The enemies' proposal isn't just about defeating Israel militarily; it's a radical plan to erase their very identity, ensuring their name is forgotten forever. This highlights a deep-seated, existential hatred that aims for complete annihilation, not just subjugation.
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— the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a desperate prayer for divine intervention against a formidable coalition of nations surrounding Israel. These enemies, fueled by intense hatred, have banded together with the singular goal of eradicating Israel as a people and erasing their very name from history. The surrounding verses detail the extent of this conspiracy, emphasizing the existential threat Israel faces.
This verse is a chilling glimpse into the heart of pure malice. The enemies of Israel weren't just seeking conquest; they desired total annihilation.
The language in Psalm 83:4 is stark and intentional. "Cut them off from being a nation" and "let the name of Israel be remembered no more" points to a goal of complete eradication.
This wasn't just about taking land or defeating an army. It was a desire to erase an entire people from existence, to obliterate their identity, their history, and their future.
This level of hatred reveals a profound opposition to God's chosen people and, by extension, to God Himself. The enemies' ultimate aim was to silence any testimony of God's work in the world.
This wasn't a single enemy but a coordinated effort. Psalm 83 describes a diverse group united by one terrible purpose.
The psalm lists numerous nations (in verses 6-8) who banded together against Israel. This coalition, though perhaps not historically precise in every detail, powerfully illustrates a unified front of opposition.
What could bring together such disparate peoples? The commentary points to a potent 'cement': shared hatred for God's people. This animosity was so strong it could overcome their own differences and rivalries.
This teaches us that spiritual battles often involve a broad spectrum of forces, all arrayed against God's purposes. It's a reminder that the enemy's tactics can involve forming alliances to achieve destructive goals.
Understand the original words
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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.
’o-hă-lê · Hebrew Noun
Portable, temporary dwellings used by nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples; in a biblical context, often refers to the people groups living in them or their lifestyle.
‘am · Hebrew Noun
A group of people or nations, often implying those outside the covenant of Israel; used to denote the various peoples united against Israel in this context.
While scholars debate the exact historical moment this psalm refers to, the consistent theme is an existential threat from a coalition of nations determined to destroy Israel. The enemies' desire to 'wipe them out as a nation' reflects a deep-seated hatred not just of a people, but of the God they represent.
c. 740 BC
Syrian-Ephraimite War
The northern kingdom of Israel and Syria wage war against Judah. This conflict highlights the deep animosity and shifting alliances among the surrounding nations that frequently threatened Israel's existence.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling a significant portion of its population. This event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the Israelite kingdoms to powerful foreign empires.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, deporting members of the royal family and skilled workers to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Judean exile and a period of intense vulnerability.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This catastrophic event represents the nadir of Israelite national existence and a profound crisis of faith.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, initiating a new era for the exiles. He issues a decree allowing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. 167-160 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt breaks out against the Seleucid Empire after attempts to Hellenize Judea and defile the Temple. This period sees a coalition of surrounding nations hostile to the Jewish revival.
Unknown, likely post-exilic— this verse
Conspiracy Against Israel
A coalition of nations, deeply envious and hostile, plots to annihilate Israel, seeking to erase its very name from history. This psalm is a desperate prayer in the face of such existential threat.
This passage mirrors the same genocidal intent as Psalms 83:4, with Haman seeking to annihilate all of Esther's people, demonstrating a recurring historical pattern of enemies wanting to eradicate Israel.
Jeremiah 11:19Jeremiah describes a plot to destroy the people of Judah so they will no longer be a nation, directly echoing the goal expressed in Psalms 83:4 of wiping out Israel's national identity.
2 Kings 18:13While not a direct plot to exterminate, Sennacherib's invasion and attempt to conquer Judah shows a similar desire to subdue and diminish the nation of Israel, reflecting the external pressures faced by God's people.
Deuteronomy 32:26This verse expresses God's own words that He would 'make their memory cease from among men,' showing that the desire to obliterate a people is something God is aware of and ultimately judges.
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…
The enemies' proposal isn't just about defeating Israel militarily; it's a radical plan to erase their very identity, ensuring their name is forgotten forever. This highlights a deep-seated, existential hatred that aims for complete annihilation, not just subjugation.
This psalm is a desperate prayer for divine intervention against a formidable coalition of nations surrounding Israel. These enemies, fueled by intense hatred, have banded together with the singular goal of eradicating Israel as a people and erasing their very name from history. The surrounding verses detail the extent of this conspiracy, emphasizing the existential threat Israel faces.
This psalm is a desperate prayer for divine intervention against a formidable coalition of nations surrounding Israel. These enemies, fueled by intense hatred, have banded together with the singular goal of eradicating Israel as a people and erasing their very name from history. The surrounding verses detail the extent of this conspiracy, emphasizing the existential threat Israel faces.
"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— the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and…" — The enemies' proposal isn't just about defeating Israel militarily; it's a radical plan to erase their very identity, ensuring their name is forgotten forever. This highlights a deep-seated, existent…
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Last reviewed October 2026
