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Psalms 83

Psalms 83

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 · 18

Psalms 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” By verse 3, the text has turned to “They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.” It lands on “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as consulted, confederate, consent, counsel, crafty, Edom tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Come, Edom, Hagarenes, Ishmaelites, Israel. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 3: “They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: consulted, confederate, consent, counsel, crafty, Edom

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 83:1

    “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.

  2. Psalms 83:2

    “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  3. Psalms 83:3

    “They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.” The line’s distinctive content terms include consulted, counsel, crafty. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

  4. Psalms 83:4

    “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  5. Psalms 83:5

    “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  6. Psalms 83:6

    “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;” Naming Edom and Hagarenes 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 Version

1Keep 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;” By verse 9, the text has turned to “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:” It lands on “Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as Amalek, Ammon, Assur, became, brook, children tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Amalek, Ammon, Assur, Endor, Gebal, God. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 9: “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: Amalek, Ammon, Assur, became, brook, children

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 83:7

    “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.

  2. Psalms 83:8

    “Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.” Naming Assur and Lot keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  3. Psalms 83:9

    “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:” Naming Jabin and Kison keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. Psalms 83:10

    “Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.” Naming Endor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Psalms 83:11

    “Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:” Naming Make and Oreb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  6. Psalms 83:12

    “Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Psalms 83:7-12

King James Version

7Gebal, 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.” By verse 15, the text has turned to “So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.” It lands on “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH , art the most high over all the…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as fire, name, shame, afraid, burneth, confounded tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Fill, God. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 15: “So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: fire, name, shame, afraid, burneth, confounded

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 83:13

    “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.

  2. Psalms 83:14

    “As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;” The line’s distinctive content terms include fire, burneth, flame. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Psalms 83:15

    “So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  4. Psalms 83:16

    “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD .” Naming Fill keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Psalms 83:17

    “Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:” The line’s distinctive content terms include confounded, perish, shame. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

  6. Psalms 83:18

    “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH , art the most high over all the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, high, JEHOVAH. Its relationship to verses 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

Psalms 83:13-18

King James Version

13O 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.

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
  2. Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
  3. Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.

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.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 83?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Psalms 83 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 83:1–18 completes a passage that was not covered by the original study-unit map. Its own wording and immediate context supply the focus.?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?