O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
O my God {H430}, make {H7896}{H8798)} them like a wheel {H1534}; as the stubble {H7179} before {H6440} the wind {H7307}.
My God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff driven by the wind.
Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind.
O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Psalms 35:5
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. -
Job 21:18
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. -
Isaiah 40:24
Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. -
Psalms 74:11
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck [it] out of thy bosom. -
Psalms 74:12
¶ For God [is] my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. -
Jeremiah 13:24
Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness. -
Job 13:25
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Psalm 83:13 is an impassioned plea from the psalmist Asaph to God for divine intervention against the enemies of Israel. This verse vividly describes the desired fate of those who conspire against God's people, using powerful natural imagery to convey their swift and complete destruction.
Context
Psalm 83 is an imprecatory psalm, a prayer for God's judgment against specific enemies. The psalm opens with a cry for God not to remain silent as a confederacy of nations has risen with the intent to wipe out Israel and erase their memory (Psalm 83:4). The psalmist recounts God's past victories over oppressors (e.g., Midianites and Sisera, mentioned in Judges 7:22 and Judges 4:15), appealing to Him to act similarly against the current threat. Verse 13 is part of the fervent request for God to make their enemies powerless and scattered.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "wheel" is galgal (גלגל), which can indeed refer to a wheel, but in this context, it often evokes the image of a dry, rolling tumbleweed or a whirlwind, something unstable and easily driven. The term for "stubble" is qash (קש), referring to the dry, worthless stalks left after harvest, which are highly combustible and easily blown away. Both terms powerfully convey fragility, instability, and swift destruction.
Practical Application
While this psalm is an imprecatory prayer specific to ancient Israel's enemies, its underlying principles offer timeless lessons. It reminds believers that God is the ultimate arbiter of justice and that He is sovereign over all nations and circumstances. When facing overwhelming opposition, whether personal, societal, or spiritual, believers can appeal to God for His intervention, trusting in His power to bring about justice and protect His people. It also serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly power and the eventual fate of those who set themselves against God and His purposes, ultimately leading them to know that Yahweh alone is the Most High.