Psalms 83:5
in Psalms 83For with one mind they plot together, they form an alliance against You—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant:
KJV
For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
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This verse in Psalms 83
Commentary
10 notes on this verseFor they have consulted together with one consent. They are hearty and unanimous in their designs. They seem to have but one heart, and that a fierce one, against the chosen people and their God. They are confederate against thee. At the Lord himself they aim through the sides of his saints. They make a covenant, and ratify it with blood, resolutely banding themselves together to war with the Mighty God.
This site's exposition
with one mind they plot together
on Psalms 83:5-8
Ten peoples are named, and they ring Israel on every side. The sons of Lot are Moab and Ammon, born to him at Genesis 19:37 and 38, and Assyria comes in behind them. The psalm says the alliance is made against God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Since they have imagined with one consent; together against Thee have they disposed a testament" (ver. 5): as though they could be the stronger. In fact, "a testament" is a name given in the Scriptures not only to that which is of no avail till the death of the testators, but every convenant and decree they used to call a testament. For Laban and Jacob made a testament, which was certainly to have force between the living; and such cases without number are read in the words of God. Then he begins to make mention of the enemies of Christ, under certain proper names of nations; the interpretation of which names sufficiently indicates what he would have to be understood. For by such names are most suitably figured the enemies of the truth. "Idumaeans," for instance, are interpreted either "men of blood," or "of earth." "Ismaelites," are "obedient to themselves," and therefore not to God, but to themselves. "Moab," "from the father;" which in a bad sense has no better explanation, than by considering it so connected with the actual history, that Lot, a father, by the illicit intercourse procured by his daughter, begat him; since it was from that very circumstance he was so named. Good, however, was his father, but as "the Law is good if one use it lawfully," not impurely and unlawfully. "Hagarens," proselytes, that is strangers, by which name also are signified, among the enemies of God's people, not those who become citizens, but those who persevere in a foreign and alien mind, and when an opportunity of doing harm occurs, show themselves. "Gebal," "a vain valley," that is, humble in pretence. […]
Against your covenant they have made their arrangements. You spoke through the prophets; and they through Manichaeus, Marcion, Arius, and Valentinus.
For they have taken counsel with one accord together. Unhappy are we, unhappy the people of God: it cannot have as great a concord in what is good as the wicked have in what is evil. Against you they have arranged a covenant: the tabernacles of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites. See the mysteries of the names. The tabernacles of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagarenes, Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, and the foreigners with them that dwell at Tyre: for Asshur also is come with them, they are become a help to the sons of Lot.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For they have consulted together with one consent,....
And shall not the church's friends be unanimous in serving her interests? If Herod and Pilate are made friends, that they may join in crucifying Christ, surely Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Peter, will soon be made friends, that they may join in preaching Christ. What it is that is aimed at in this confederacy.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
To God's justice and jealousy, both for his church and for his own honour, by an earnest prayer for the defeat of their attempt, that the church might be preserved, the enemies humbled, and God glorified,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
They have consulted together with one consent - With a united heart, לב יחדו leb yachdav, Their heart and soul are in the work. They are confederate against thee - “They have made a covenant,” ברית יכריתו berith yachrithu, “they have cut the covenant sacrifice.” They have slain an animal, divided him in twain, and passed between the pieces of the victim; and have thus bound themselves to accomplish their purpose.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For they have consulted together with one consent - Margin, as in Hebrew, heart. There is no division in their counsels on this subject. They have one desire - one purpose - in regard to the matter. Pilate and Herod were made friends together against Christ Luk 23:12; and the world, divided and hostile on other matters, has been habitually united in its opposition to Christ and to a pure and spiritual religion. They are confederate against thee - literally, “They cut a covenant against thee;” that is, they ratify such a covenant, compact, league - referring to the manner in which bargains and agreements were ratified by cutting in pieces a victim sacrificed on such occasions; that is, by giving to such a transaction the solemnity of a religious sanction. Gen 15:10; Jer 34:18-19. See Bochart, Hieroz. i. 35. The meaning here is, that they had entered into this agreement in the most solemn manner, under the sanctions of religion.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| נוֹעֲצ֣וּ | noatzu | they have consulted | H3289 → | 79 times |
| לֵ֣ב | lev | heart | H3820 → | 595 times |
| יַחְדָּ֑ו | yachdav | together | H3162 → | 141 times |
| עָ֝לֶ֗יךָ | ʾaleikha | on you | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| בְּרִ֣ית | berit | a covenant | H1285 → | 284 times |
| יִכְרֹֽתוּ׃ | yikhrotu | they are making | H3772 → | 288 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
נוֹעֲצ֣וּthey have consulted
noatzuH3289 →79 times
לֵ֣בheart
levH3820 →595 times
יַחְדָּ֑וtogether
yachdavH3162 →141 times
עָ֝לֶ֗יךָon you
ʾaleikhaH5921 →5755 times
בְּרִ֣יתa covenant
beritH1285 →284 times
יִכְרֹֽתוּ׃they are making
yikhrotuH3772 →288 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 2:2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
it leads to
- Matthew 26:59
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.
- Revelation 17:12–14
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast.
- Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Luke 23:11–12
And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.
- Psalms 45:7
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
- Matthew 26:59
Through
Revelation 19:19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.
it leads to
- Revelation 16:16
And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
- Revelation 16:14
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
- Revelation 16:16
Through
Revelation 17:13These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
it leads to
- Revelation 17:17
For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
- Revelation 17:17
About Psalms

This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 83; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 4; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jerome, Homily 62, on Psalm 82 (Alternate Series); Jerome, Homily 15, on Psalm 82; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
