Psalms 83:10 — Word Study
WLCנִשְׁמְד֥וּ בְֽעֵין־ דֹּ֑אר הָ֥יוּ דֹּ֝֗מֶן לָאֲדָמָֽה׃
BSAto makeʻâsâh MidianMidyân SiseraÇîyçᵉrâʼ JabinYâbîyn Brooknachal KishonQîyshôwn
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| נִשְׁמְד֥וּ | they were destroyed | Verb, Niphal, perfect third person common plural |
| בְֽעֵין־ | at En- | Preposition, noun proper |
| דֹּ֑אר | -dor | Noun proper |
| הָ֥יוּ | they became | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| דֹּ֝֗מֶן | dung | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לָאֲדָמָֽה׃ | for the ground | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. |
| KJV | Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. |
| ASV | Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth. |
| YLT | They were destroyed at Endor, They were dung for the ground! |
| WEB | who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth. |
| BBE | Who came to destruction at En-dor; their bodies became dust and waste. |
Translations agree on the meaning of נִשְׁמְד֥וּ across the versions presented.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by descriptive phrases that provide context and comparison.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשָׂה
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 83:10
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 Help Against Enemiesgenerated
Psalm 83:10 recalls the destruction of enemies at Endor, drawing on historical events to plead for God's intervention. The psalmist asks God to act against those who threaten His people, recalling how enemies like Midian were defeated, as seen in Joshua 17:11 and 1 Samuel 28:7. The imagery evokes a sense of urgency and desperation, as the psalmist seeks divine justice and protection for Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 17:11 | Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 28:7 | Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 9:37 | And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’ ” |
| 4 | Jeremiah 8:2 | They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 16:4 | “They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נִשְׁמְד֥וּ, nish.me.Dugenerated
The verb נִשְׁמְד֥וּ (nish.me.Du) is a Niphal perfect form of שָׁמַד (shamad), meaning 'they were destroyed.' This form indicates a completed action where the subjects have undergone destruction, emphasizing total annihilation.
The use of this verb in the context of the psalm highlights the complete devastation of the enemies, aligning with the themes of divine judgment and retribution. The verb's frequent occurrences in the Hebrew Bible often relate to significant acts of destruction, reinforcing the seriousness of the plea.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the rendering of נִשְׁמְד֥וּ as 'were destroyed.' The BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all maintain this meaning, underscoring the finality of the destruction.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The sentence structure centers around two main verbs: נִשְׁמְד֥וּ (they were destroyed) and הָ֥יוּ (they became), which govern the clauses that describe the actions and outcomes of the subjects. The prepositional phrases specify the location of their destruction and the comparison of their state.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the destruction first, followed by the comparison to dung, which highlights the shame and worthlessness of the enemies' fate.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נִשְׁמְד֥וּ with the Greek word ποίησον (poiēson), meaning 'make' or 'do.' This choice may imply an active divine role in their destruction, suggesting that their fate was not merely a result of circumstances but a direct action by God.
This translation indicates a slight shift in focus from the passive destruction in the Hebrew to an active divine involvement, which could reflect a theological interpretation by the translators.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 83:10 describes how enemies were destroyed at Endor and became like dung on the ground. This reflects the total defeat of those who opposed Israel, emphasizing their worthlessness after destruction.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Endor is a location associated with defeat and the consultation of a spiritist by King Saul, symbolizing a place of failure.
Dung represents something worthless, highlighting the complete humiliation and destruction of the enemies.
The verse recalls the defeat of enemies like Midian and Sisera, emphasizing God's power in delivering Israel.
By recalling past victories, the psalmist seeks God's intervention against current threats, invoking His historical actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God bring about justice in my own life?
- How can I recognize and confront the 'enemies' I face today, whether they are external or internal?
- What does the imagery of being like dung on the ground teach me about the consequences of opposing God's people?
- How can I rely on God's past faithfulness as I face challenges in my life?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 83:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhich perished at Endor,.... Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand this of the Midianites; but rather it is to be understood of Jabin and Sisera, and the army under them, who perished at this place, which
Read John Gill on Psalms 83 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhich perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth. En-dor is not mentioned in Judges as the scene of the overthrow of Midian.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 83 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhich perished at En-dor: either, 1. The Midianites. Or rather, 2. Jabin and Sisera, who were overthrown near Taanach and Megiddo, , nigh unto which places was this En-dor, as appears from . They became as dung for the earth; they were trodden under foot, and their carcasses left unburied. Compare 16:4.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 83 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 83:10 [Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] dung for the earth.Ver. 10. Which perished at Endor] A place in the tribe of Manasseh near unto that ancient river, the river Kison, Joshua 17:11 1 Samuel 28:7 They became as dunq] They lay unburied, rotted above ground, and were spread as compost upon soil.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 83 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) En-dor.—This place, for which see 1 Samuel 28, is not mentioned in Judges 4, but is in the battle-field not far from the Taanach and Megiddo of Deborah’s song. (Robinson, iii. 224)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 83 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 10. Perished at En-dor] This refers to the defeat of the Midianites by Gideon, who were encamped in the valley of Jezreel, at the foot of Mount Gilboa, and near to Tabor, Judges 6:33; Judges 7:1, and consequently in the environs of En-dor. There Gideon attacked and defeated them; and, in various places during their flight, they were destroyed, and left to rot upon the earth. Judges 7:22-25.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 83 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. En-dor is not mentioned in the narrative of Judges, but it was situated in the same valley as Taanach and Megiddo, which are named in Judges 5:19, and is mentioned along with them in Joshua 17:11. as dung] Omit as. A contemptuous expression for the fate of un-buried corpses. Cp 2 Kings 9:37; Jeremiah 8:2; &c.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 83 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhich perished at En-dor - Endor is not particularly mentioned in the history of the transaction in the book of Judges, but it is known that Endor was in the vicinity of Mount Tabor, and there is no
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 83 →The verse in English, compared — 17 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
who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.
who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.
They were destroyed at Endor; their corpses were like manure on the ground.
Tyndale line
Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth.
Which perished at En-dor; they became as dung for the earth.
Who perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.
They perished at En-dor, and were dung for the earth.
Strictly literal
Who were destroyed at Endor; they became as dung for the ground.
They were destroyed at Endor, They were dung for the ground!
They were destroyed at Endor, || They were dung for the ground!
(83:11) Who were annihilated at 'En-dor; they became as dung for the ground.
They perished at Endor and became like manure for the earth.
From the Latin
Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ.
Simplified
They were destroyed at Endor and became like manure to fertilize the ground.
Who came to destruction at En-dor; their bodies became dust and waste.
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 נִשְׁמְד֥וּ בְֽעֵין־ דֹּ֑אר הָ֥יוּ דֹּ֝֗מֶן לָאֲדָמָֽה׃, while the Septuagint matches five of the six words, indicating a close alignment with the Hebrew text. The Dead Sea Scrolls also confirm the Masoretic Text's wording, showing consistency across these ancient witnesses.
נִשְׁמְד֥וּ בְֽעֵין־ דֹּ֑אר הָ֥יוּ דֹּ֝֗מֶן לָאֲדָמָֽה׃
5 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.
עשה ל׳הם כמדין כסיסרא כיבין בנחל קישון
7 words on the leather.
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 83:10
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.
שָׁמַד (shamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to destroy or exterminate. It has forms in both the Niph'al, indicating being destroyed, and the Hiph'il, indicating the act of destroying. The entries emphasize its use in contexts of annihilation and devastation, with a focus on complete destruction.
[שָׁמַד] 90 vb. Niph. be exterminated, destroyed
Hiph. 69
annihilate, exterminate
destroy
base
H8045 [שָׁמַד] Niph. be exterminated, destroyed
8045 shamad shaw-mad'
a primitive root; to desolate:--destory(- uction), bring to
nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, X utterly.
שָׁמַד (sha.mad) — to destroy.
1) to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be annihilated, be exterminated
1a2) to be destroyed, be devastated
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to annihilate, exterminate
1b2) to destroy
Aramaic equivalent: she.mad (שְׁמַד "to destroy" H8046)
HVNp3cp — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common pluralHVNp3cp
עֵין־דֹּר (Eyn-Do'r) refers to a location in Palestine, specifically a place known as En-dor, which means 'fountain of dwelling.' It is situated in the territory of Issachar, though it was possessed by Manasseh. This site is noted for being the residence of a spiritist consulted by King Saul.
עֵין־דֹּר n.pr.loc. in Manasseh
base
H5874 עֵין־דֹּר, עֵין־דּאֹר
5874 `Eyn-Do'r, ane-dore'
or mEyn Dowr {ane dore}; or Eyn-Dor {ane-dore'}; from 5869
and 1755; fountain of dwelling; En-Dor, a place in
Palestine:--En-dor.
see HEBREW for 01755
עֵין־דֹּר (en-dor) — En-dor.
§ En-dor = "fountain of Dor"
a place in the territory of Issachar yet possessed by Manasseh; located 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Tabor
place of residence of the spiritist consulted by king Saul
HR/Npl — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
at the beginning of many Hebrew words, signifies a spring or fountain.
A fountain compounded with many names of towns and places; as En- dor, En-gedi, En-eglaim, En-shemesh, that is, the fountain of Dor, etc.
עֵין־דֹּר (Eyn-Do'r) refers to a location in Palestine, specifically a place known as En-dor, which means 'fountain of dwelling.' It is situated in the territory of Issachar, though it was possessed by Manasseh. This site is noted for being the residence of a spiritist consulted by King Saul.
עֵין־דֹּר n.pr.loc. in Manasseh
base
H5874 עֵין־דֹּר, עֵין־דּאֹר
5874 `Eyn-Do'r, ane-dore'
or mEyn Dowr {ane dore}; or Eyn-Dor {ane-dore'}; from 5869
and 1755; fountain of dwelling; En-Dor, a place in
Palestine:--En-dor.
see HEBREW for 01755
עֵין־דֹּר (en-dor) — En-dor.
§ En-dor = "fountain of Dor"
a place in the territory of Issachar yet possessed by Manasseh; located 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Tabor
place of residence of the spiritist consulted by king Saul
HNpl — Noun properHNpl
Dor
Dwelling, the Dora of the Romans, an ancient royal city of the Canaanites (Josh. 11:1, 2; 12:23). It was the most southern settlement of the Phoenicians on the coast of Syria. The original inhabitants seem never to have been expelled, although they were made tributary by David. It was one of Solomon’s commissariat districts (Judg. 1:27; 1 Kings 4:11). It has been identified with Tantura (so named from the supposed resemblance of its tower to a tantur, i.e., “a horn”). This tower fell in 1895, and nothing remains but debris and foundation walls, the remains of an old Crusading fortress. It is about 8 miles north of Caesarea, “a sad and sickly hamlet of wretched huts on a naked sea-beach.”
(dwelling), (Joshua 17:11; 1 Kings 4:11) an ancient royal city of the Canaanites, (Joshua 12:23) whose ruler was an ally of Jabin king of Hazor against Joshua. (Joshua 11:1,2) It appears to have been within the territory of the tribe of Asher, though allotted to Manasseh, (Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27) Solomon stationed at Dor one of his twelve purveyors. (1 Kings 4:11) jerome places it on the coast, "in the ninth mile from Caesarea, on the way to Ptolemais." Just at the point indicated is the small village of…
generation, habitation
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
דֹּ֫מֶן (domen) refers to dung, specifically associated with corpses and offal. It is consistently noted in this form across entries, indicating its specific use in the context of decaying matter on the ground.
דֹּ֫מֶן n.m. dung always in this form and always of corpses, lying on the ground as offal
base
H1828 דֹּ֫מֶן
1828 domen do'-men
of uncertain derivation; manure:--dung.
דֹּ֫מֶן (do.men) — dung.
dung (always of corpses) (fig.)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Dung
(1.) Used as manure (Luke 13:8); collected outside the city walls (Neh. 2:13). Of sacrifices, burned outside the camp (Ex. 29:14; Lev. 4:11; 8:17; Num. 19:5). To be “cast out as dung,” a figurative expression (1 Kings 14:10; 2 Kings 9:37; Jer. 8:2; Ps. 18:42), meaning to be rejected as unprofitable.
The uses of dung were two-fold --as manure and as fuel. The manure consisted either of straw steeped in liquid manure, (Isaiah 25:10) or the sweepings, (Isaiah 5:25) of the streets and roads, which were carefully removed from about the houses, and collected in heaps outside the walls of the towns at fixed spots --hence the dung-gate at Jerusalem --and thence removed in due course to the fields. The difficulty of procuring fuel in Syria, Arabia and Egypt has made dung in all ages valuable as a substitute. It was probably used for heating ovens and for baking cakes, (Ezra 4:12,15) the equable heat which it produced adapting it pecularily for the latter operation. Cow’s and camels dung is still used for a similar purpose by the Bedouins.
Among the Israelites, the dung of animals was used only for manure, but, when dried, for fuel. In districts where wood is scarce, the inhabitants are very careful in collecting the dung of camels and asses; it is mixed with chopped straw, and dried. It is not unusual to see a whole village with portions of this material adhering to the walls of the cottages to dry; and towards the end of autumn it is piled in conical heaps or stacks on the roof. It is employed in heating ovens, and for other similar purposes, Eze 4:12-16. The use of dung for manure is intimated in Isa 25:10.
אֲדָמָה (adamah) refers to ground or land, encompassing meanings such as tilled soil, a specific plot of land, and the earth's visible surface. It can denote territory or the whole inhabited earth, and it is also the name of a city in Naphtali. The word is derived from a root meaning 'red,' likely referring to the color of soil.
אֲדָמָה 224 n.f. ground, land (as tilled)
ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance)
piece of ground, landed property
earth as material substance
ground as earth's visible surface
land, territory, country
whole earth, inhabited earth
n. pr. loc. city in Naphtali
base
H127 אֲדָמָה ground, land . ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance)
. piece of ground, landed property
. earth as material substance
. ground as earth's visible surface
. land, territory, country
. whole earth, inhabited earth
. n. pr. loc. city in Naphtali
127 'adamah ad-aw-maw'
from 119; soil (from its general redness):--country, earth,
ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
see HEBREW for 0119
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: soil.
: soil
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
1e) land, territory, country
1f) whole inhabited earth
1g) city in Naphtali
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: country.
: country
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
1e) land, territory, country
1f) whole inhabited earth
1g) city in Naphtali
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: planet.
: planet
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
HRd/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa