The Meaning of Psalms 83:15 Explained

Psalms 83:15

KJV: So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

YLT: So dost Thou pursue them with Thy whirlwind, And with Thy hurricane troublest them.

Darby: So pursue them with thy tempest, and terrify them with thy whirlwind.

ASV: So pursue them with thy tempest, And terrify them with thy storm.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So persecute  them with thy tempest,  and make them afraid  with thy storm. 

What does Psalms 83:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 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: Psalm 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 83:15 mean?

so pursue them with Your tempest and with Your storm frighten them
כֵּ֭ן תִּרְדְּפֵ֣ם בְּסַעֲרֶ֑ךָ וּבְסוּפָתְךָ֥ תְבַהֲלֵֽם

כֵּ֭ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
תִּרְדְּפֵ֣ם  pursue  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
בְּסַעֲרֶ֑ךָ  with  Your  tempest 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: סַעַר 
Sense: tempest, storm, whirlwind.
וּבְסוּפָתְךָ֥  and  with  Your  storm 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: סוּפָה 
Sense: storm-wind.
תְבַהֲלֵֽם  frighten  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּהַל  
Sense: to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous.