The Meaning of Psalms 83:1 Explained

Psalms 83:1

KJV: {A Song or Psalm of Asaph.} Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

YLT: A Song, -- A Psalm of Asaph. O God, let there be no silence to Thee, Be not silent, nor be quiet, O God.

Darby: {A Song; a Psalm of Asaph.} O God, keep not silence; hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God:

ASV: O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Song  [or] Psalm  of Asaph.  }} Keep not thou silence,  O God:  hold not thy peace,  and be not still,  O God. 

What does Psalms 83:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 83:1-18 - "the Most High Over All The Earth"
This psalm was composed on the occasion described in 2 Chronicles 20:1-37, where we learn that at a great crisis the Spirit of God came on Jahaziel, one of the sons of Asaph, Psalms 83:14. It was written to be sung before the battle, in anticipation of certain victory. The Levites chanted it, with a loud voice on high, as Jehoshaphat's army marched out against the great confederacy of nations, which threatened the very existence of Israel. There were strong reasons for God's interposition, for Israel's foes were God's foes also. It was His people that were the target of this crafty conspiracy. Were they not His hidden ones, Psalms 83:3? Should a hostile world pluck them from the hollow of His hand? When our life is "hid with Christ in God," we may confidently appeal for His safe-keeping.
The fate here imprecated savors of Moses rather than of Jesus Christ, Psalms 83:9-18. Our Lord's way is to seek the conversion of the heathen. At the same time it may at least be urged that Israel did not pray thus to gratify a personal vindictiveness, but that the great world of men might know God to be Jehovah. Out of the mighty convulsions that sweep across society, we know that the coming of the divine Kingdom is somehow being prepared. God can make even the wrath of man to praise Him, Psalms 76:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 83

1  A complaint to God of the enemies conspiracies
9  A prayer against those who oppress the Church

What do the individual words in Psalms 83:1 mean?

A Song a Psalm of Asaph God not do [keep] silent to not do hold Your peace and not do be still God
שִׁ֖יר מִזְמ֣וֹר לְאָסָֽף אֱלֹהִ֥ים אַל־ דֳּמִי־ לָ֑ךְ אַל־ תֶּחֱרַ֖שׁ וְאַל־ תִּשְׁקֹ֣ט אֵֽל

שִׁ֖יר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
מִזְמ֣וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְאָסָֽף  of  Asaph 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָף  
Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
אֱלֹהִ֥ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
דֳּמִי־  do  [keep]  silent 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דְּמִי 
Sense: cessation, quiet, rest, silence, pause, peacefulness.
תֶּחֱרַ֖שׁ  do  hold  Your  peace 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
וְאַל־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּשְׁקֹ֣ט  do  be  still 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁקַט  
Sense: to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed.
אֵֽל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.