Psalms 83:1

KJV

¶ A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

KJV (with Strong's)

A Song {H7892} or Psalm {H4210} of Asaph {H623}. Keep not thou silence {H1824}, O God {H430}: hold not thy peace {H2790}{H8799)}, and be not still {H8252}{H8799)}, O God {H410}.

Complete Jewish Bible

A song. A psalm of Asaf: God, don't remain silent! Don't stay quiet, God, or still;

Berean Standard Bible

O God, be not silent; be not speechless; be not still, O God.

American Standard Version

O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 83:1, a superscription and opening plea from Asaph, functions as an urgent, threefold appeal to God to break His perceived silence and inaction in the face of an imminent national threat. This verse sets the tone for a desperate communal lament, articulating a profound human experience of feeling that God is distant or unresponsive during severe crisis, yet simultaneously expressing an underlying conviction in God's ultimate sovereignty and power to deliver His people from a confederacy of nations conspiring against them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 83:1 serves as both the superscription and the immediate opening of a communal lament psalm. The superscription, "A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph," immediately identifies the author as one of the prominent Levitical choirmasters, whose psalms often reflect national distress, historical reflection, and theological depth. This verse instantly plunges the reader into a desperate prayer, establishing the tone of urgent supplication that pervades the entire psalm. The subsequent verses detail the specific threat: a formidable confederacy of hostile nations conspiring against God's people, seeking to utterly destroy Israel's identity and memory ([Psalms 83:2-5](/psalms/83-2-5 "Psalms 83:2-5 - The Enemies' Conspiracy")). The psalmist's fervent plea for God to "keep not silence" is thus a direct, impassioned response to this grave national crisis, a desperate call for immediate divine intervention against an existential threat.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the precise historical event prompting Psalms 83 remains a subject of scholarly debate, it most likely refers to a period of significant geopolitical tension and military threat against ancient Israel. Possible historical settings include the conflicts during the reign of King Jehoshaphat, as vividly described in [2 Chronicles 20](/2_chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer and Victory"), or perhaps a broader, more generalized threat faced by Israel from its surrounding neighbors, such as those listed in [Psalms 83:6-8](/psalms/83-6-8 "Psalms 83:6-8 - The Confederacy of Nations"). In the ancient Near East, national identity and survival were inextricably linked to the patron deity; an attack on Israel was not merely a military assault but was perceived as a direct challenge to Yahweh's honor, power, and covenant faithfulness. The psalmist's cry for God to act is therefore not simply a request for military victory but a profound appeal for God to vindicate His own name and demonstrate His sovereignty among the nations, preventing the utter annihilation of His chosen people.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 83:1 introduces several foundational themes that resonate throughout the psalter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Perceived Divine Silence**, a common motif in lament psalms where the worshiper feels God is unresponsive or inactive in times of profound suffering (e.g., [Psalms 44:23](/psalms/44-23 "Psalms 44:23 - A Cry for God to Awake")). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Urgent Supplication and Persistent Prayer**, modeling a fervent and repeated plea for God's intervention, reflecting a deep conviction that God is the only true deliverer, a principle later echoed in the New Testament (see [Luke 18:1](/luke/18-1 "Luke 18:1 - The Parable of the Persistent Widow")). Lastly, despite the desperate tone, the verse implicitly expresses a profound **Trust in God's Sovereignty and Justice**. The very act of crying out to God, even with such raw honesty, presupposes an unwavering faith in His power to act and His commitment to His covenant people, aligning with the broader biblical theme of God's ultimate victory over His enemies, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 45:21-23](/isaiah/45-21-23 "Isaiah 45:21-23 - God's Sole Sovereignty")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Silence (Hebrew, _dᵉmîy_):** This noun (H1824), derived from a root meaning "to be quiet," conveys more than mere quietness; it implies a state of rest, cessation, or inaction. In the context of "Keep not thou silence," the psalmist is pleading for God not to remain in a state of quietude or inactivity, but to break His perceived stillness and intervene decisively.
* **Hold not thy peace (Hebrew, _chârash_):** This verb (H2790) carries multiple meanings, including "to scratch," "to engrave," or "to plough," but also "to be silent," "to let alone," or "to be deaf." Here, in the imperative, it functions as an urgent plea for God not to remain unresponsive, deaf to their cries, or to passively "let alone" the dire situation. It's a call for God to actively engage and respond to the distress of His people.
* **Be not still (Hebrew, _shâqaṭ_):** This verb (H8252) means "to repose," "to be quiet," "to settle," or "to be at rest." The negation "be not still" is a direct appeal for God to cease His perceived idleness or tranquility and to demonstrate His power and presence through immediate action. It emphasizes the psalmist's desire for God to actively disturb the current state of affairs by intervening on their behalf.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph."**: This superscription serves as the authoritative introduction to the psalm. It identifies the genre as a "Song" (H7892, _shîyr_) or "Psalm" (H4210, _mizmôwr_), indicating it was likely intended for musical performance. Crucially, it attributes the composition to Asaph (H623, _ʼÂçâph_), one of the chief Levitical choirmasters appointed by King David, known for his prophetic and historical psalms that often reflect national crises and theological reflections on God's justice and sovereignty. This attribution lends weight and a specific theological perspective to the prayer that follows.
* **"Keep not thou silence, O God:"**: This is the first of three urgent, negative imperatives, directly addressing God (H430, _ʼĕlôhîym_). The plea for God not to "keep silence" (H1824, _dᵉmîy_) expresses the psalmist's perception that God is currently inactive or unresponsive to their dire situation. It is a desperate cry for God to break His perceived quietude and actively engage with the crisis, signifying a profound longing for divine presence and intervention.
* **"hold not thy peace,"**: This second imperative intensifies the preceding plea, using the verb (H2790, _chârash_). It is a request for God not to remain inattentive, indifferent, or to ignore the cries of His people. The psalmist desires God not only to speak but to actively listen, acknowledge their distress, and refrain from passive non-intervention.
* **"and be not still, O God."**: The final imperative reiterates and amplifies the preceding pleas, using the verb (H8252, _shâqaṭ_). "Be not still" is a direct demand for God to cease His perceived idleness and to act decisively. The repetition of "O God" (H410, _ʼêl_) at the end underscores the direct, personal, and fervent nature of the appeal, emphasizing that only divine intervention from the Almighty can resolve their overwhelming predicament.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 83:1 is rich in literary devices that amplify its urgent message and emotional intensity. The most prominent is **Anaphora**, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, which is powerfully evident in the repeated negative imperatives: "Keep not thou silence," "hold not thy peace," and "be not still." This threefold repetition creates a profound sense of urgency, desperation, and persistence, underscoring the psalmist's intense desire for God to act. Furthermore, the direct address, **Apostrophe**, to "O God" twice within the verse, emphasizes the personal and direct nature of the supplication, highlighting the psalmist's conviction that only God can provide the necessary intervention. The use of three distinct but semantically related verbs for inaction (silence, holding peace, being still) constitutes a form of **Synonymia** or **Climax**, where each verb intensifies the preceding one, building a crescendo of fervent appeal for divine activity. This cumulative effect conveys the profound anguish, unwavering faith, and desperate hope of the psalmist in the face of overwhelming odds.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 83:1 articulates a universal human and theological dilemma: the experience of perceived divine silence in the midst of suffering. This initial cry establishes a foundational theme of lament in the Psalms, where the worshiper, despite profound distress, continues to address God directly, implicitly affirming His sovereignty and ultimate power to intervene. The threefold plea for God to break His silence is not a sign of unbelief but rather a testament to a deep, abiding faith that God is indeed attentive, just, and capable of acting on behalf of His people. It connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness, where He is consistently portrayed as a God who hears the cries of His people and acts to deliver them, even when His timing or methods are not immediately apparent. This verse invites believers to bring their rawest emotions and deepest fears before God, trusting that He is sovereign even when He seems silent.

* [Psalms 22:2](/psalms/22-2 "Psalms 22:2 - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?")
* [Habakkuk 1:2](/habakkuk/1-2 "Habakkuk 1:2 - How long, O Lord, must I call for help?")
* [Isaiah 64:12](/isaiah/64-12 "Isaiah 64:12 - Will you restrain yourself, O Lord?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 83:1 offers profound encouragement and permission for believers navigating seasons of perceived divine silence or overwhelming adversity. In a world often marked by chaos, injustice, and personal struggles, it is natural to feel that God is distant or unresponsive. This psalm validates the authenticity of such feelings, demonstrating that it is not only permissible but spiritually healthy to voice our deepest laments and frustrations directly to God. Asaph's urgent, repeated plea models a persistent and fervent prayer life, reminding us that even when answers are not immediate, our call is to continue seeking God's face and His intervention. This verse calls us to anchor our hope not in our circumstances or our understanding of God's immediate actions, but in His unchanging character—His justice, His power, and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. It is a powerful reminder that even in our most desperate moments, the act of crying out to God is an act of profound faith, acknowledging His ultimate sovereignty and ability to deliver.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you experienced a time when God seemed silent or inactive in your life? How did you respond?**
* **What does Psalms 83:1 teach us about the nature of honest prayer, especially in times of distress?**
* **How can we cultivate persistence in prayer, even when answers are delayed or unclear?**
* **In what ways does this verse encourage us to trust in God's character, even when His actions are not immediately evident?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist repeat the plea to God to "keep not silence, hold not thy peace, and be not still"?**

Answer: The threefold repetition and use of distinct but related verbs emphasize the extreme urgency and desperation of the psalmist's plea. It's a powerful rhetorical device known as anaphora and synonymia, designed to intensify the cry for divine intervention. The psalmist is not merely asking God to speak, but to actively listen, acknowledge, and decisively act. This repetition conveys the depth of the national crisis and the profound desire for God to break His perceived inaction and demonstrate His presence and power on behalf of His people. It highlights the psalmist's conviction that only God can resolve the overwhelming threat they face, echoing the desperate pleas found in other laments throughout the Psalms, such as when the psalmist cries out to God to "Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?" in [Psalms 44:23](/psalms/44-23 "Psalms 44:23 - A Cry for God to Awake").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 83:1, with its urgent cry for God to break His silence and intervene, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. Firstly, Jesus himself experienced the ultimate perceived divine silence and abandonment on the cross, crying out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" (quoting [Psalms 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalms 22:1 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?")), embodying the deep lament of humanity. Yet, this profound silence was not ultimate abandonment but a crucial part of God's redemptive plan for the salvation of the world, culminating in the glorious resurrection. Secondly, while the psalmist cries for God to act against earthly enemies, the New Testament reveals that our ultimate enemy is sin and death ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). Christ, through His atoning sacrifice and triumphant resurrection, decisively acted to defeat these spiritual foes, fulfilling the deepest longing for divine intervention and deliverance ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Finally, Jesus now serves as our great High Priest, who "always lives to intercede for them" ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Eternal Priesthood")). He is never silent concerning our needs but continually advocates for us before the Father, ensuring that God hears and responds to the cries of His people, ultimately bringing about the full and final victory of God's kingdom, where all enemies will be put under His feet ([1 Corinthians 15:25](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25 - Christ Must Reign")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 28:1

¶ [A Psalm] of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, [if] thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Psalms 35:22

[This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

Psalms 50:3

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

Psalms 109:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

Psalms 109:2

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

Isaiah 42:14

I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.