The Meaning of Psalms 83:18 Explained

Psalms 83:18

KJV: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

YLT: And they know that Thou -- (Thy name is Jehovah -- by Thyself,) Art the Most High over all the earth!

Darby: That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth.

ASV: That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That [men] may know  that thou, whose name  alone [is] JEHOVAH,  [art] the most high  over all the earth. 

What does Psalms 83:18 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 83:18 mean?

that they may know that You whose name [is] Yahweh alone [Are] the Most High over all the earth
וְֽיֵדְע֗וּ כִּֽי־ אַתָּ֬ה שִׁמְךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה לְבַדֶּ֑ךָ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן עַל־ כָּל־ הָאָֽרֶץ

וְֽיֵדְע֗וּ  that  they  may  know 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שִׁמְךָ֣  whose  name  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְבַדֶּ֑ךָ  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן  [Are]  the  Most  High 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עֶלְיׄון 
Sense: high, upper.
עַל־  over 
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.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.