The Meaning of Psalms 83:2 Explained

Psalms 83:2

KJV: For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

YLT: For, lo, Thine enemies do roar, And those hating Thee have lifted up the head,

Darby: For behold, thine enemies make a tumult; and they that hate thee lift up the head.

ASV: For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For, lo, thine enemies  make a tumult:  and they that hate  thee have lifted up  the head. 

What does Psalms 83:2 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 83:2 mean?

For behold Your enemies make a tumult and those who hate You have lifted up their head
כִּֽי־ הִנֵּ֣ה א֭וֹיְבֶיךָ יֶהֱמָי֑וּן וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֶ֗יךָ נָ֣שְׂאוּ רֹֽאשׁ

הִנֵּ֣ה  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
א֭וֹיְבֶיךָ  Your  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
יֶהֱמָי֑וּן  make  a  tumult 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: הָמָה  
Sense: to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar.
וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֶ֗יךָ  and  those  who  hate  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
נָ֣שְׂאוּ  have  lifted  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
רֹֽאשׁ  their  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.