King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
Complete Jewish Bible:
who said, "Let's take possession of God's meadows for ourselves."
Berean Standard Bible:
who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.”
American Standard Version:
Who said, Let us take to ourselves in possession The habitations of God.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Who said{H559}{H8804)}, Let us take to ourselves the houses{H4999} of God{H430} in possession{H3423}{H8799)}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Chronicles 20:11
- Behold, [I say, how] they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
Psalms 83:4
- 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.
Psalms 74:7
- They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled [by casting down] the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
Psalms 74:8
- They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
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Commentary for Psalms 83:12
Psalm 83:12 is part of a longer psalm attributed to Asaph, a temple musician and one of the leaders of King David's choir. The psalm is a communal lament, expressing the deep distress of the people of Israel in the face of a conspiracy by neighboring nations who have banded together against them. In verse 12, the psalmist quotes the enemies' words, "Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession," which reflects their intent to seize control of the Israelites' land and religious institutions, including the Temple in Jerusalem, which was considered the house of God.
The historical context of this verse is somewhat uncertain, as it does not specify a particular event. However, it is thought to reflect the ongoing conflicts between Israel and its neighbors during the period of the divided monarchy or even later. The nations mentioned in the surrounding verses as conspiring against Israel include the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and others, all historical adversaries of Israel.
The themes present in Psalm 83:12 include the threat of invasion and the desire of enemies to not only defeat Israel militarily but also to desecrate and possess their sacred spaces. This would represent a total humiliation and destruction of Israel's religious identity. The verse underscores the gravity of the situation faced by the Israelites, as their very cultural and spiritual existence was under threat. It also highlights the ancient understanding of the inseparable connection between land, national identity, and worship, which was central to Israelite religion and national consciousness. The psalm as a whole is a plea for God to intervene and protect His people and the sanctity of His name by defeating these adversaries.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H4999
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָאָה
Transliteration: nâʼâh
Pronunciation: naw-aw'
Description: from נָאָה; a home; figuratively, a pasture; habitation, house, pasture, pleasant place. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H3423
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַשׁ
Transliteration: yârash
Pronunciation: yaw-rash'
Description: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, [idiom] without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) [phrase] magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, [idiom] utterly.