What does Psalms 83:13 mean?
"O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind." - Psalms 83:13

Psalms 83:13 in the King James Version reads: "O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind."
This verse is part of a larger psalm that is attributed to Asaph, who was a Levite appointed by King David to be a chief musician and composer in the Temple. The psalm depicts a time of turmoil and conflict, with the enemies of Israel conspiring together to destroy God's people. Asaph calls on God to intervene and defeat these enemies, using powerful and vivid language to convey his desperation and hope for divine justice.
The specific imagery used in verse 13 is both striking and meaningful. Asaph asks God to "make them like a wheel," which is a reference to the swift and unstoppable movement of a spinning wheel. This imagery conveys the idea of the enemies' destruction being swift and inevitable, just as a wheel in motion cannot be stopped or reversed. This is a powerful plea for God to act decisively and completely against those who seek to harm his people.
Asaph also compares the enemies to "stubble before the wind," which is another powerful image of destruction and utter devastation. Stubble is the leftover remnants of harvested crops, dry and brittle, and easily blown away by the wind. This comparison suggests that the enemies of God's people are similarly weak and vulnerable, and that they will be utterly and completely swept away by the force of God's judgement.
In addition to the direct plea for divine intervention, this verse also carries wider thematic and symbolic significance within the context of the entire psalm. The imagery of the enemies being "like a wheel" and "stubble before the wind" serves to highlight the contrast between the strength and power of God and the weakness and futility of those who oppose him. It reinforces the idea that God's justice will prevail, and that those who seek to harm his people will ultimately be overcome and destroyed.
Furthermore, the imagery of a spinning wheel and the wind also carry deeper symbolic meanings within the biblical context. In the Bible, the wheel is often used as a symbol of God's sovereignty and providence, as seen in the vision of Ezekiel where he sees a wheel within a wheel, signifying the mysterious and inscrutable ways of God's providential care. Similarly, the wind is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the power of God's presence and action in the world.
By invoking these powerful and evocative images, Asaph is not only expressing his heartfelt plea for God's intervention in a time of crisis, but he is also tapping into a rich tapestry of biblical symbolism and thematic significance. The image of the enemies being swept away by the wind and crushed like a spinning wheel serves to remind the reader of God's ultimate power and sovereignty, and the assurance that his justice will ultimately prevail.
In summary, Psalms 83:13 in the King James Version is a powerful and evocative plea for divine intervention, using vivid imagery to convey the desperation and hope of the psalmist. The imagery of the enemies being "like a wheel" and "stubble before the wind" serves to highlight the contrast between the strength and power of God and the weakness and futility of those who oppose him. This verse carries wider thematic and symbolic significance within the biblical context, tapping into a rich tapestry of biblical imagery and theological themes. It ultimately serves as a powerful affirmation of God's ultimate sovereignty and the assurance of his justice prevailing in the face of adversity.
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Psalms 83:13 - "O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind."
"O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind." - Psalms 83:13
"Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;" - Psalms 83:7
"As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;" - Psalms 83:14
Psalms 83:7 - "Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;"
Psalms 83:6 - "The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;"
Psalms 83:10 - "Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth."
Psalms 83:5 - "For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:"
Psalms 83:14 - "As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;"
Psalms 83:8 - "Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah."
"Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:" - Psalms 83:9
Psalms 83:16 - "Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD."
Psalms 83:9 - "Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:"
Psalms 83:12 - "Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession."
Psalms 83:11 - "Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:"
Psalms 83:17 - "Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:"
"The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;" - Psalms 83:6
Psalms 83:15 - "So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm."
Psalms 83:3 - "They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones."
Psalms 83:1 - "Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God."
"Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:" - Psalms 83:11
"Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God." - Psalms 83:1
Psalms 119:83 - "For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes."
Psalms 83:18 - "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."
"Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth." - Psalms 83:10
Psalms 83:4 - "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."
"For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:" - Psalms 83:5
Psalms 83:2 - "For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
"Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah." - Psalms 83:8
"Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession." - Psalms 83:12