Psalms 83:16

KJV

Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

Fill {H4390}{H8761)} their faces {H6440} with shame {H7036}; that they may seek {H1245}{H8762)} thy name {H8034}, O LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Fill their faces with shame, so that they will seek your name, ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.

American Standard Version

Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek thy name, O Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 83:16 is a fervent plea within a national lament, where the psalmist implores God to bring about a profound and visible humiliation upon a confederacy of hostile nations threatening Israel. This verse articulates a crucial aspect of divine justice: the judgment sought is not merely punitive but, fundamentally, redemptive. The psalmist desires that these adversaries, confronted by God's undeniable power and their own impotence, might be driven to acknowledge, seek, and ultimately submit to the name and sovereignty of the LORD.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 83 concludes Book 3 of the Psalter, standing as a communal lament attributed to Asaph. It is a desperate cry for divine intervention against a formidable, multi-national coalition (detailed in [Psalms 83:6-8](/psalms/83-6-8 "Psalms 83:6-8 - The Coalition of Enemies")) that has conspired to obliterate Israel's very identity and memory ([Psalms 83:4](/psalms/83-4 "Psalms 83:4 - Enemies' Plot to Erase Israel")). The psalmist appeals to God's past acts of decisive judgment and deliverance, such as those against Midian and Sisera ([Psalms 83:9-11](/psalms/83-9-11 "Psalms 83:9-11 - God's Past Victories Over Enemies")), and asks for a similar, overwhelming defeat upon the current aggressors. Verse 16 is part of a series of imprecations (verses 13-17) that build towards the ultimate theological purpose articulated in [Psalms 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "Psalms 83:18 - God's Universal Supremacy"): that all may come to know that the LORD alone is "the most High over all the earth." The immediate context of the imprecations is a desire for the enemies to be pursued, consumed, and ultimately shamed, leading to this profound spiritual outcome.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While no single historical event is definitively identified, Psalm 83 powerfully reflects the persistent geopolitical threats faced by ancient Israel from surrounding pagan nations. In the ancient Near East, the concept of "shame" (Hebrew *qâlôwn*) was a profoundly impactful social and personal experience, signifying public humiliation, disgrace, and the utter failure of one's plans or expectations, often leading to a catastrophic loss of honor and status. Conversely, to "seek the name" of a deity was to acknowledge their power, authority, and unique identity, often leading to worship, submission, or a turning away from other gods. The enemies' stated goal was to obliterate Israel's "name" or memory ([Psalms 83:4](/psalms/83-4 "Enemies' Desire to Erase Israel")), making the psalmist's prayer for them to seek God's name a direct and powerful counterpoint, asserting God's ultimate triumph and the vindication of His people. This cultural understanding amplifies the prayer's intensity and its redemptive thrust.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within the Psalter and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Justice**, demonstrating God's ultimate control over nations and historical events, and His unwavering commitment to defending His people and His own reputation. Secondly, and most strikingly, it reveals the **Redemptive Purpose of Judgment**. The requested "shame" is not an end in itself but a divinely purposed means to a greater spiritual end: the enemies' repentance and recognition of God. This aligns with God's broader desire for all people to come to Him, as seen in passages like [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience and Desire for Repentance"). Finally, it highlights the profound **Significance of God's Name**, which represents His character, authority, and covenant presence. "Seeking God's name" implies an active, intentional pursuit of His truth and a turning away from idolatry to acknowledge Yahweh as the one true God, the only "Most High" ([Psalms 83:18](/psalms/83-18 "God's Universal Supremacy")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Shame (Hebrew, _qâlôwn'_):** This term (H7036) conveys disgrace, dishonor, ignominy, and reproach. It signifies a public and undeniable failure of one's plans or expectations, resulting in a profound loss of honor and dignity. In this context, it is a divinely orchestrated reversal of fortune, where the enemies' pride and conspiracy are exposed and utterly defeated, leading to a state of public humiliation that cannot be hidden. It's not merely an internal feeling but a visible manifestation of their confounded state.
* **Seek (Hebrew, _bâqash'_):** Derived from the primitive root (H1245), this word means to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer), to strive after, ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, or require. It implies an active, intentional, and often fervent pursuit or inquiry. Here, it signifies a turning towards God, an active desire to know Him, and ultimately to submit to His authority and truth, moving beyond mere intellectual acknowledgment to a relational pursuit of the Divine.
* **Name (Hebrew, _shêm'_):** In biblical thought, a "name" (H8034) is far more than a label; it embodies the essence, character, reputation, authority, and very being of a person or deity. To "seek God's name" is to seek His revealed character, His power, and His covenant relationship. For the enemies, it is a call for them to acknowledge Yahweh (the LORD, YHWH) as the one true God, distinct from their false deities, and to turn to Him in repentance and worship, recognizing His unique identity and supremacy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Fill their faces with shame":** This vivid and powerful imagery depicts a profound, undeniable, and public humiliation. The "faces" (Hebrew _pânîym_, H6440) signify outward appearance, honor, and reputation. The psalmist prays for a divine intervention so overwhelming that the enemies' pride is shattered, their schemes exposed, and their countenances visibly reflect their defeat and disgrace. This is not merely an internal feeling but an externally manifest state of being utterly confounded and put to open confusion, a complete reversal of their arrogant designs.
* **"that they may seek thy name, O LORD":** This crucial clause reveals the redemptive and evangelistic intent behind the requested judgment. The "shame" (Hebrew _qâlôwn_, H7036) is not an end in itself but a divinely purposed means to a higher spiritual goal. The psalmist desires that the enemies, confronted with God's undeniable power and their own impotence, would be driven to acknowledge Yahweh (the LORD, YHWH, H3068), inquire about His character, and ultimately turn to Him in repentance and submission. It is a prayer for their spiritual awakening, conversion, and recognition of God's supreme authority and unique identity.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs powerful **Imagery** through the phrase "Fill their faces with shame," which evokes a vivid picture of public humiliation and visible disgrace, where the inner state of defeat is outwardly manifest on their countenances. This is a form of **Metonymy**, where "faces" stands for the entire person and their honor or reputation. The grammatical structure of the verse also demonstrates a clear **Purpose Clause** (introduced by "that they may seek"), which explicitly articulates the desired outcome of the divine action. This highlights the profound **Theological Irony** present in the psalm: the very judgment intended to confound the enemies is simultaneously purposed for their potential conversion, transforming a curse into a potential blessing. The psalm also utilizes **Imprecation**, a prayer for judgment, but uniquely combines it with a redemptive and evangelistic aim, moving beyond mere retribution to a desire for spiritual transformation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The prayer in Psalms 83:16 demonstrates a profound and nuanced understanding of God's character, revealing that divine judgment is not solely punitive but often carries a redemptive and salvific purpose. While the psalmist earnestly desires God's intervention against those who threaten His people and His name, the ultimate aim extends beyond mere retribution to the spiritual transformation of the adversaries. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's desire for all humanity to come to a saving knowledge of Him, even those who initially oppose Him. It underscores God's sovereignty over nations and His capacity to use even adverse circumstances to draw people to Himself, revealing His glory and truth to those who would otherwise remain in rebellion. This perspective elevates the psalm from a simple cry for vengeance to a profound expression of God's universal redemptive plan.
* [Isaiah 26:9](/isaiah/26-9 "Isaiah 26:9 - God's Judgments Teach Righteousness")
* [Romans 11:11](/romans/11-11 "Romans 11:11 - Salvation for the Gentiles")
* [1 Timothy 2:4](/1_timothy/2-4 "1 Timothy 2:4 - God Desires All to Be Saved")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 83:16 offers a challenging yet deeply spiritual model for how believers should approach those who oppose them or God's purposes. It compels us to move beyond a simple desire for retribution, inviting us to pray for a divine intervention that, while bringing justice, also opens a path for repentance and recognition of God's sovereignty. This teaches us to cultivate a heart that longs not only for our own deliverance and protection but also for the spiritual awakening and ultimate well-being of our adversaries. It prompts us to consider that God's ways are often higher than our own, using even moments of judgment to reveal His truth and draw people into relationship with Him. In a world often characterized by division, animosity, and a desire for vengeance, this verse calls us to pray for the ultimate good of all, even our enemies, trusting that God's power can humble the proud and turn hearts towards Him, thereby expanding His kingdom and glorifying His name. It encourages us to see God's justice not just as punishment, but as a means to bring about His ultimate redemptive purposes in the lives of all people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge my natural inclination to pray only for judgment upon those who oppose me or God's work, rather than for their spiritual transformation?**
* **In what practical ways can I pray for the repentance and salvation of individuals or groups who seem to be against God's purposes or His people, both globally and in my local context?**
* **How does understanding the redemptive purpose of God's judgment deepen my faith in His ultimate plan for humanity and His desire for all to know Him?**

### FAQ
**Is it appropriate for Christians to pray for "shame" upon others?**

Answer: While the term "shame" in modern English often carries a negative connotation of malicious humiliation or personal disgrace, in the biblical context of Psalms 83:16, it refers to a divinely orchestrated humbling or confounding that serves a redemptive purpose. The psalmist's prayer is not for vindictive harm but for an intervention that exposes the futility of opposing God, leading to a spiritual awakening. For Christians, this aligns with praying for God's justice to prevail in such a way that it leads to repentance and recognition of God's truth, rather than merely punitive punishment. The ultimate goal is that "they may seek thy name," which is a desire for their salvation and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, consistent with the New Testament call to pray for all people, including those who persecute us ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")) and to desire that all come to a knowledge of the truth ([1 Timothy 2:4](/1_timothy/2-4 "1 Timothy 2:4 - God Desires All to Be Saved")).

**What does "seek thy name, O LORD" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: To "seek thy name, O LORD" goes beyond merely knowing about God. It implies an active, earnest pursuit of His character, authority, and presence. In the context of enemies, it means turning away from their false gods and hostile intentions to acknowledge Yahweh as the one true God, to submit to His will, and potentially to enter into a relationship with Him. It's a profound call for repentance, conversion, and a recognition of God's unique identity and supreme power, as highlighted in passages like [Deuteronomy 4:29](/deuteronomy/4-29 "Deuteronomy 4:29 - Seeking the Lord with All Your Heart") which calls for seeking God with all one's heart and soul. This seeking is not a casual inquiry but a transformative turning to the living God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 83:16 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies God's desire for both justice and reconciliation. While the psalmist prays for the enemies to be shamed into seeking God's name, Jesus, through His life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, became the ultimate revelation of God's name and character. The cross, though appearing as ultimate shame and humiliation for Christ ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus Endured the Cross")), paradoxically became the means by which humanity could truly "seek" and find God's name, reconciling sinners to the Father. The New Testament consistently portrays God's desire for all people to come to repentance and knowledge of the truth, a desire perfectly demonstrated by Christ's sacrifice for His enemies ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Still Sinners")). The shame of sin and rebellion is exposed and overcome through faith in Christ, leading to a glorious recognition of God's sovereignty and grace, as every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Christ's Exaltation and Universal Confession")). Thus, the ancient prayer for enemies to seek God's name is ultimately fulfilled in the global mission of the church, calling all nations to repentance and faith in the one who bore the shame for us, that we might bear His name and be reconciled to God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")).

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 6:10

Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return [and] be ashamed suddenly.

Psalms 9:19

Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

Psalms 9:20

Put them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to be but] men. Selah.

Psalms 132:18

His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

Job 10:15

If I be wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head. [I am] full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

Psalms 34:5

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

Psalms 109:29

Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.