The big picture
Psalms 83 opens in verse 1 with “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:”, and closes in verse 18 with “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH , art the most high over all…” Repeated or prominent terms include name, consulted, earth, fire, shame. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 18Psalms 83:1-6
1–6: Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O…
Psalms 83:1–6 opens with “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” and reaches “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by consulted, confederate, consent.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” Naming Keep keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 83:1-6
King James Version1Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
Psalms 83:7-12
7–12: Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of…
Psalms 83:7–12 opens with “Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;” and reaches “Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Amalek, Ammon, Assur.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;” Naming Amalek and Ammon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 83:7-12
King James Version7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
Psalms 83:13-18
13–18: O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
Psalms 83:13–18 opens with “O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.” and reaches “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH , art the most high over all the earth.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by fire, name, shame.
Context that brings the passage to life
“O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Psalms 83:13-18
King James Version13O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD .
17Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH , art the most high over all the earth.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 83:1 begins with “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 83:9 forms a natural hinge: “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:”
The final note
Psalms 83:18 leaves the reader with “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH , art the most high over all the earth.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words name, consulted, earth, fire, shame, afraid help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.