Psalm 83:7
New International Version
Byblos, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.

New Living Translation
Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites; and people from Philistia and Tyre.

English Standard Version
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Berean Standard Bible
of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

Berean Literal Bible
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with those dwelling in Tyre.

King James Bible
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

New King James Version
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

New American Standard Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

NASB 1995
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

NASB 1977
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Legacy Standard Bible
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Amplified Bible
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Berean Annotated Bible
of Gebal (a boundary), Ammon (tribal), and Amalek (dweller in a valley), of Philistia (land of sojourners) with the people of Tyre (a rock).

Christian Standard Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.

American Standard Version
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre:

Contemporary English Version
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia and Phoenicia.

English Revised Version
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia, along with those who live in Tyre.

Good News Translation
the people of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, and of Philistia and Tyre.

International Standard Version
Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, and the inhabitants of Tyre.

NET Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.

New Heart English Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Webster's Bible Translation
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

World English Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with inhabitants of Tyre,

Berean Literal Bible
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with those dwelling in Tyre.

Young's Literal Translation
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with inhabitants of Tyre,

Smith's Literal Translation
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek; the rovers with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Gebal, and Ammon and Amalec: the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, the foreigners among the inhabitants of Tyre.

New American Bible
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.

New Revised Standard Version
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The people of the region of Ammon and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The borders of Ammon and of Amalek and of the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tsur.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalec; the Philistines also, with them that dwell at Tyre.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do Not Be Still, O God
6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, 7of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. 8Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah…

Cross References
Gebal,

Ezekiel 27:9
The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your merchandise.

Joshua 13:5
the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.
Ammon,

Ezekiel 25:2-7
“Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. / Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD, for this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you exclaimed, “Aha!” when My sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and when the house of Judah went into exile, / therefore I will indeed give you as a possession to the people of the East. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. …

2 Samuel 10:1-5
Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. / And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, / the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” …

1 Samuel 11:1-11
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” / But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.” / “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” …
and Amalek,

Exodus 17:8-16
After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. / So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. …

Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, / how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. / When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

1 Samuel 15:2-3
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. / Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
of Philistia

Isaiah 14:29-32
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg. / Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root by famine, and your remnant will be slain. / Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks. …

Jeremiah 47:1-7
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. / This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail / at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp. …

Ezekiel 25:15-17
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast. / I will execute great vengeance against them with furious reproof. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’”
with the people of Tyre.

Ezekiel 27:3-8
Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says: You have said, O Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ / Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty. / They constructed all your planking with cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. …

Isaiah 23:1-18
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. / Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. / On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations. …

Joel 3:4-8
Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. / For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples. / You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland. …
Judges 6:3
Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,

Judges 8:24
Then he added, “Let me make a request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For the enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)


Treasury of Scripture

Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Gebal

Joshua 13:5
And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

Ezekiel 27:9
The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.

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Psalm 83
1. A complaint to God of the enemies conspiracies
9. A prayer against those who oppress the Church












of Gebal
Gebal, also known as Byblos, was an ancient Phoenician city located in modern-day Lebanon. It was a significant center for trade and religion in the ancient Near East. The mention of Gebal in Psalm 83:7 highlights its historical enmity with Israel. The city was known for its skilled craftsmen and builders, as referenced in Ezekiel 27:9, where the shipbuilders of Gebal are mentioned. This connection underscores the city's importance in maritime trade and its potential role in alliances against Israel.

Ammon
The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, as recorded in Genesis 19:38. They inhabited the region east of the Jordan River, in present-day Jordan. Historically, the Ammonites were frequent adversaries of Israel, often engaging in conflicts over territory and resources. Their enmity is documented in several biblical accounts, including Judges 11 and 1 Samuel 11. The inclusion of Ammon in this verse reflects the persistent hostility and opposition they posed to the Israelites throughout biblical history.

and Amalek
The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe descended from Esau, as noted in Genesis 36:12. They were among the first to attack the Israelites after the Exodus, as described in Exodus 17:8-16. This initial conflict led to a long-standing enmity between the two groups. The Amalekites are often seen as a symbol of opposition to God's people, and their mention in Psalm 83:7 serves as a reminder of their historical aggression and the divine judgment pronounced against them in passages like Deuteronomy 25:17-19.

of Philistia
The Philistines were a seafaring people who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan, in what is now the Gaza Strip. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as adversaries of Israel, with notable conflicts involving figures like Samson and David. The Philistines' advanced military technology, including their use of iron weapons, made them formidable opponents. Their inclusion in this verse highlights the persistent threat they posed to Israel's security and sovereignty.

with the people of Tyre
Tyre was a prominent Phoenician city-state located on the Mediterranean coast, known for its wealth and trade. The people of Tyre were skilled merchants and sailors, as depicted in Ezekiel 27. While Tyre had periods of peaceful relations with Israel, such as during the reign of King Hiram who assisted Solomon in building the temple (1 Kings 5), there were also times of hostility. The mention of Tyre in Psalm 83:7 suggests a coalition of various nations against Israel, emphasizing the widespread nature of the opposition faced by God's people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Gebal
An ancient city and region, often associated with the Phoenicians. It was known for its skilled craftsmen and maritime trade.

2. Ammon
A nation descended from Lot, located east of the Jordan River. Historically, the Ammonites were often in conflict with Israel.

3. Amalek
A nomadic tribe, descendants of Esau, known for their longstanding enmity with Israel. They attacked the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt.

4. Philistia
A region on the southwestern coast of Canaan, inhabited by the Philistines, who were frequent adversaries of Israel.

5. Tyre
A prominent Phoenician city known for its wealth and trade. It was located on the Mediterranean coast and had complex relations with Israel.
Teaching Points
Understanding Historical Context
Recognize the historical enmity between these nations and Israel. This context helps us understand the psalmist's plea for God's intervention against Israel's enemies.

Spiritual Warfare
Just as Israel faced physical enemies, Christians today face spiritual battles. Ephesians 6 reminds us to put on the full armor of God to stand against spiritual adversaries.

God's Sovereignty
Despite the alliances and threats against Israel, God remains sovereign. Trust in His ultimate control over nations and history.

Unity in Prayer
The psalmist's call for divine intervention encourages believers to unite in prayer against common spiritual challenges.

Lessons from History
Reflect on how past conflicts and resolutions in the Bible can guide us in dealing with current personal and communal challenges.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 83:7?

2. How can we identify modern-day equivalents of "Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek" today?

3. What lessons from Psalm 83:7 apply to spiritual warfare in our lives?

4. How does Psalm 83:7 connect with God's promises to protect Israel?

5. How should Psalm 83:7 influence our prayers for nations opposing God's people?

6. What historical context of Psalm 83:7 helps us understand its message today?

7. Who were the historical peoples mentioned in Psalm 83:7, and what happened to them?

8. How does Psalm 83:7 relate to the broader theme of enemies in the Bible?

9. What archaeological evidence supports the existence of the groups listed in Psalm 83:7?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 83?

11. Is there evidence that the events implied in Psalm 83 happened literally, or is this purely poetic hyperbole without historical basis?

12. Does the historical or archaeological record confirm that the nations listed in Psalm 83:6-8 ever formed a united conspiracy against Israel?

13. Do the names and alliances in Psalm 83:6-8 reflect actual historical groups, or might they be anachronistic or symbolic references?

14. Psalm 55:9 calls on God to 'confuse the wicked.' Where is the historical evidence of such a miraculous mass confusion?
What Does Psalm 83:7 Mean
Gebal

“Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the people of Tyre.” (Psalm 83:7)

• Gebal was a mountainous district in Edom, south of the Dead Sea. Edom itself is listed in the verse immediately before (Psalm 83:6), and Gebal represents a clan within that wider nation. Because Edom descended from Esau (Genesis 36:1–8), this name reminds us that even close relatives can oppose God’s covenant people.

• Throughout Scripture, Edom is pictured as a persistent foe (Obadiah 10–14; Ezekiel 35:5). By including Gebal, the psalmist underscores the completeness of the coalition: every level of Edomite society, from clan to kingdom, has aligned against Israel.

• The mention of Gebal also highlights geography. With Edom controlling the southern approaches, Israel is encircled from the southeast. The psalmist is showing how total the threat is—yet he prays with confidence because the Lord is faithful (Psalm 83:1, 18).


Ammon

• Ammon descended from Lot (Genesis 19:36–38). Though related to Israel, the Ammonites frequently chose hostility (Judges 11:4–27; 1 Samuel 11:1–3).

• God had earlier warned Israel not to take Ammonite land (Deuteronomy 2:19), but Ammon did not honor the restraint. The coalition in Psalm 83 reverses the roles: Ammon now presses into Israel’s inheritance.

• Their inclusion stresses that spiritual kinship by blood is not enough; obedience to God’s purposes is what matters (Jeremiah 49:1–6).


Amalek

• Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel after the Exodus (Exodus 17:8–16). God swore perpetual war against Amalek because that attack was ultimately against Him (Deuteronomy 25:17–19).

• Later, Saul’s partial obedience in 1 Samuel 15 shows how seriously God views Amalek’s hatred. By Psalm 83, the Amalekites are still determined to “wipe out” Israel (Psalm 83:4).

• Their presence in the list reminds us that ancient grudges linger when sin is unrepented. Yet God’s promise stands: He will blot out Amalek’s memory (Exodus 17:14), and the psalmist prays in line with that promise.


Philistia with the people of Tyre

• Philistia occupied the coastal plain in the southwest. From the era of Samson to David, they were Israel’s most visible military rival (Judges 13–16; 1 Samuel 17).

• Tyre sits far to the northwest, a Phoenician port famed for trade and wealth (Ezekiel 26:1–6). Though Philistia and Tyre rarely worked together militarily, both profited from Israel’s losses (Amos 1:6–10; Joel 3:4–8).

• By pairing them, the psalmist shows the breadth of the conspiracy—from Gaza’s coast to Lebanon’s harbors. Economic motives mingle with spiritual rebellion; the coalition wants Israel gone so that they can divide the land (Psalm 83:12).

• Notice that even commercial powers fall under God’s judgment when they oppose His redemptive plan. Tyre’s eventual downfall (Ezekiel 28:18–19) and Philistia’s destruction (Zephaniah 2:5–7) fulfill exactly what Asaph prays for here.


summary

Psalm 83:7 lists real nations that once surrounded Israel in every direction—south (Gebal/Edom), east (Ammon), southeast (Amalek), southwest (Philistia), and northwest (Tyre). Their united goal was to erase God’s covenant people, but the psalmist answers with confident intercession, appealing to the Lord’s past victories and unchanging promises. The verse therefore teaches that no matter how many foes band together, God’s purposes for Israel—and by extension all who trust Him—remain secure.

(7) Gebal.--If this is a noun, as generally supposed, and as printed in the text, we must take it as a synonym of Edom (the Gebalene of Eusebius). The Gebal of Ezekiel 27:9 is not to be thought of; but it is most likely a verb:

"Both Ammon and Amalek are joined together,

The Philistines (are joined) with the men of Tyre."

Verse 7. - Gebal. There is no reason to doubt that the Phoenician town of the name, mentioned in Ezekiel 27:9, and alluded to in Joshua 13:5 and 1 Kings 5:18, is meant. A southern Gebal, in the vicinity of Edom, is a fiction. Gebal was one of the most important of the Phoenician cities from the time of Shalmaneser II. (B.C. 828-810) to that of Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 635-560); see the author's 'History of Phoenicia,' p. 79. And Ammon. Ammon, like Moab, was a perpetual enemy of the Jewish people from their entrance into Palestine to the time of the Maccabees. And Amalek. The Amalekites, on the contrary, disappear from history from the time of their destruction by the Simeonites in the reign of Hezekiah (1 Chronicles 5:42, 43). The Philistines. Persistent enemies, like Edom, Moab, and Ammon (see I Macc. 5:66). With the inhabitants of Tyre. Tyre, in early times, was friendly to Israel (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1-18; 1 Kings 9:26-28). and is not elsewhere mentioned as hostile until the reign of Uzziah (Amos 1:9). She rejoiced, however, when Jerusalem was destroyed (Ezekiel 26:2).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Gebal,
גְּבָ֣ל (gə·ḇāl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1381: Gebal -- a region South of the Dead Sea

Ammon,
וְ֭עַמּוֹן (wə·‘am·mō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5983: Ammon -- a people living East of the Jordan

and Amalek,
וַעֲמָלֵ֑ק (wa·‘ă·mā·lêq)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6002: Amalek -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity

Philistia
פְּ֝לֶ֗שֶׁת (pə·le·šeṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6429: Philistia -- a territory on the southern Mediterranean coast of Israel

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the people
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of Tyre.
צֽוֹר׃ (ṣō·wr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6865: Tyre -- a Phoenician city


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OT Poetry: Psalm 83:7 Gebal Ammon and Amalek (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 83:6
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