֲלֵֽם׃ṯə·ḇa·hă·lêm — to alarm, hasten, or act in hasteH926 — Full Word Study → with Your stormוּבְסוּפָתְךָ֥ū·ḇə·sū·p̄ā·ṯə·ḵā — storm, whirlwind, tempest, or hurricaneH5492 — Full Word Study →. 16Coverמַלֵּ֣אmal·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → their facesפְנֵיהֶ֣םp̄ə·nê·hem — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → with shameקָל֑וֹןqā·lō·wn — Shame, dishonor, or disgraceH7036 — Full Word Study →, that they may seekוִֽיבַקְשׁ֖וּwî·ḇaq·šū — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → Your nameשִׁמְךָ֣šim·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. 17May they be ever ashamedיֵבֹ֖שׁוּyê·ḇō·šū — to be ashamed; to feel shame or disgraceH954 — Full Word Study → and terrifiedוְיִבָּהֲל֥וּwə·yib·bā·hă·lū — to alarm, hasten, or act in hasteH926 — Full Word Study →; may they perishוְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃wə·yō·ḇê·ḏū — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study → in disgraceוְֽיַחְפְּר֥וּwə·yaḥ·pə·rū — to be ashamed, brought to shameH2659 — Full Word Study →. 18May they knowוְֽיֵדְע֗וּwə·yê·ḏə·‘ū — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Youאַתָּ֬ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → aloneלְבַדֶּ֑ךָlə·ḇad·de·ḵā — alone, apart, or bar/poleH905 — Full Word Study →, whose nameשִׁמְךָ֣šim·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → is the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, are Most Highעֶ֝לְי֗וֹן‘el·yō·wn — Most High, elevated, supremeH5945 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 83
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Chapter Overview

Psalm 83 is a passionate cry for God's intervention against a confederation of nations united in their desire to destroy Israel and erase her name from history. This imprecatory psalm (a psalm of judgment) records both the threat posed by Israel's enemies and the psalmist's plea for God to act decisively in defense of His people. Rather than expressing mere personal vengeance, this psalm emphasizes God's honor and His covenant faithfulness to Israel, calling upon Him to vindicate His name and demonstrate His sovereignty over all the earth.

Verses 1–5: The Urgent Plea and the Enemy's Conspiracy

The psalm opens with an urgent, almost anguished appeal: "Keep not thou silence, O God" (verse 1). The psalmist is not complaining that God is inactive in some ultimate sense, but rather crying out for Him to reveal His power openly in response to a clear and present threat. Verses 2–5 describe the seriousness of the danger: the enemies are making a tumult, lifting up their heads in pride, and taking crafty counsel specifically "against thy people" (verse 3). Most chillingly, their explicit goal is stated in verse 4: "let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." This is genocide motivated by hatred for God Himself. The conspirators have united "with one consent" and formed a confederation against thee (verse 5)—their ultimate rebellion is against God's authority and His chosen people.

Devotional note: When we face opposition for our faith, we can bring our urgent concerns directly to God, as the psalmist does, without pretense or restraint.

Verses 6–12: The Alliance of Enemies

Verses 6–8 catalog the nations arrayed against Israel: Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, the Philistines, Tyre, and Assyria. Many of these were ancient neighbors with long histories of hostility toward Israel. The diversity of this list suggests that hatred for God's people could unite even unlikely partners. Verse 8 includes the phrase "they have holpen the children of Lot" (referring to Moab and Ammon), emphasizing the breadth of the conspiracy. Verses 11–12 deepen the theological dimension: the enemies seek not merely political conquest but to "take to ourselves the houses of God in possession"—they aim to desecrate and seize the very temples and sanctuaries of Israel's worship.

Devotional note: Opposition to God's kingdom often springs from a desire to displace Him and seize His honor for ourselves or our idols.

Verses 13–18: The Prayer for Divine Judgment and Vindication

The final section shifts to the psalmist's petition for judgment. Verses 13–15 employ vivid imagery: make the enemies "like a wheel" (scattered and purposeless), "as the stubble before the wind," and pursue them with God's tempest and storm—language recalling God's historical deliverances. Verse 16 introduces a redemptive note: "Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD." Even in judgment, there is a hope that enemies might turn and seek God's name. Verses 17–18 conclude with the ultimate purpose: "that men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." The judgment serves not personal revenge but the vindication of God's character and supremacy.

Devotional note: God's judgment against evil ultimately serves to reveal His holiness and majesty to all creation.

Application for Today

Though we do not face the same geopolitical threats as ancient Israel, believers today face spiritual opposition and a culture increasingly hostile to biblical truth. Psalm 83 teaches us to bring our deepest concerns to God without restraint, to trust in His ultimate sovereignty, and to remember that His primary concern is not our comfort but the vindication of His holy name. We can pray boldly for God to act, while also praying—as verse 16 hints—that even our adversaries might ultimately come to know and honor the Lord.

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