The Meaning of Psalms 83:3 Explained

Psalms 83:3

KJV: They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

YLT: Against Thy people they take crafty counsel, And consult against Thy hidden ones.

Darby: They take crafty counsel against thy people, and consult against thy hidden ones:

ASV: Thy take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They have taken crafty  counsel  against thy people,  and consulted  against thy hidden ones. 

What does Psalms 83:3 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 83:3 mean?

Against Your people they have taken crafty counsel and consulted together against Your sheltered ones
עַֽל־ עַ֭מְּךָ יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ ס֑וֹד וְ֝יִתְיָעֲצ֗וּ עַל־ צְפוּנֶֽיךָ

עַֽל־  Against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עַ֭מְּךָ  Your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ  they  have  taken  crafty 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָרַם  
Sense: to be subtle, be shrewd, be crafty, beware, take crafty counsel, be prudent.
ס֑וֹד  counsel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סׄוד  
Sense: council, counsel, assembly.
וְ֝יִתְיָעֲצ֗וּ  and  consulted  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
צְפוּנֶֽיךָ  Your  sheltered  ones 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צָפַן 
Sense: to hide, treasure, treasure or store up.