Psalms 83:4-5
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's striking here is the utter annihilation they desire – not just conquest, but to "cut them off from being a nation" and erase "the name of Israel." This reveals a hatred so deep it seeks not only to destroy a people but to obliterate their very memory and identity.
This psalm is a desperate plea from the perspective of the people of Israel, who are facing an existential threat. A coalition of nations has formed a secret, aggressive alliance with the explicit goal of eradicating Israel as a people and erasing its name from history, aiming for total annihilation and conquest. The song begins by describing this dire situation and the enemies' malicious intent, setting the stage for a prayer for divine intervention.
Imagine waking up to a world where your very existence is seen as a threat. This verse reveals a chilling, ultimate goal of Israel's enemies.
In Psalm 83:4, the enemies of Israel don't just want to defeat them in battle or conquer their land. Their stated objective is far more sinister: 'to cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.'
More Than Defeat
This isn't about winning a war; it's about annihilation. They desired a complete erasure, aiming to destroy Israel as a people, a culture, and a historical entity. The goal was for Israel to disappear from the face of the earth, leaving no trace, no memory.
A Universal Threat
This deep-seated hatred wasn't unique to one group. The commentaries highlight that this desire to wipe out Israel has been a recurring theme throughout history, showing up in various conspiracies and attempts to destroy God's people.
Why would nations band together with such a ferocious desire to erase another people? This verse hints at a deep-seated, almost irrational, hatred.
The words in Psalm 83:4 reveal more than just a political or military objective; they expose the intense malice and assurance of the enemies.
Implacable Rage
Commentators note that this was an expression of 'implacable rage and malice.' The desire to wipe out a nation's name speaks to a hatred that goes beyond earthly conflict. It's a desire to extinguish something they find fundamentally threatening or offensive.
Confidence in Success
This proposal also showed their 'great assurance of success.' They were so confident in their combined strength and the righteousness of their cause (in their own minds) that they openly declared their intention to annihilate Israel and ensure they would be forgotten.
Understand the original words
goy · Hebrew Noun
A corporate political entity defined by common ancestry, law, and territory. In the context of Israel, it is the identity through which God manifests His kingdom on earth.
shem · Hebrew Noun
The historical and spiritual identity of God’s covenant people. To destroy the "name" is to attempt to erase their existence and the memory of God’s work through them from human history.
berit · Hebrew Noun
A solemn, binding agreement or treaty between parties. When made against God or His people, it represents a malicious, formal alliance designed to carry out evil intent.
Psalm 83 describes a desperate, existential threat from a coalition of nations aiming to annihilate Israel. While specific historical attributions are debated, the psalm reflects a recurring theme in Israel's history: powerful empires and neighboring peoples seeking to eradicate them as a nation and a people.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel unite to attack Judah, intending to depose King Ahaz and install their own ruler. Judah is besieged, but ultimately escapes destruction with the help of Assyria.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting a significant portion of its population and scattering them, effectively ending Israel as a unified nation.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Judah to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting elites and skilled workers to Babylon, including Daniel and his companions.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, with most of the remaining population deported to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
This verse describes Haman's plot to annihilate all of Israel, directly mirroring the sentiment expressed in Psalms 83:4 of wiping out the nation and its name.
Jeremiah 11:19Jeremiah recounts a similar plot against him and his people, where enemies conspired to destroy them and 'cut off the name of Israel from being remembered anymore,' echoing the destructive intent of Psalm 83:4.
Ezekiel 36:12God pronounces judgment on those who have made the land of Israel desolate and boast that 'the two nations shall be yours, and you shall possess their land.' This reflects the same territorial ambition and desire for Israel's eradication found in Psalm 83:4.
Luke 21:24Jesus prophesies that Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. This speaks to a recurring historical pattern of nations seeking to dominate and erase the identity of God's people, aligning with the threat in Psalms 83:4.
pulpitPsalms 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 remembrance."
Verse 4. - They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation. This was the general object of Israel's enemies at all times (2 Kings 24:2; 2 Chronicles 20:11; Psalm 138:7; 1 Macc. 3:35 1 Macc. 5:2), and thus does not help much towards determining the date of the occasion here spoken cf. That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance (comp…
clarkePsalms 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 remembrance."
Let us cut them off - Let us exterminate the whole race, that there may not be a record of them on the face of the earth. And their scheme was well laid: eight or ten different nations united themselves in a firm bond to do this; and they had kept their purpose so secret that the king of Judah does not appear to have heard of it till his territories were actua…
What's striking here is the utter annihilation they desire – not just conquest, but to "cut them off from being a nation" and erase "the name of Israel." This reveals a hatred so deep it seeks not only to destroy a people but to obliterate their very memory and identity.
This psalm is a desperate plea from the perspective of the people of Israel, who are facing an existential threat. A coalition of nations has formed a secret, aggressive alliance with the explicit goal of eradicating Israel as a people and erasing its name from history, aiming for total annihilation and conquest. The song begins by describing this dire situation and the enemies' malicious intent, setting the stage for a prayer for divine intervention.
This psalm is a desperate plea from the perspective of the people of Israel, who are facing an existential threat. A coalition of nations has formed a secret, aggressive alliance with the explicit goal of eradicating Israel as a people and erasing its name from history, aiming for total annihilation and conquest. The song begins by describing this dire situation and the enemies' malicious intent, setting the stage for a prayer for divine intervention.
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c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire. He soon issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
c. 432 BC
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The Maccabean Revolt breaks out against Seleucid rule after years of Hellenistic oppression and attempts to suppress Jewish religious practice, leading to a period of intense conflict.
"They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—" — What's striking here is the utter annihilation they desire – not just conquest, but to "cut them off from being a nation" and erase "the name of Israel." This reveals a hatred so deep it seeks not…
