Psalms 83:14

KJV

As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

KJV (with Strong's)

As the fire {H784} burneth {H1197}{H8799)} a wood {H3293}, and as the flame {H3852} setteth {H3857} the mountains {H2022} on fire {H3857}{H8762)};

Complete Jewish Bible

Like fire burning up the forest, like a flame that sets the mountains ablaze,

Berean Standard Bible

As fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets the mountains ablaze,

American Standard Version

As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 83:14 employs remarkably vivid and powerful imagery to articulate the psalmist's fervent prayer for divine judgment against Israel's conspiring enemies. It likens the overwhelming and total destruction of God's adversaries to an uncontainable wildfire, relentlessly consuming vast forests and even setting mountains ablaze, thereby emphasizing the intensity, totality, and irresistible nature of God's anticipated intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 83 is a communal lament and an imprecatory prayer, attributed to Asaph. It opens with an urgent plea for God not to remain silent while a confederacy of nations conspires against His people (vv. 1-5). The psalmist lists these specific enemies (vv. 6-8), whose stated goal is to eradicate Israel's name (v. 4). Verses 9-17 constitute the core imprecation, where the psalmist appeals to God to act decisively against these foes, recalling past victories (e.g., against Midian, Sisera, Jabin in vv. 9-12). Verse 14 is a crucial part of this petition, employing escalating natural disaster imagery to describe the desired intensity and scope of divine judgment, leading to the ultimate purpose stated in [Psalm 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "Psalm 83:18 - That Men May Know You Are God").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The specific historical context for Psalm 83 is debated among scholars, but it clearly reflects a period of significant existential threat to Israel from a coalition of surrounding nations. Such confederacies were common in the ancient Near East, where smaller nations often banded together against a common, stronger foe or to assert dominance. The imagery of fire consuming "wood" (forests) and "mountains" would have been immediately recognizable and terrifying to an ancient audience, as wildfires were a natural and destructive force in the region. Furthermore, fire was frequently used in ancient warfare to destroy crops, cities, and fortifications, and it served as a potent symbol of divine wrath and judgment in the broader cultural and religious landscape.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 83 and the Psalter. The primary theme is **Divine Judgment and Retribution**, where God is implored to act with overwhelming force against those who defy Him and threaten His covenant people. This leads to the theme of **God's Consuming Power**, emphasizing His absolute ability to annihilate opposition, leaving no trace, much like an unstoppable wildfire. Crucially, the ultimate aim of this destructive judgment is the **Vindication of God's Name and Sovereignty**, as the psalmist desires that the nations, through this display of power, "may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth" ([Psalm 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "Psalm 83:18 - God's Name and Sovereignty")). The psalm also touches upon the **Security of God's People**, as it expresses a profound trust that God will ultimately defend and preserve Israel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wood (Hebrew, _ya'ar'_):** This term refers not merely to a single tree but to a forest, thicket, or wilderness. Its use here suggests a vast, dense, and expansive area, implying that the destructive fire will be widespread and comprehensive, leaving no part untouched. It conveys the idea of a large, vulnerable mass ready to be consumed.
* **Flame (Hebrew, _lahavah'_):** This word denotes an intense, blazing fire or a tongue of flame. It emphasizes the ferocity, heat, and rapid spread of the fire, highlighting the overwhelming and unstoppable nature of the destruction being invoked. It adds to the intensity beyond just "fire."
* **Mountains (Hebrew, _harim'_):** In this context, "mountains" represent not just hills but formidable, seemingly impregnable natural features. Their inclusion signifies that even the most grand, stable, and seemingly unassailable entities are susceptible to this divine "fire," underscoring the absolute totality and irresistible power of the judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As the fire burneth a wood":** This clause introduces the primary simile, comparing the divine judgment to a consuming fire. "Fire" (אֵשׁ, _'esh'_) is a common biblical metaphor for divine wrath, judgment, and purification. "Burneth" (תִּבְעַר, _tiv'ar'_) implies an active, devouring, and consuming action. The "wood" (יַעַר, _ya'ar'_) represents the vast and vulnerable target that is utterly consumed.
* **"and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;":** This parallel clause intensifies the imagery and expands the scope of destruction. "Flame" (לֶהָבָה, _lehavah'_) emphasizes the blazing intensity and speed of the conflagration. "Setteth...on fire" (תְּלַהֵט, _telahēt'_) suggests a rapid and widespread engulfment. The "mountains" (הָרִים, _harim'_), being massive and seemingly immovable, underscore the absolute and irresistible nature of the judgment, which spares nothing.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device in Psalms 83:14 is **Simile**, as it explicitly compares the desired divine judgment to the destructive power of a wildfire consuming a forest and setting mountains ablaze. This creates a vivid and terrifying image for the reader. The verse also employs **Parallelism**, specifically an intensifying or synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("as the flame setteth the mountains on fire") echoes and amplifies the first ("As the fire burneth a wood"). This intensifies the sense of complete and widespread destruction, moving from "wood" to the more formidable "mountains." **Imagery** is central, with strong sensory details of fire, burning, and consuming, painting a powerful mental picture of overwhelming and inescapable devastation. Furthermore, the description of mountains being set on fire could be considered **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used to emphasize the absolute and uncontainable nature of the divine judgment, conveying that no obstacle, however grand or stable, can withstand it.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The depiction of God's judgment as fire is a consistent and powerful theme throughout Scripture, signifying His holy wrath against sin, rebellion, and all that opposes His righteous will. This imagery is not merely about destruction but also about purification and the ultimate vindication of God's justice and sovereignty. It serves as a stark warning to those who defy the Creator and a profound comfort to His people, assuring them that He will ultimately act on their behalf, bringing all injustice to account. The psalmist's plea reflects a deep theological understanding of God as both merciful and a righteous judge, who will not allow evil to triumph indefinitely.

* [Nahum 1:6](/nahum/1-6 "Nahum 1:6 - God's Indignation Burns Like Fire")
* [Malachi 4:1](/malachi/4-1 "Malachi 4:1 - The Day of the Lord Burns Like a Furnace")
* [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - Our God is a Consuming Fire")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 83:14, though part of an imprecatory psalm, offers profound insights for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's ultimate justice and His unwavering commitment to His people. In a world often marked by injustice, oppression, and threats to faith, this verse assures us that no evil or opposition to God's kingdom will ultimately stand. It calls us to place our trust in God's supreme sovereignty, knowing that He is the righteous Judge who will, in His perfect timing, bring all things to account. While our New Testament calling is to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, this psalm reminds us that God's justice is real and that He alone holds the power to right all wrongs, prompting us to live in humility and reverence before His awesome power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of fire in this verse deepen your understanding of God's justice and holiness?**
* **In what ways does this psalm encourage you to trust in God's sovereignty and ultimate triumph amidst personal or global threats?**
* **How do we reconcile the imprecatory nature of this psalm with Jesus' New Testament command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"))?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist ask God to act with such destructive force?**

Answer: The psalmist's fervent plea for divine judgment is rooted in a deep concern for God's honor and the very survival of His covenant people. The confederacy of nations described in [Psalm 83:4](/psalms/83-4 "Psalm 83:4 - Enemies Conspire Against God's People") explicitly conspires to "cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more." This is not merely a request for personal vengeance, but a desperate cry for God to defend His own name and demonstrate His unique sovereignty to the nations, as explicitly stated in [Psalm 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "Psalm 83:18 - That Men May Know You Are God"). The destructive force requested reflects the existential nature of the threat and the psalmist's conviction that only God's overwhelming power can deliver and vindicate His glory.

**Is this verse compatible with the New Testament emphasis on love and forgiveness?**

Answer: While the New Testament profoundly emphasizes love for enemies and forgiveness, it does not negate God's justice or the reality of future judgment. [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine") reminds believers not to take vengeance into their own hands but to "leave room for God's wrath," declaring, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." This psalm, therefore, reflects a reliance on God's ultimate justice rather than human retaliation. The New Testament also speaks of a future day of judgment where God's wrath will be poured out (e.g., [Revelation 19:15](/revelation/19-15 "Revelation 19:15 - The Wrath of God")), demonstrating that divine judgment, though often delayed, is a consistent biblical theme. The key distinction lies in the agent of judgment: believers are called to extend love and forgiveness, while God reserves the right and power to execute righteous judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The vivid imagery of fire consuming "wood" and "mountains" in Psalms 83:14 finds its ultimate theological fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist prays for a consuming fire of judgment upon God's enemies, it is Christ, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who bore the consuming fire of God's wrath on the cross. For those who believe, His sacrifice extinguishes the flames of judgment, offering salvation and reconciliation ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Saved from Wrath Through Him")). However, for those who reject Him, Christ will return as the righteous judge, and the imagery of consuming fire will be terrifyingly fulfilled in the final judgment, where He will be revealed "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" ([2 Thessalonians 1:7](/2-thessalonians/1-7 "2 Thessalonians 1:7 - The Lord Jesus Revealed in Flaming Fire")). Thus, the ultimate vindication of God's name and the triumph over all His enemies, foreshadowed in this psalm, is achieved through Christ's redemptive work and will be fully realized at His glorious second coming, when "every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall 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

Deuteronomy 32:22

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

Malachi 4:1

¶ For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Isaiah 9:18

For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.

Isaiah 64:1

¶ Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

Isaiah 64:2

As [when] the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, [that] the nations may tremble at thy presence!

Nahum 1:10

For while [they be] folden together [as] thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

Ezekiel 20:47

And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.