who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chilling phrase "became dung for the ground" isn't just a graphic image of death; it signifies a fate so dishonorable that their bodies were left unburied and trampled into the very earth, a profound insult to their memory and a sign of complete defeat. This wasn't just about losing a battle, but about an utter erasure and desecration that served as a stark warning.
who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse draws on the memory of past divine victories against Israel's enemies, specifically referencing the defeats of the Midianites and the forces of King Jabin and his general Sisera near Endor. The Psalmist is asking God to act similarly against present oppressors, recalling how those ancient armies were utterly routed and left unburied to rot on the ground, a fate considered a great dishonor.
How does recalling past triumphs against God's enemies impact present faith?
This verse throws us back into ancient history, referencing the devastating defeat of enemies like the Midianites and the forces of Jabin and Sisera. The psalmist isn't just recounting facts; he's reminding us that God has a history of powerful intervention.
A Pattern of Deliverance
When the psalmist mentions "En-dor" and the enemies becoming "dung for the ground," he's pointing to specific historical moments where God utterly routed His people's oppressors. These weren't just minor skirmishes; they were decisive victories that demonstrated God's might and faithfulness. By invoking these past events, the psalmist is building a case for God's continued power and willingness to act on behalf of His people.
What does it mean for enemies to become 'dung for the ground'?
The phrase 'became dung for the ground' is a stark and powerful image of complete disgrace and annihilation. It signifies that the defeated enemies were not even afforded the dignity of a proper burial.
Utter Contempt and Desecration
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Understand the original words
šā-maḏ · Hebrew Verb
To bring to nothing, to annihilate, or to ruin; used in reference to God’s judgment upon the wicked or enemies of His people.
dō-men · Hebrew Noun
Refuse or excrement; used here metaphorically to describe the complete humiliation, worthlessness, and ignominious end of those who opposed God.
This verse vividly recalls past victories where God utterly destroyed Israel's enemies, leaving them as refuse on the land. It's a powerful reminder that God has historically intervened to save His people, setting a precedent for the psalmists' plea for present deliverance.
c. 1100 BC
Gideon's Victory over Midianites
Gideon, with a vastly outnumbered force of 300 men, miraculously defeats the Midianite army. The defeated Midianites flee and are further routed and killed by Israelites in pursuit.
c. 1100 BC
Defeat of Jabin and Sisera
The Canaanite king Jabin and his general Sisera oppress Israel. They are eventually defeated by the Israelite army led by Barak and Deborah, with Sisera killed by Jael.
~1100 BC— this verse
Midianites and Canaanites become 'Dung'
The enemies of Israel, specifically the Midianites and the forces of Jabin and Sisera, are utterly destroyed and left unburied, becoming like dung on the land.
c. 9th century BC
Elisha and the Witch of Endor
The prophet Elisha is associated with the region of Endor, near where the significant battles of Gideon and Deborah took place.
This passage directly describes the defeat of the Midianites, referencing the capture of their princes and the subsequent destruction of their army, echoing the fate mentioned in Psalms 83:10.
2 Kings 9:37This verse vividly describes Jezebel's body being left as dung upon the field, a powerful parallel to the dehumanizing and utter destruction of God's enemies illustrated in Psalms 83:10.
Jeremiah 8:2The prophet Jeremiah uses the same imagery of bodies becoming dung upon the earth to describe the fate of those who reject God, reinforcing the severe consequence of opposition to divine will seen in the psalm.
Judges 5:20While not naming Endor, Deborah's song recounts the battle near the Kishon river where Sisera and Jabin's forces were defeated, aligning with the historical context of enemies perishing near the mentioned location in the psalm.
clarkePsalms 83:10: "Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth."
Perished at En-dor - This refers to the defeat of the Midianites by Gideon, who were encamped in the valley of Jezreel, at the foot of Mount Gilboa, and near to Tabor, Judges 6:33 ; Judges 7:1 , and consequently in the environs of En-dor. There Gideon attacked and defeated them; and, in various places during their flight, they were destroyed, and left to rot upon the earth. Judges 7:22-25 .
cambridgePsalms 83:10: "Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth."
10 . En-dor is not mentioned in the narrative of Judges, but it was situated in the same valley as Taanach and Megiddo, which are named in Jdg 5:19 , and is mentioned along with them in Joshua 17:11 . as dung ] Omit as . A contemptuous expression for the fate of un-buried corpses. Cp 2 Kings 9:37 ; Jeremiah 8:2 ; &c.
The chilling phrase "became dung for the ground" isn't just a graphic image of death; it signifies a fate so dishonorable that their bodies were left unburied and trampled into the very earth, a profound insult to their memory and a sign of complete defeat. This wasn't just about losing a battle, but about an utter erasure and desecration that served as a stark warning.
This verse draws on the memory of past divine victories against Israel's enemies, specifically referencing the defeats of the Midianites and the forces of King Jabin and his general Sisera near Endor. The Psalmist is asking God to act similarly against present oppressors, recalling how those ancient armies were utterly routed and left unburied to rot on the ground, a fate considered a great dishonor.
This verse draws on the memory of past divine victories against Israel's enemies, specifically referencing the defeats of the Midianites and the forces of King Jabin and his general Sisera near Endor. The Psalmist is asking God to act similarly against present oppressors, recalling how those ancient armies were utterly routed and left unburied to rot on the ground, a fate considered a great dishonor.
"who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground." — The chilling phrase "became dung for the ground" isn't just a graphic image of death; it signifies a fate so dishonorable that their bodies were left unburied and trampled into the very earth, a prof…
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Last reviewed October 2026