The Meaning of Psalms 83:4 Explained

Psalms 83:4

KJV: They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

YLT: They have said, 'Come, And we cut them off from being a nation, And the name of Israel is not remembered any more.'

Darby: They say, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, and let the name of Israel be mentioned no more.

ASV: They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They have said,  Come,  and let us cut them off  from [being] a nation;  that the name  of Israel  may be no more in remembrance. 

What does Psalms 83:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 83:4 mean?

They have said come and let us cut them off from [being] a nation and no that may be remembered The name of Israel more
אָמְר֗וּ לְ֭כוּ וְנַכְחִידֵ֣ם מִגּ֑וֹי וְלֹֽא־ יִזָּכֵ֖ר שֵֽׁם־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עֽוֹד

אָמְר֗וּ  They  have  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְ֭כוּ  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְנַכְחִידֵ֣ם  and  let  us  cut  them  off 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common plural, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּחַד  
Sense: to hide, conceal, cut off, cut down, make desolate, kick.
מִגּ֑וֹי  from  [being]  a  nation 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וְלֹֽא־  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִזָּכֵ֖ר  that  may  be  remembered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
שֵֽׁם־  The  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עֽוֹד  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.