“Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
- KJV They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
- BSB saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
- NKJV They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
- NASB They have said, “Come, and let’s wipe them out as a nation, So that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The enemies plot to destroy Israel as a nation so its name is forgotten forever. Their goal is the complete annihilation of God's people.
Overview
The conspirators aim not merely to defeat but to erase Israel from history. Behind this lies an attack on God's covenant promises, for to blot out Israel would seem to nullify God's word. Such genocidal intent ultimately fails because God has bound His name and purposes to the preservation of His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jer 48:2The praise of Moab is no more; in Heshbon they have devised evil against her: ‘Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation.’ You also, Madmen, will be brought to silence. The sword will pursue you.
- Jer 11:19But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised devices against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.”
- Ps 74:8They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
- Esth 3:6–9But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.
- Dan 7:25He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
- Acts 9:1–2But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
- Exod 1:10Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.”
- Jer 31:36“If these ordinances depart from before me,” says Yahweh, “then the offspring of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.”
- Matt 27:62–66Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
- Prov 1:12Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
- Acts 4:17But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.”
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 83:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.