Psalms 83:11

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Make {H7896}{H8798)} their nobles {H5081} like Oreb {H6159}, and like Zeeb {H2062}: yea, all their princes {H5257} as Zebah {H2078}, and as Zalmunna {H6759}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Make their leaders like 'Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 83:11 is a fervent plea within an imprecatory psalm where the psalmist, Asaph, implores God to decisively defeat the enemies of Israel. The verse specifically invokes historical precedents of God's powerful intervention against past oppressors, requesting a similar, overwhelming victory that mirrors the complete humiliation and destruction of the Midianite leaders Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna by Gideon, as recorded in the Book of Judges. This prayer seeks a comprehensive and public overthrow of the adversaries' leadership, ensuring the security of God's people and the vindication of His divine name.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 83 is the final psalm in the collection attributed to Asaph (Psalms 73-83) and stands as a national lament and imprecatory prayer. The psalm opens with an urgent cry for God to act against a confederation of ten hostile nations (vv. 6-8) who have conspired to utterly destroy Israel and erase its memory from the earth (v. 4). The psalmist appeals to God's past acts of deliverance, referencing His judgment upon Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon (v. 9) and the Midianites at Endor (v. 10). Verse 11 continues this appeal, specifically drawing on the paradigmatic defeat of the Midianite leaders as a model for the desired judgment. The psalm culminates in a powerful plea for God's enemies to be put to shame and perpetual confusion so that they may ultimately know that Yahweh alone is the Most High over all the earth (vv. 16-18).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The specific historical figures invoked in Psalms 83:11—Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna—were prominent Midianite leaders who were decisively defeated by Gideon and the Israelites during the period of the Judges. This era (roughly 1200-1000 BC) was characterized by cycles of Israelite apostasy, foreign oppression, and divine deliverance through divinely appointed judges. The Midianites had severely oppressed Israel for seven years, devastating their land and resources ([Judges 6:1](/judges/6-1 "Judges 6:1 - Israel Oppressed by Midian")). The defeat of their leaders, particularly the kings Zebah and Zalmunna, symbolized the complete breaking of Midianite power and brought forty years of peace to Israel ([Judges 8:28](/judges/8-28 "Judges 8:28 - Forty Years of Peace")). Culturally, the public humiliation and execution of defeated enemy leaders was a common ancient Near Eastern practice, signifying total victory, the vanquishing of a nation's strength, and the triumph of the conquering deity. The psalmist's prayer taps into this understanding, asking for a defeat so thorough it mirrors this historical paradigm.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 83:11 contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Justice**, affirming God's ultimate control over nations and His commitment to executing justice on behalf of His covenant people. It is a fervent plea for God to act as the righteous judge ([Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")). Secondly, the psalm highlights the **Vindication of God's Name**. The primary motivation for the psalmist's imprecatory prayer is not personal vengeance but the glorification of God's name and the demonstration of His unique power. The defeat of the enemies will serve to reveal that Yahweh alone is the Most High over all the earth ([Psalm 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "Psalm 83:18 - God is the Most High")). Thirdly, the invocation of past deliverances emphasizes the importance of **Remembrance of God's Past Faithfulness**. By recalling God's mighty acts against the Midianites, the psalmist builds faith for the present crisis, trusting that God's character and power remain unchanged, a common theme found throughout the Psalms ([Psalm 77:11](/psalms/77-11 "Psalm 77:11 - Remembering God's Deeds")). Finally, the verse exemplifies **Imprecation and Divine Judgment**, a challenging but significant genre within the Psalms, reflecting a deep conviction in God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate triumph over evil.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Make (שִׁית, _shith_):** This Hebrew verb carries the sense of "to set," "to place," "to appoint," or "to ordain." In this context, it implies a decisive, deliberate, and active intervention by God. It is not a passive wish but a confident appeal for God to actively bring about the specified judgment, to cause the enemies' leaders to suffer the exact fate of Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna.
* **Nobles (נְדִיבִים, _nedivim_):** This term refers to those who are "willing," "generous," or "noble," often denoting individuals of high rank, leaders, or princes within a society. By targeting the "nobles," the psalmist is praying for the humiliation and defeat of the elite, influential figures among the enemy confederation, striking at the very head of their power structure.
* **Princes (שָׂרִים, _sarim_):** This word denotes "rulers," "commanders," or "chiefs." Used in parallel with "nobles," it reinforces the comprehensive nature of the desired judgment, encompassing all levels of the enemy's leadership, from their high-ranking officials to their supreme kings. The parallelism emphasizes the totality of the requested overthrow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb":** This clause initiates the imprecatory prayer by specifically targeting the "nobles" or high-ranking officials of the current enemy confederation. Oreb and Zeeb were two Midianite princes who, after Gideon's initial victory, were captured and executed by the men of Ephraim ([Judges 7:25](/judges/7-25 "Judges 7:25 - Capture and Execution of Oreb and Zeeb")). Their defeat symbolized the initial rout, confusion, and dismemberment of the Midianite army. The psalmist prays for a similar humiliating and decisive initial blow against the leadership of the present adversaries, causing chaos and disarray from the top.
* **"yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna":** This second parallel clause intensifies and broadens the request, asking that "all their princes"—referring to the supreme leaders or kings—suffer the fate of Zebah and Zalmunna. These were the two kings of Midian, the ultimate commanders, whom Gideon personally pursued and executed after a long chase, marking the complete and final subjugation of Midianite power and bringing an end to their oppression ([Judges 8:21](/judges/8-21 "Judges 8:21 - Gideon Kills Zebah and Zalmunna")). The prayer here is for the absolute and ultimate destruction of the enemy's highest command, ensuring their total defeat, the cessation of their threat, and the complete vindication of God's people.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 83:11 makes powerful use of several literary techniques to convey its message. The most prominent is **allusion**, as the verse directly references specific historical figures (Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna) and their fates from the narrative in the Book of Judges. This technique allows the psalmist to evoke the full dramatic narrative of God's past deliverance and judgment without explicitly retelling it, drawing on shared cultural and historical memory to underscore the severity and completeness of the desired outcome. Furthermore, the verse employs **synonymous parallelism** in its structure: "Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb" is mirrored and intensified by "yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna." This repetition with slight variation emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the desired defeat, targeting both the princes and the kings, ensuring no leader escapes judgment. Finally, the names "Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna" function as a form of **metonymy** or **synecdoche**, where the individual fates of these leaders stand in for the entire Midianite defeat and, by extension, for any comprehensive divine judgment upon Israel's enemies. Their personal humiliation represents the complete overthrow of their respective nations and the power they wielded.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 83:11 powerfully articulates the Old Testament understanding of divine justice and God's active involvement in human history. It underscores the conviction that God is not a passive observer but the sovereign Lord who intervenes on behalf of His people and brings judgment upon those who oppose His purposes. The appeal to past acts of deliverance, particularly the Midianite defeat, highlights a recurring biblical theme: God's faithfulness to His covenant and His willingness to humble the proud and exalt the lowly. This verse, though an imprecatory prayer, ultimately aims at the vindication of God's name and the recognition of His unique sovereignty among all nations, demonstrating that true power resides with the Almighty.

* [Judges 7:25](/judges/7-25 "Judges 7:25 - Oreb and Zeeb Killed")
* [Judges 8:21](/judges/8-21 "Judges 8:21 - Zebah and Zalmunna Executed")
* [Psalm 9:16](/psalms/9-16 "Psalm 9:16 - The Lord is Known by His Justice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Christians are called to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), Psalms 83:11 still offers profound spiritual lessons for believers today. It reminds us that God is ultimately just and will bring all injustice to account, whether in this life or the next. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty when faced with overwhelming opposition, drawing strength from His past faithfulness and His proven track record of delivering His people. Our prayers, like Asaph's, should ultimately seek the glory of God's name and the advancement of His kingdom, recognizing that true victory belongs to Him alone. This verse challenges us to align our hearts with God's righteous indignation against evil and oppression, while also embracing the New Testament call to extend grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, understanding that God's ultimate judgment is reserved for Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness, as the psalmist does, strengthen your faith in present challenges or times of injustice?**
* **In what ways can we pray for justice and the vindication of God's name in a manner consistent with New Testament teachings on loving enemies and seeking reconciliation?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the ultimate fate of those who oppose God's purposes, and how does that shape our perspective on suffering and injustice in the world?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist ask God to destroy enemies in such a violent way?**

Answer: Psalms 83 is an imprecatory psalm, a genre common in the Old Testament where the psalmist appeals to God to execute judgment on the wicked. These prayers often reflect a deep sense of injustice and a fervent desire for God's righteousness to prevail against those who threaten His people and His covenant. They are not expressions of personal vengeance but appeals to God as the righteous judge to vindicate His name and protect His covenant people. The language is intense because the threat was existential, and the psalmist believed in a God who actively intervenes in history to bring justice. The ultimate aim, as seen in [Psalm 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "Psalm 83:18 - God is the Most High"), is for God's name to be known and glorified among all nations.

**Who were Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna?**

Answer: Oreb and Zeeb were Midianite princes, while Zebah and Zalmunna were the two kings of Midian. They were prominent leaders of the Midianite forces who severely oppressed Israel for seven years during the period of the Judges. Their defeat by Gideon, as recorded in [Judges 7:25](/judges/7-25 "Judges 7:25 - Oreb and Zeeb Killed") and [Judges 8:21](/judges/8-21 "Judges 8:21 - Zebah and Zalmunna Executed"), marked a decisive and humiliating victory for Israel, bringing an end to the Midianite threat. The psalmist invokes their names as a historical paradigm for the complete and utter defeat of Israel's current enemies, seeking a similar, comprehensive overthrow of their leadership.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 83:11 calls for the physical destruction of earthly enemies, its ultimate fulfillment in Christ points to a profound spiritual victory over the powers of darkness. Jesus, the true King of Israel, did not come to defeat earthly armies with sword and might, but to conquer sin, death, and the devil through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. The humiliation of Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna—leaders of an oppressive earthly kingdom—foreshadows the ultimate defeat of Satan and his spiritual forces, who are stripped of their power and authority through Christ's triumph on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Just as God brought low the proud oppressors of Israel, so too has Christ disarmed the principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")). Believers are now called to participate in this spiritual victory, not through physical warfare, but by standing firm in the truth and proclaiming the gospel, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ([Romans 1:16](/romans/1-16 "Romans 1:16 - The Power of the Gospel")). The prayer for God's name to be known and glorified, which is central to Psalms 83, finds its ultimate answer in the universal reign of Christ, before whom every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10 - Every Knee Will Bow")).

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

Judges 7:25

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Judges 8:12

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

Judges 8:21

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man [is, so is] his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that [were] on their camels' necks.