The Meaning of Psalms 83:7 Explained

Psalms 83:7

KJV: Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

YLT: Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with inhabitants of Tyre,

Darby: Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia, with the inhabitants of Tyre;

ASV: Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Gebal,  and Ammon,  and Amalek;  the Philistines  with the inhabitants  of Tyre; 

What does Psalms 83:7 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 83:7 mean?

Gebal and Ammon and Amalek Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre
גְּבָ֣ל וְ֭עַמּוֹן וַעֲמָלֵ֑ק פְּ֝לֶ֗שֶׁת עִם־ יֹ֥שְׁבֵי צֽוֹר

גְּבָ֣ל  Gebal 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גְּבָל  
Sense: a mountainous area south of the Dead Sea.
וְ֭עַמּוֹן  and  Ammon 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַמֹּון  
Sense: a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi.
וַעֲמָלֵ֑ק  and  Amalek 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲמָלֵק  
Sense: son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a race of people in southern Canaan.
פְּ֝לֶ֗שֶׁת  Philistia 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פְּלֶשֶׁת  
Sense: the general territory on the west coast of Canaan or the entire country of Palestine.
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
צֽוֹר  of  Tyre 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צֹור 
Sense: the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast.