Psalm 83:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.

NIV: See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.

NASB: For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves.

CSB: See how your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have acted arrogantly.

NLT: Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies? Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up?

KJV: For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

NKJV: For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head.

This begins an explanation of why Asaph prays for God's intervention (Psalm 83:1). The enemies of God—who hate and want to eliminate Israel—are becoming louder. The reference to an "uproar" could be compared to the sound of crashing ocean waves. Those who surrounded Israel were making threatening, loud indications of their evil intent.

That God's enemies are in some state of agitation reflects the description of end-times nations which revolt against God. Psalm 2:1 describes them as raging. They raise their angry voices against God and against His Anointed (Psalm 2:2).

Symbolically, a person bows their head to show reverence, penitence, or humility. In contrast, a person who defiantly raises their head, or refuses to bow it, demonstrates pride, self-confidence, insolence, and defiance of God. God's enemies in Asaph's day were defying God as they were ready to launch an attack on Israel (Psalm 83:3–5). This includes a long list of enemy nations (Psalm 83:6–8).

Psalm 83:1–8 forms the first half of Asaph's psalm. He urges God to act against Israel's enemies, who plan to wipe Israel from the face of the earth. These aggressors deliberately plan their assault; they agree about annihilating God's people. Asaph lists ten groups, which include many of Israel's historic enemies.

Asaph prays for God to intervene in a conspiracy. Many nations cooperate to erase Israel and her legacy. He asks the Lord for protection, asking Him to repeat the harsh judgments brought on pagan nations in the past. Asaph extends this by asking God to bring destruction, ruin, and humiliation on these opponents. Despite this, Asaph recognizes that the proper goal is for these nations to recognize that God alone is Most High. This is one of several "imprecatory" psalms such as Psalm 5, 10, 17, 109, and 137, which request God to deliver severe harm on some enemy.

This is the last psalm identified with Asaph. It is one of the imprecatory psalms which call for harsh judgment from God. Other such psalms include 5, 10, 35, 109, and 137. The psalm is not explicitly connected to a historical event. It may refer to the attack on Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20). Others see this as a general reference to the Gentile world's relentless attacks on Israel. Still others interpret this as a prophecy about a large-scale attack set to occur in the end times.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 5/3/2024 12:30:04 AM