Psalms 83:17 — Word Study
WLCיֵבֹ֖שׁוּ וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ עֲדֵי־ עַ֗ד וְֽיַחְפְּר֥וּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
BSAto fillmâlêʼ facepânîym dishonorqâlôwn to seekbâqash nameshêm The LordYᵉhôvâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ | may they be ashamed | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ | and they may be dismayed | Conjunction, verb niphal third person masculine plural |
| עֲדֵי־ | until | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| עַ֗ד | perpetuity | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְֽיַחְפְּר֥וּ | and may they be abashed | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine plural |
| וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ | and they may perish | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. |
| KJV | Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: |
| ASV | Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish; |
| YLT | They are ashamed and troubled for ever, Yea, they are confounded and lost. |
| WEB | Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish; |
| BBE | Let them be overcome and troubled for ever; let them be put to shame and come to destruction; |
Where they part company is וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main clause expressing the psalmist's desire, followed by a conjunction and a second clause that completes the thought.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָלֵא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 83:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Plea for Judgmentgenerated
Psalm 83:17 is part of a larger plea where the psalmist asks God to act against His enemies. The verses surrounding this one highlight the urgency and desperation of the psalmist's call for divine intervention, emphasizing the need for the enemies to recognize God's sovereignty and power. This plea reflects a common theme in the Psalms, where the faithful seek God's justice against those who oppose Him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 35:4–26 | May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded. |
| 2 | Psalm 40:14–15 | May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated. |
| 3 | Psalm 109:29 | May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ, ye.Vo.shugenerated
The verb יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ (ye.Vo.shu) is in the imperfect tense, indicating a wish or desire for the enemies to be ashamed. It is derived from the root בּוֹשׁ (buwsh), which means 'to be ashamed.' This word conveys a strong emotional response, suggesting feelings of guilt and disappointment.
In this context, the psalmist desires not just a momentary shame but a deep and lasting sense of disgrace for the adversaries of God. The use of the verb here emphasizes the psalmist's hope for a complete reversal of the enemies' pride and confidence.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a series of verbs that express the psalmist's desires for the enemies of God. The main verb is יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ, may they be ashamed, which leads into two additional verbs: וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ, and may they be dismayed, and וְֽיַחְפְּר֥וּ, and may they be abashed, culminating with וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ, and may they perish.
The structure emphasizes a progression of emotional states leading to the ultimate desire for destruction, reflecting the intensity of the psalmist's plea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ as πλήρωσον, which suggests a filling or completion of the state of shame. This choice implies a more profound sense of fulfillment in the emotional experience of shame.
For וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ, the LXX uses πρόσωπα, indicating a focus on the face or presence, which can imply a direct confrontation with the consequences of their actions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 83:17 expresses a strong desire for God's enemies to feel deep shame and terror, leading to their destruction. The psalmist calls for their disgrace as a way to highlight God's power and justice.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being ashamed in this context refers to a deep sense of guilt and embarrassment for opposing God, leading them to recognize their wrongdoings.
The psalmist desires their destruction as a means of justice, reflecting the belief that those who oppose God should face consequences for their actions.
This verse encapsulates the theme of seeking divine justice against adversaries, emphasizing the psalmist's plea for God's intervention.
The emotional states of shame and terror highlight the seriousness of the situation and the psalmist's urgent call for God to act against His enemies.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I felt ashamed, and how did I respond?
- How can I better understand the consequences of opposing God's will?
- What does it mean to me to seek justice in my own life?
- How can I support others who are struggling with feelings of shame or guilt?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 83:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet them be confounded and troubled for ever,.... As long as they are in this world, and to all eternity in another; a dreadful portion this: yea, let them be put to shame, and perish; wholly and
Read John Gill on Psalms 83 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryO my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. -Second part of the second main division. Prayer inspired by God for the extinction of the foe by the fiery storm of God. Verse 13.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 83 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleBut those of them that will not humble themselves before thee, let them be utterly destroyed.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 83 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 83:17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:Ver. 17. Let them be confounded, &c.] This and the following verse are an exposition of the former verse. The Rabbis have a saying, nulla est obiectio in Lege, quae non habet solutionem in latere , The Scripture is its own interpreter.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 83 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Let them - perish] That is, in their present attempts. Some have objected to the execrations in this Psalm, without due consideration. None of these execrations refer either to their souls or to their eternal state; but merely to their discomfiture on their present attempts. Suppose the continental powers should join together to subjugate Britain, and destroy the Protestant religion; is there a Christian in the land that would not be justified in meeting them with the same or similar execrations? On the knees of my soul would I offer every one of them to God against such invaders. Selah.-A. C.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 83 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. Let them be ashamed and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be put to confusion and perish:
Read Cambridge on Psalms 83 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet them be confounded - Let them be ashamed. That is, Let them have that kind of shame and confusion which results from the fact that their plans have not been successful, or that they have been
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 83 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17. Confounded… troubled for ever… put to shame… perish—Strong words. The psalmist sees it is folly to hope directly for the conversion of his enemies; their power must first be broken, and in their distress they may confess God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 83 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace.
Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace.
May they be humiliated and continually terrified! May they die in shame!
Tyndale line
Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish;
Let them be ashamed and dismayed for ever; yea, let them be confounded and perish:
Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yes, let them be put to shame, and perish:
Let them be confounded and troubled for euer: yea, let them be put to shame and perish,
Strictly literal
Let them be put to shame and be dismayed for ever, and let them be confounded and perish:
They are ashamed and troubled for ever, Yea, they are confounded and lost.
They are ashamed and troubled forever, || Indeed, they are confounded and lost.
(83:18) Let them be made ashamed and terrified for ever and aye; yea, let them be put to the blush and perish:
May they be put to shame and be terrified forever; may they perish in disgrace.
Simplified
Make them ashamed, terrify them forever so that they die in disgrace.
Let them be overcome and troubled for ever; let them be put to shame and come to destruction;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ עֲדֵי־עַ֗ד וְֽיַחְפְּר֥וּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ, which translates to 'May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace.' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all six words correspond, though the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls (Mas1e) contain only three words, with the rest supplied by an editor, indicating a partial agreement with the Masoretic Text but lacking the full context of the verse.
יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ עֲדֵי־ עַ֗ד וְֽיַחְפְּר֥וּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
מלא פני׳הם קלון [ויבקשו] [שמ׳ך] [יהוה]
3 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 83:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בּוֹשׁ (buwsh) is a Hebrew root meaning 'to be ashamed.' It encompasses feelings of shame, disappointment, and disconcertion. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to feel shame), Piel (to delay in shame), and Hiphil (to put to shame). The entries indicate a range of uses, from personal feelings of shame to actions that cause shame to others.
בּוֹשׁ 109 vb. be ashamed
Qal
abs. feel shame
sq. מִן, be ashamed of, i.e. disconcerted, disappointed by reason of
with obj. I am ashamed to ask
Polel delay (in shame)
Hiph.
put to shame
put to shame
act shamefully
to be put to shame
be ashamed
Hithp. ashamed before one another
base
H954 בּוֹשׁ be ashamed
954 buwsh boosh
a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to
be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or
delayed:--(be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with,
a-)shamed(-d), be (put to) confounded(-fusion), become dry,
delay, be long.
בּוֹשׁ (bush) — be ashamed.
1) to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to feel shame
1a2) to be ashamed, disconcerted, disappointed (by reason of)
1b) (Piel) to delay (in shame)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to put to shame
1c2) to act shamefully
1c3) to be ashamed
1d) (Hithpolel) to be ashamed before one another
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
a-shamd': Almost exclusively moral in significance; confusion or abashment through consciousness of guilt or of its exposure. Often including also a sense of terror or fear because of the disgrace connected with the performance of some action. Capacity for shame indicates that moral sense (conscience) is not extinct. "Ashamed" occurs 96 out of 118 times in the Old Testament. Hebrew bosh, "to feel shame" (Latin, pudere), with derivatives occurs 80 times; kalam, "to shame," including the thought of "disgrace," "reproach"; chapher, "to blush": hence shame because of frustrated plans (uniformly in the Revised Version (British and American) "confounded"); Greek aischunomai, "suffused with shame," passive only and its compounds. Uses:
(1) A few times, of actual embarrassment, as of Hazael before the steadfast look of Elisha (2Ki 8:11; see…
בָּהַל (bahal) is a Hebrew verb that conveys a range of meanings related to disturbance and haste. It can mean to be disturbed, terrified, or anxious, as well as to act hastily or make haste. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including Niph, Pi, Pu, and Hiph, which reflect different nuances of dismay and urgency.
[בָּהַל] vb.
Niph.
be disturbed, dismayed, terrified
be in haste, hasty
Pi.
dismay, terrify
hasten, make haste, act hastily
Pu. hastened; hastily gained
Hiph.
dismay, terrify
(late) hasten, hurry
base
H926 בָּהַל . . be disturbed, dismayed, terrified
. be in haste, hasty
. . dismay, terrify
. hasten, make haste, act hastily
. hastened; hastily gained
. . dismay, terrify
. (late) hasten, hurry
926 bahal baw-hal'
a primitive root; to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e.
(figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or
agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously:--be (make)
affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make)
haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble,
vex.
בָּהַל (ba.hal) — to dismay.
1) to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be disturbed, dismayed, terrified, anxious
1a2) to be in haste, be hasty
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make haste, act hastily, be hurried, be hastened
1b2) to dismay, terrify
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to hasten
1c2) hastened, hastily gained (part.)
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to hasten, hurry, make haste
1d2) to dismay, terrify
HC/VNu3mp — Conjunction · verb niphal third person masculine pluralHC/VNu3mp
עַד, transliterated as ad, refers to the concept of perpetuity, encompassing both past and future time. It signifies a duration that can imply eternity or continuous existence. The term is associated with ancient mountains in the context of the past and is used to denote the idea of forever in relation to the future, particularly in reference to God's existence.
עַד and וָעֶ֑ד (so alw.) n.m. perpetuity (= advancing time)
of past time: ancient mountains
of future time, לָעַד for ever
base
H5703 עַד, וָעֶ֑ד perpetuity . of past time: ancient mountains
. of future time, לָעַד for ever
5703 `ad ad
from 5710; properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by
implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity
(substantially as a noun, either with or without a
preposition):--eternity, ever(- lasting, -more), old,
perpetually, + world without end.
see HEBREW for 05710
עַד (ad) — perpetuity.
1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future
1a) ancient (of past time)
1b) for ever (of future time)
1b1) of continuous existence
1c) for ever (of God's existence)
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
prep.
of space
Of time
Of degree
conj.
until
While
Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
of space
Of time
Of degree
base
H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
. conj. . until
. While
. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
5704 `ad ad
properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or
conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,
or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,
while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,
at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),
(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,
till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
see HEBREW for 05703
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as
1a) of space
1a1) as far as, up to, even to
1b) in combination
1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)
1c) of time
1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end
1d) of degree
1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like
conj
2) until, while, to the point that, so that even
Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
חָפֵר (chapher) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be abashed or ashamed. It can refer to feeling embarrassed or confounded, and in the Hiphil form, it indicates causing someone else to feel shame. The word is built from a primitive root related to detection, emphasizing the emotional response of shame.
[חָפֵר] vb. be abashed, ashamed
Qal be abashed, ashamed
Hiph. display shame
base
H2659 חָפֵר be abashed, ashamed
2659 chapher khaw-fare'
a primitive root (perhaps rath. the same as 2658 through the
idea of detection): to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed,
disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach:--be ashamed, be
confounded, be brought to confusion (unto shame), come (be put
to) shame, bring reproach.
see HEBREW for 02658
חָפֵר (cha.pher) — be ashamed.
1) to be ashamed, be confounded, be abashed, feel abashed
1a) (Qal) to be ashamed, be abashed
1b) (Hiphil) to display shame, demonstrate shame, cause embarrassment
HC/Vqu3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine pluralHC/Vqu3mp
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) perish, die, be exterminated
1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)
1a3) be lost, strayed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate
1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)
1b3) cause to stray, lose
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to destroy, put to death
1c1a) of divine judgment
1c2) object name of kings (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
HC/Vqu3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine pluralHC/Vqu3mp
