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Psalm 83 Bible study: God, don't keep silent
Psalm 83 asks God not to be quiet three ways in one line, with three Hebrew words (83:1). Its enemies want "the name of Israel" remembered no more (83:4), and it prays against them with the stories of Judges (83:9-11). But it ends asking that they "seek your name" (83:16) and know the one "whose name is the LORD" (83:18): name, shem, three times.
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“that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.”
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“Psalm 83 asks that its enemies may seek the LORD's name.”
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What's really going on
"God, don't keep silent"
The title is "A song. A Psalm by Asaph." (83:1). Then the psalm's first line asks God, three ways, not to be quiet: "God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, and don’t be still, God" (83:1) (tap silent, still). Here is what almost everyone misses: the three are three different Hebrew words. The first keep silent is domi, a word the Psalms have only here; the second is the verb charash, the silent of "Our God comes, and does not keep silent" (Psalm 50:3), and the chapter on Psalm 28 sets side by side the five psalms that pray it this way (Psalm 28:1, 35:22, 39:12, 83:1, 109:1); and be still is shaqat. Then the psalm gives its reason, and whose enemies they are: "For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads" (83:2). The psalm calls them God's enemies, and those who hate him.
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Psalm 83
- The title says "A song. A Psalm by Asaph." (83:1). Who was Asaph, and when was this psalm written?
- The psalm names Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Tyre, Assyria and others (83:6-8). When did they all come against Israel, and who are they today?
- "Make them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind" (83:13), and "let them be confounded and perish" (83:17). How can a psalm pray that?
That was a taste
The rest of Psalm 83 is waiting in Favor
- "They form an alliance against you"
- "Do to them as you did to Midian"
- "That they may seek your name"
- Midian, Sisera and Jabin, in Judges
- "That they may know"
- 8 questions as you read
- 12 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Psalm 83 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
שֵׁםshemsay SHEM
Brown-Driver-Briggs: "name". Strong's: "an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality". The psalm has it three times. The enemies say, "let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more" (83:4), where remembered is zakhar. The psalm asks, "Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, LORD" (83:16). And it ends, "that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth" (83:18). In 83:16 and 83:18 the Hebrew is the same word, shimkha, your name. Another psalm titled for Asaph begins, "In Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel" (Psalm 76:1), where known and name are the Hebrew words of 83:18's know and name.
For your group
Psalm 83 Bible study questions
- 1The psalm opens, "God, don’t keep silent" (83:1). When has God seemed silent to you, and what did you say to him then?
- 2The psalm tells God that the plotting is against "your people" and "your cherished ones" (83:3), and "against you" (83:5). What changes when you bring a trouble to God as his, and not only yours?
- 3The psalm asks that those against God's people "may seek your name, LORD" (83:16). Is there someone you find hard to pray for? What could you ask God for them this week?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Psalm 83 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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Your first week is free. After that it's $10 a month per person, the same for everyone, including groups and churches. There are no tiers and nothing extra to unlock.
Can I read Psalm 83 straight away?
Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Psalm 83 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
Is Favor tied to a church?
No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home