Bible Strands
Psalms 83:18
May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist concludes a corporate prayer against a hostile coalition by petitioning God to display His supreme authority to the nations.
The words — The petition hinges on לְ/בַדֶּ֑/ךָ (le./va.De./kha), meaning "to/ alone/ you," and עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן (el.Yon), meaning "[the] Most High."
The thread — The theme of nations recognizing God's identity appears in Ezekiel 38:23, where they will know He is the LORD, and in Psalm 59:13, where destruction reveals that God rules over Jacob. Exodus 6:3 provides a contrasting note on the name the LORD, stating God did not make it known to the patriarchs.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers acknowledge God's exclusive sovereignty over all the earth before any other claim to authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.
Cross-references
- Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.
- Ezekiel 38:23 I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and I will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
- Psalms 59:13 Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah
- Jeremiah 16:21 “Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.
- 2 Kings 19:19 And now, O LORD our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
- Psalms 97:9 For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.
- Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
- Ezekiel 30:19 So I will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.”
- Daniel 4:32 You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
- 1 Kings 18:37 Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”