Psalms 83:16

16 (82-17) Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O Lord.

Psalms 83:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 83:16

Fill their faces with shame
For their sins, or rather through disappointment, not being able to put their desperate and deep laid schemes into execution: or "with lightness" F15; instead of a weight of honour and glory upon them, let them be despised. R. Joseph Kimchi renders it, "fill their faces with fire"; let their faces be as if they were on fire, as men's faces are, who are put to an exceeding great blush, or are most sadly confounded and ashamed:

that they may seek thy name, O Lord;
not they themselves, who are filled with shame; for it is imprecated, that they be ashamed, and troubled for ever, and so as to perish, ( Psalms 83:17 ) but others; for the words may be supplied, as in ( Psalms 83:18 ) "that men may seek thy name, or that thy name may be sought": the judgments of God upon wicked men are sometimes the means of arousing others, and putting them upon seeking the Lord, his face, and his favour; that God would be merciful to them, pardon their iniquities, avert judgments from them, and preserve them from threatened calamities; and this is a good end, when answered; see ( Isaiah 26:9 Isaiah 26:16 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F15 (Nwlq) Heb. "levitate", Piscator; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 83:16 In-Context

14 (82-15) As fire which burneth the wood: and as a flame burning mountains:
15 (82-16) So shalt thou pursue them with thy tempest: and shalt trouble them in thy wrath.
16 (82-17) Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O Lord.
17 (82-18) Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: and let them be confounded and perish.
18 (82-19) And let them know that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the most High over all the earth.
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