Psalm 83 12

Psalm 83:12 kjv

Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

Psalm 83:12 nkjv

Who said, "Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession."

Psalm 83:12 niv

who said, "Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God."

Psalm 83:12 esv

who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God."

Psalm 83:12 nlt

for they said, "Let us seize for our own use
these pasturelands of God!"

Psalm 83 verses

Psalm 83 12 Meaning

Psalm 83:12 reveals the core aspiration of the confederacy of nations against Israel: their ultimate goal is to seize "the habitations of God." This refers not merely to physical territory or buildings but encompasses the sacred dwelling places of the Most High within Israel, specifically Zion/Jerusalem, the Temple, and by extension, the entire land of Israel, which God claimed as His own heritage and where His presence dwelt. It signifies their ambition to usurp God's sovereignty, eradicate His presence, and destroy His chosen people.

Psalm 83 12 Context

Psalm 83 is a communal lament, an urgent plea to God from Asaph for divine intervention against a powerful confederacy of surrounding nations. These nations have formed a strategic alliance, conspiring with one accord to destroy Israel (Ps 83:3-5). Their stated intention, revealed in verse 4, is to "cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more." Verse 12 reveals the profound motivation behind this destructive agenda: to claim "the habitations of God" for themselves. This elevates the conflict beyond mere political or territorial dispute; it is a direct assault on God's chosen people, His covenant, His land, and ultimately, His sovereign dwelling place on earth. The psalm concludes with a call for God's judgment upon these enemies, so that they may recognize His sole supreme authority.

Psalm 83 12 Word analysis

• who said (asher amru אֲשֶׁר אָֽמְר֣וּ):

  • who (asher אֲשֶׁר): A relative pronoun, connecting this verse to the preceding description of the enemies. It attributes this statement directly to the confederacy.
  • said (amru אָֽמְר֣וּ): A perfect tense verb, indicating a firm, settled declaration. It suggests a resolute intention, a clear, boastful proclamation among themselves or even to the world, revealing their deep-seated desire and conviction. This is not a fleeting thought but a foundational part of their plan.

• "Let us take possession (nireshah נִֽירְשָׁה):

  • From the Hebrew root yarash (ירש), meaning to take possession, inherit, dispossess, conquer, occupy.
  • The form used here is a cohortative, expressing an exhortation or determination, "let us indeed take possession." It implies a decisive, collective resolve.
  • Significance: This word carries a strong sense of rightful claim or acquisition, often by conquest or inheritance. For these foreign nations, it signifies a desire to utterly displace Israel and claim God's land as if it were their legitimate inheritance, usurping what God had already bestowed upon Israel.

• for ourselves (lanu לָּ֖נוּ):

  • A dative suffix (לָּ), meaning "to/for," attached to the pronoun "us."
  • Significance: Emphasizes a self-centered and selfish motivation. They seek this conquest for their own gain, glory, and security, explicitly excluding any consideration for God's claim or Israel's status. It highlights their pagan worldview of might making right, desiring to assert their own dominion where God's should be.

• of the habitations of God (et ne'ot-elohim אֵ֥ת נְאֹות־אֱלֹהִֽים׃):

  • et (אֵת): A direct object marker, indicating "the habitations of God" as the direct object of "take possession."
  • habitations (ne'ot נְאֹות): Plural of naveh (נָוֶה).
    • Literal meaning: pastures, dwellings, sheepfolds, comfortable abodes, watering places. Often used in pastoral settings, referring to lush and secure places of rest.
    • Figurative/Sacred meaning: In this context, modified by "God," it transcends a mere physical dwelling. It signifies the sacred places of God's presence, particularly Zion, Jerusalem, the Temple, and symbolically, the entire land of Israel, which is "God's land" (Lev 25:23). It speaks to the secure, blessed place where God chose to dwell among His people. It can also poetically allude to God's people as His flock in His pasture.
  • of God (elohim אֱלֹהִֽים): Refers to the true God, Yahweh.
  • Significance: The combination "habitations of God" transforms the meaning from common dwellings to deeply sacred, inviolable spaces. This phrase identifies the central target of the enemy's desire: not just strategic land, but the very place where God's name and presence reside. To seize these "habitations" is a spiritual rebellion, an attempt to desecrate the holy and challenge the ultimate authority of Yahweh over His domain. It implies the aspiration to dismantle Israel's identity as a covenant people centered around their God and His sanctuary.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Let us take possession for ourselves": This phrase underlines the nations' collective ambition and selfish agenda. It reflects their desire for self-exaltation and control, driven by covetousness and defiance against God's appointed order. Their motivation is not for alliance or co-existence, but total subjugation and usurpation of God's chosen territory.
  • "of the habitations of God": This critical phrase elevates the conflict to a spiritual plane. It's not just about land, but about sacred space and divine sovereignty. The enemies seek to claim God's dwelling places, thereby attempting to erase His visible presence and claim His people as their own, challenging the very foundation of His covenant with Israel.

Psalm 83 12 Bonus section

The phrase "habitations of God" is particularly rich. In Hebrew thought, the land of Israel itself was seen as God's footstool (Isa 60:13, 1 Chr 28:2), a place imbued with His presence. Therefore, to "take possession of the habitations of God" also implies desecrating that sacred space and erasing the visible manifestation of God's covenant with Israel on the earth. This reveals the genocidal and ethnocentric ambitions of the nations: to not only dispossess but to utterly obliterate Israel's existence and their unique relationship with God. The act of "inheriting" these lands, a term often used for Israel receiving the Promised Land from God, is a profound reversal, implying the enemies see themselves as the rightful heirs, completely disregarding God's previous bestowal. This sets up the dramatic conflict between the enemies' self-proclaimed "inheritance" and God's actual, established covenant with His people.

Psalm 83 12 Commentary

Psalm 83:12 encapsulates the spiritual nature of the conflict Israel faced, shifting the battle from geopolitical maneuvering to an assault on divine sovereignty. The enemies' declaration to "take possession for ourselves of the habitations of God" reveals a deeply covetous and idolatrous ambition. This wasn't merely a desire for strategic land or resources; it was a profound spiritual challenge. By aiming to seize God's sacred dwelling places – Zion, the Temple, and the entire Promised Land which was consecrated by His presence – they sought to delegitimize Yahweh's claim, nullify His covenant with Israel, and replace His divine order with their own dominion, likely imposing their own pagan gods.

This verse therefore serves as a polemic against all false gods and human pretensions to absolute power. It highlights the enemies' direct defiance against the true God, showcasing their intent to usurp what is uniquely His. The prayer that follows in Psalm 83, particularly verses 16-18, requests God's judgment so that these nations may ultimately "know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth." Thus, verse 12 establishes the necessity for God's intervention, making the divine stakes of the conflict clear: God's honor and supreme rule are under direct assault. It is a timeless expression of the spiritual battle over sacred ground and divine truth, urging believers to remember that attacks on God's people or His church are, at their root, attacks on His presence and authority.