The Meaning of Psalms 83:5 Explained

Psalms 83:5

KJV: For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

YLT: For they consulted in heart together, Against Thee a covenant they make,

Darby: For they have consulted together with one heart: they have made an alliance together against thee.

ASV: For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For they have consulted  together  with one consent:  they are  confederate  against thee: 

What does Psalms 83:5 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 83:5 mean?

For they have consulted together with consent one against You a confederacy they form
כִּ֤י נוֹעֲצ֣וּ לֵ֣ב יַחְדָּ֑ו עָ֝לֶ֗יךָ בְּרִ֣ית יִכְרֹֽתוּ

נוֹעֲצ֣וּ  they  have  consulted  together 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
לֵ֣ב  with  consent 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יַחְדָּ֑ו  one 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
עָ֝לֶ֗יךָ  against  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
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.
בְּרִ֣ית  a  confederacy 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יִכְרֹֽתוּ  they  form 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.