That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 83 concludes with one of the greatest declarations of the supremacy and uniqueness of God in all the Psalms. Throughout the chapter, the Psalmist has prayed against a confederacy of enemies who sought to destroy Israel and erase the name of God’s people from the earth (vv. 1-8). He asked the LORD to overthrow them as He had defeated Midian, Sisera, Jabin, Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna (vv. 9-11). Yet the ultimate purpose of the prayer was not the destruction of enemies. It was the glory of God. The Psalmist desired that God’s judgments would teach all nations who the LORD truly is. Therefore, the Psalm ends not with Israel’s triumph, but with God’s exaltation.
“That men may know.” This is the purpose of God’s judgments. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly acts so that men may know Him. When He sent plagues upon Egypt, He declared, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:5). When He divided the Red Sea, He said, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen” (Exodus 14:18). When He judged nations and delivered His people, He was revealing His glory and making Himself known.
The word “know” means far more than intellectual awareness. The enemies of Israel already knew the name of Israel’s God outwardly. The nations surrounding them had heard of the Exodus, the Red Sea, the wilderness, and the conquest of Canaan. Yet they did not truly know Him. They did not acknowledge His dominion, fear His power, or submit unto His authority. Therefore, the Psalmist prays that God’s mighty acts would cause men to recognize the reality of Who He is.
This clause also reveals the great end of all things. God’s highest purpose is the manifestation of His own glory. Men often think history revolves around nations, kings, wars, economies, or human achievement. Scripture teaches that history revolves around the revelation of God. He works all things according to His own purpose and glory (Ephesians 1:11-12).
“That thou.” The focus immediately turns away from men and unto God Himself. The purpose of judgment is not to magnify Israel, but to magnify Jehovah. Throughout the Psalm, the enemies sought their own glory and dominion. They desired to possess God’s inheritance for themselves (v.12). But The Psalmist’s concern is entirely different. He wants all men to know the LORD.
“Whose name alone is JEHOVAH.” This is one of the most remarkable statements about God in all the Old Testament. The name JEHOVAH belongs to God alone. It is not shared with idols, angels, kings, or men. The false gods of the heathen have many names, but only the living God is JEHOVAH.
The name JEHOVAH is especially significant in this verse. It is one of only a few places where the King James Bible prints the divine name itself rather than translating it as LORD. Throughout most of the Old Testament, LORD in all capital letters represents the name JEHOVAH. Here the Spirit of God chose to preserve the name explicitly, drawing special attention to the unique identity of the God of Israel. He is not a lord among other lords, nor a god among other gods. He is JEHOVAH, the self-existent, eternal God Who revealed Himself unto Moses at the burning bush and Who alone possesses underived life and being.
The name Jehovah emphasizes God’s self-existence, eternality, and independence. When Moses asked God’s name, the LORD answered, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). God depends upon nothing outside Himself for existence. Men are born, live briefly, and die. Nations arise and disappear. Kingdoms come and go. But Jehovah simply is. He was before creation, remains throughout all generations, and shall continue forever.
The word “alone” is crucial. Jehovah stands alone in His deity. Scripture clearly teaches this truth. “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me” (Deuteronomy 32:39). Again, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me” (Isaiah 45:5). Every idol is vanity. Every false god is a lie. Every rival deity is an invention of fallen men. Jehovah alone is God.
This clause also destroys religious pluralism. The modern notion that all religions worship the same God under different names is contrary to Scripture. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is Jehovah. The idols of the nations are not alternative expressions of the same deity. They are false gods. As David declared, “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5).
The New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ shares fully in this divine glory. The Lord declared through Isaiah, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). Yet the New Testament repeatedly attributes Jehovah’s glory, titles, works, and worship unto Christ (John 12:41; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:8-12). Therefore, Christ is not another god beside Jehovah; He is the full revelation of Jehovah in the flesh, “the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3). “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).
“Art the most high.” This title emphasizes supreme dominion and authority. God is not just higher than others. He is the Most High. There is none above Him. Kings answer to Him. Nations answer to Him. Angels answer to Him. Devils answer to Him. Every creature exists beneath His throne.
The title appears frequently throughout Scripture to emphasize God’s universal rule. Melchizedek was priest of “the most high God” (Genesis 14:18). Nebuchadnezzar learned that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:32). The title therefore points to God’s absolute dominion over all creation.
This truth is especially important in the context of Psalm 83. The enemies of Israel appeared strong. Their confederacy seemed formidable. Their plans seemed threatening. But the Psalmist lifts his eyes above earthly powers unto the Most High. Nations may gather together, but they remain beneath God’s authority.
“Over all the earth.” God’s dominion is universal. He is not the God of Israel in a local or tribal sense. The heathen often imagined that gods were limited to certain lands, peoples, or territories. Jehovah rules over all the earth. Every nation, ruler, army, and kingdom exists beneath His dominion.
This theme runs throughout the Psalms. “The LORD reigneth” (Psalm 93:1). “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19). There is no place beyond His authority and no creature beyond His reach.
This verse therefore reveals the great purpose of God’s judgments, providence, and government of the world. He acts so that men may know Him. He humbles the proud, overthrows His enemies, delivers His people, and governs the nations to manifest His glory. The idols of the heathen are vanity, but Jehovah alone is God. His name alone is Jehovah. He alone possesses absolute deity, eternal existence, and universal dominion.
Here the Psalmist rises above the immediate conflict of Israel and her enemies to the highest truth of all. The LORD alone is Jehovah. He alone is the Most High. He alone reigns over all the earth. Every king, nation, ruler, and power shall ultimately bow before His throne, and all creation shall acknowledge His unrivaled majesty and dominion forever.
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 83 concludes with one of the greatest declarations of the supremacy and uniqueness of God in all the Psalms. Throughout the chapter, the Psalmist has prayed against a confederacy of enemies who sought to destroy Israel and erase the name of God’s people from the earth (vv. 1-8). He asked the LORD to overthrow them as He had defeated Midian, Sisera, Jabin, Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna (vv. 9-11). Yet the ultimate purpose of the prayer was not the destruction of enemies. It was the glory of God. The Psalmist desired that God’s judgments would teach all nations who the LORD truly is. Therefore, the Psalm ends not with Israel’s triumph, but with God’s exaltation.
“That men may know.” This is the purpose of God’s judgments. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly acts so that men may know Him. When He sent plagues upon Egypt, He declared, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:5). When He divided the Red Sea, He said, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen” (Exodus 14:18). When He judged nations and delivered His people, He was revealing His glory and making Himself known.
The word “know” means far more than intellectual awareness. The enemies of Israel already knew the name of Israel’s God outwardly. The nations surrounding them had heard of the Exodus, the Red Sea, the wilderness, and the conquest of Canaan. Yet they did not truly know Him. They did not acknowledge His dominion, fear His power, or submit unto His authority. Therefore, the Psalmist prays that God’s mighty acts would cause men to recognize the reality of Who He is.
This clause also reveals the great end of all things. God’s highest purpose is the manifestation of His own glory. Men often think history revolves around nations, kings, wars, economies, or human achievement. Scripture teaches that history revolves around the revelation of God. He works all things according to His own purpose and glory (Ephesians 1:11-12).
“That thou.” The focus immediately turns away from men and unto God Himself. The purpose of judgment is not to magnify Israel, but to magnify Jehovah. Throughout the Psalm, the enemies sought their own glory and dominion. They desired to possess God’s inheritance for themselves (v.12). But The Psalmist’s concern is entirely different. He wants all men to know the LORD.
“Whose name alone is JEHOVAH.” This is one of the most remarkable statements about God in all the Old Testament. The name JEHOVAH belongs to God alone. It is not shared with idols, angels, kings, or men. The false gods of the heathen have many names, but only the living God is JEHOVAH.
The name JEHOVAH is especially significant in this verse. It is one of only a few places where the King James Bible prints the divine name itself rather than translating it as LORD. Throughout most of the Old Testament, LORD in all capital letters represents the name JEHOVAH. Here the Spirit of God chose to preserve the name explicitly, drawing special attention to the unique identity of the God of Israel. He is not a lord among other lords, nor a god among other gods. He is JEHOVAH, the self-existent, eternal God Who revealed Himself unto Moses at the burning bush and Who alone possesses underived life and being.
The name Jehovah emphasizes God’s self-existence, eternality, and independence. When Moses asked God’s name, the LORD answered, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). God depends upon nothing outside Himself for existence. Men are born, live briefly, and die. Nations arise and disappear. Kingdoms come and go. But Jehovah simply is. He was before creation, remains throughout all generations, and shall continue forever.
The word “alone” is crucial. Jehovah stands alone in His deity. Scripture clearly teaches this truth. “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me” (Deuteronomy 32:39). Again, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me” (Isaiah 45:5). Every idol is vanity. Every false god is a lie. Every rival deity is an invention of fallen men. Jehovah alone is God.
This clause also destroys religious pluralism. The modern notion that all religions worship the same God under different names is contrary to Scripture. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is Jehovah. The idols of the nations are not alternative expressions of the same deity. They are false gods. As David declared, “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5).
The New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ shares fully in this divine glory. The Lord declared through Isaiah, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). Yet the New Testament repeatedly attributes Jehovah’s glory, titles, works, and worship unto Christ (John 12:41; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:8-12). Therefore, Christ is not another god beside Jehovah; He is the full revelation of Jehovah in the flesh, “the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3). “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).
“Art the most high.” This title emphasizes supreme dominion and authority. God is not just higher than others. He is the Most High. There is none above Him. Kings answer to Him. Nations answer to Him. Angels answer to Him. Devils answer to Him. Every creature exists beneath His throne.
The title appears frequently throughout Scripture to emphasize God’s universal rule. Melchizedek was priest of “the most high God” (Genesis 14:18). Nebuchadnezzar learned that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:32). The title therefore points to God’s absolute dominion over all creation.
This truth is especially important in the context of Psalm 83. The enemies of Israel appeared strong. Their confederacy seemed formidable. Their plans seemed threatening. But the Psalmist lifts his eyes above earthly powers unto the Most High. Nations may gather together, but they remain beneath God’s authority.
“Over all the earth.” God’s dominion is universal. He is not the God of Israel in a local or tribal sense. The heathen often imagined that gods were limited to certain lands, peoples, or territories. Jehovah rules over all the earth. Every nation, ruler, army, and kingdom exists beneath His dominion.
This theme runs throughout the Psalms. “The LORD reigneth” (Psalm 93:1). “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19). There is no place beyond His authority and no creature beyond His reach.
This verse therefore reveals the great purpose of God’s judgments, providence, and government of the world. He acts so that men may know Him. He humbles the proud, overthrows His enemies, delivers His people, and governs the nations to manifest His glory. The idols of the heathen are vanity, but Jehovah alone is God. His name alone is Jehovah. He alone possesses absolute deity, eternal existence, and universal dominion.
Here the Psalmist rises above the immediate conflict of Israel and her enemies to the highest truth of all. The LORD alone is Jehovah. He alone is the Most High. He alone reigns over all the earth. Every king, nation, ruler, and power shall ultimately bow before His throne, and all creation shall acknowledge His unrivaled majesty and dominion forever.