Psalm 83 10

Psalm 83:10 kjv

Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

Psalm 83:10 nkjv

Who perished at En Dor, Who became as refuse on the earth.

Psalm 83:10 niv

who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.

Psalm 83:10 esv

who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.

Psalm 83:10 nlt

They were destroyed at Endor,
and their decaying corpses fertilized the soil.

Psalm 83 verses

Psalm 83 10 Meaning

Psalm 83:10 is a fervent plea from the Psalmist to God, asking Him to bring about the same decisive, overwhelming destruction upon the current enemies of Israel as He had previously inflicted upon Midian, Sisera, and Jabin. It is a request for divine intervention to utterly defeat those who conspire against God's people and His holy name, echoing God's past victories over powerful adversaries.

Psalm 83 10 Context

Psalm 83 is a national lament and imprecatory prayer. It is sung by the sons of Korah. The immediate context of verse 10 is the Psalmist's urgent plea to God to act against a formidable confederacy of ten nations (Psa 83:5-8) who have banded together to destroy Israel and "blot out the name of Israel from remembrance" (Psa 83:4). This alliance directly targets God's people and, by extension, God's own covenant and reputation.

Historically, this psalm could refer to any number of threats against Israel in various periods, though its specific listing of confederates often leads scholars to consider a historical event around the time of Jehosaphat (2 Chr 20), or potentially even during the Assyrian period. Regardless of the exact historical timing, the Psalmist draws on established paradigms of divine victory. The psalm asks God to execute judgment as He has done in the past, so that these new enemies, like the old, may know that He alone is the Most High over all the earth (Psa 83:18).

The mention of Midian, Sisera, Jabin, and the Kishon specifically refers to critical victories in the Book of Judges. Midian's defeat by Gideon (Judges 6-8) was a miraculous routing of a vast horde by a mere 300 men, a vivid display of God fighting for Israel. Sisera and Jabin's defeat (Judges 4-5) was another dramatic demonstration of God's power, orchestrated through Deborah and Barak, where Sisera's powerful iron chariots were rendered useless by divine intervention at the river Kishon, culminating in Sisera's ignominious death by the hand of a woman, Jael. These were not mere battles but instances where God undeniably intervened to save His people and humble their proud oppressors.

Psalm 83 10 Word analysis

• Do to them (עֲשֵׂה לָהֶם - 'aseh lahem): This is an imperative verb, a direct command or fervent plea to God to perform a specific action. It implies a desire for decisive and complete divine judgment, mirroring past historical acts of judgment. The request is not for human retaliation, but for divine action.
• as to Midian (כְמִדְיָן - kemidyan): "As to" (כְּ - ke) indicates a comparison, asking God to apply the same manner of destruction. Midian was utterly routed by God's hand through Gideon (Jdg 6-8). Their defeat was characterized by chaos among themselves and their ultimate destruction, signifying divine judgment that scatters and dismantles the enemy from within and without, revealing God's power over seemingly insurmountable odds.
• as to Sisera (כְסִיסְרָא - kesîsərā): Sisera was the formidable commander of Jabin's army, known for his 900 chariots of iron. His defeat was decisive and personally ignominious (killed by a woman, Jdg 4:17-22), demonstrating God's ability to humble the most arrogant and powerful leaders. This defeat often represents the divine undoing of superior military might.
• as to Jabin (כְּיָבִין - keyābîn): Jabin was the Canaanite king who oppressed Israel, employing Sisera as his general. The reference to Jabin extends the judgment beyond the general to the very king and kingdom he served, representing the collapse of an entire hostile power structure (Jdg 4:2, 23-24). This emphasizes total annihilation of the oppressor's authority.
• at the river Kishon (בְּנַחַל קִישׁוֹן - benahal Qishon): The Kishon was the specific site of the battle where Sisera's forces, especially his chariots, were incapacitated by what appears to be divine meteorological intervention (Jdg 5:21), resulting in a chaotic rout. This detail specifies the overwhelming nature of the defeat, often involving environmental or supernatural forces that fight on God's behalf, sweeping away the enemy's strength.

Words-group analysis:

• "Do to them as to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin...": This triple invocation creates a powerful crescendo. It serves as an emphatic parallel, illustrating the absolute, humiliating, and complete nature of the defeat desired. It signifies asking for a paradigmatic divine judgment, not just a victory, but one that is exemplary in its severity and outcome. The repetition highlights the depth of their oppressive threat and the righteous intensity of the Psalmist's plea. It is a petition for history to repeat itself—specifically, God's triumphant history over His enemies.

Psalm 83 10 Bonus section

The specific examples of Midian, Sisera, and Jabin are particularly significant because they demonstrate God achieving victory in ways that defied human logic and capability. Gideon's tiny force routing Midian proved that God's strength is perfected in weakness. Sisera's death at the hand of a woman, after his fearsome chariots were undone by a flash flood at the Kishon, emphasized God's sovereignty over natural forces and His ability to humiliate the proud. These are not merely historical victories but theological statements about God's character as the ultimate deliverer and judge. The Psalmist is essentially reminding God of His own glory and inviting Him to defend it in the face of present threats. This type of prayer channels a deep understanding of divine justice and anticipates God's vindication of His chosen people.

Psalm 83 10 Commentary

Psalm 83:10 is an imprecatory prayer, where the Psalmist earnestly requests God to replicate past divine acts of judgment. This is not an expression of personal revenge but a righteous indignation rooted in God's covenant with Israel and His holy name. The enemies listed – Midian, Sisera, and Jabin – represent historical episodes where God decisively intervened to deliver Israel from oppression when human means seemed insufficient. The defeats of Midian and Sisera/Jabin were total and humbling, involving supernatural elements and culminating in the complete breakdown of enemy power, often by unexpected means.

The request to "do to them as to Midian" signifies asking for God to scatter the current adversaries into internal confusion and mutual destruction. "As to Sisera" implies their complete downfall and shameful end, despite their might. "As to Jabin" signifies the dismantling of their entire system of oppressive power. The specific mention of "the river Kishon" highlights the context of a crushing, water-swept defeat that rendered their strength (iron chariots) useless. The ultimate goal of this requested judgment, as highlighted later in Psalm 83, is not just the protection of Israel but the demonstration of God's sovereign power, so "that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth" (Psa 83:18). This verse teaches reliance on God's past faithfulness and power for future deliverance, emphasizing His role as the Divine Warrior for His people.