Psalms 83:11 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

BSB

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

KJV

Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

ASV

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;

BBE

Make their chiefs like Oreb and Zeeb; and all their rulers like Zebah and Zalmunna:

Original Hebrew

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שִׁיתֵמוֹ shi·te·mov make them H7896 נְדִיבֵמוֹ ne·di·ve·mo noble [people] their H5081 כְּעֹרֵב ke·'o·rev like Oreb H6159 וְכִזְאֵב ve·khiz·'ev and like Zeeb H2062 וּכְזֶבַח u·khe·ze·vach and like Zebah H2078 וּכְצַלְמֻנָּע u·khe·tzal·mu·na' and like Zalmunna H6759 כָּל־ kol- all H3605 נְסִיכֵמוֹ ne·si·khe·mov princes their H5257

The early church

Now let us see what the prophetic spirit prays may fall upon them, rather foretelling than cursing. "Do thou to them," he says, "as unto Madian and Sisera, as unto Jabin at the brook of Kishon" [Psalm 83:9]. "They perished at Endor, they became as the dung of the earth" [Psalm 83:10]. All these, the history relates, were subdued and conquered by Israel, which then was the people of God: as was the case also with those whom he next mentions: "Make their princes like Oreb and Zeb, and Zebee and Salmana" [Psalm 83:11]. The meaning of these names is as follows: Madian is explained a perverted judgment: Sisera, shutting out of joy: Jabin, wise. [Judges 4:7-8] But in these enemies conquered by God's people is to be understood that wise man of whom the Apostle speaks, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world?" [1 Corinthians 1:20] Oreb is dryness, Zeb, wolf, Zebee, a victim, namely of the wolf; for he too has his victims; Salmana, shadow of commotion. All these agree to the evils which the people of God conquer by good. Moreover Kishon, the torrent in which they were conquered, is explained, their hardness. Endor, where they perished, is explained, the Fountain of generation, but of the carnal generation namely, to which they were given up, and therefore perished, not heeding the regeneration which leads unto life, where they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage, [Luke 20:35] for they shall die no more. Rightly then it is said of these: "they became as the dung of the earth," in that nothing was produced of them but fruitfulness of the earth. As then all these were in figure conquered by the people of God, as figures, so he prays that those other enemies may be conquered in truth.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 9–18

All who oppose the kingdom of Christ may here read their doom. God is the same still that ever he was; the same to his people, and the same against his and their enemies. God would make their enemies like a wheel; unsettled in all their counsels and resolves. Not only let them be driven away as stubble, but burnt as stubble. And this will be the end of wicked men. Let them be made to fear thy name, and perhaps that will bring them to seek thy name. We should desire no confusion to our enemies and persecutors but what may forward their conversion. The stormy tempest of Divine vengeance will overtake them, unless they repent and seek the pardoning mercy of their offended Lord. God's triumphs over his enemies, clearly prove that he is, according to his name JEHOVAH, an almighty Being, who has all power and perfection in himself. May we fear his wrath, and yield ourselves to be his willing servants. And let us seek deliverance by the destruction of our fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Read Matthew Henry on Psalm 83 →

Spurgeon · Verse 11

Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb. Smite the great ones as well as the common ruck. Suffer not the ringleaders to escape. As Oreb fell at the rock and Zeeb at the winepress, so do thou mete out vengeance to Zion's foes wherever thou mayest overtake them. They boastfully compare themselves to ravens and wolves; let them receive the fate which is due to such wild beasts. Yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunnua. These were captured and slain by Gideon, despite their claiming to have been anointed to the kingdom. Zebah became a sacrifice, and Zalmunna was sent to those shadowy images from which his name is derived. The psalmist seeing these four culprits hanging in history upon a lofty gallows, earnestly asks that others of a like character may, for truth and righteousness' sake, share their fate.

Read Spurgeon on Psalm 83 →

Cross-references

4

People & places

Zalmunna Zebah Oreb Zeeb

Topics

Oreb Zeeb Zalmunna Zebah