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Psalm 83:4
“Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
2For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
3They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
4“Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
Notice
The threat reaches beyond killing to erasing Israel’s name, and the psalm records these enemies’ words as evidence of the danger facing God’s people.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your reading when you recognize these words as the enemies’ speech?
Write on thisHow does the wish to erase Israel’s name shape your prayer for peoples threatened with destruction?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Proverbs 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.Both mention human plans; Proverbs declares that the LORD’s counsel will prevail, while the psalm records a plan to destroy Israel.
Jeremiah 48:2The praise of Moab is no more. In Heshbon they have devised evil against her: ‘Come! Let’s cut her off from being a nation.’ You also, Madmen, will be brought …Both passages report a shared plan to destroy a nation, with Israel threatened in the psalm and Moab in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 11:19But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they had devised plans against me, saying, “Let’s destroy the tree with its …Both plots seek destruction and the erasure of a name from memory, targeting Israel in the psalm and Jeremiah in his account.
Psalm 74:8They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.Both psalms record enemies declaring their intent to crush a people; Psalm 74 also reports the burning of places where God was worshiped.
Esther 3:6–9But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews …The psalm’s threat against Israel and Haman’s plan against all the Jews share the aim of destroying an entire people.
Joshua 7:9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What will you do for your …Both passages speak of Israel’s name being erased, as an enemy’s stated aim in the psalm and a fear Joshua brings before God.
Psalm 21:11For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.Both psalms describe hostile plots; Psalm 21 states that the evil plan cannot succeed, while Psalm 83:4 reports the threat.
Exodus 1:10Come, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against …Both speeches urge collective action against Israel; Exodus voices fear of their growth and escape, while the psalm voices an intent to destroy.
Acts 9:1–2But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priestBoth texts describe lethal hostility toward people identified with God: Israel in the psalm and the Lord’s disciples in Acts.
Daniel 7:25He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given …Both passages describe hostility toward God’s people, with destruction threatened in the psalm and oppression of the saints described in Daniel.
Matthew 27:62–66Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,The limited shared thread is people acting together; the supplied Matthew verse records a gathering without stating its purpose.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The people marked for destruction are called God’s cherished ones in the surrounding lines. Their enemies’ intent does not erase their bond with God.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).