As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

PSALMS 83:14KJV
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Psalms 83:14 (KJV)

What does Psalms 83:14 mean?

Psalms 83:14 uses the image of a raging fire burning through wood and setting mountains ablaze to describe the overwhelming and unstoppable force the psalmist wants God to unleash against Israel’s enemies. The verse paints a picture of complete destruction, asking God to deal with hostile nations as fiercely as fire consumes a forest.

In this psalm, Asaph is speaking to God about the nations that have joined together against Israel. The verse is part of a prayer calling for God to act powerfully and decisively, using vivid natural imagery to express the hope that God’s intervention will be as thorough and consuming as wildfire on a mountain.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 83:14

  • fire (אֵשׁ, ’esh): This word means "fire" in a literal sense and is often used in the Hebrew Bible to symbolize God’s power or judgment. Here, it emphasizes the intensity of the destruction being requested.
  • burneth (בָּעַר, ba‘ar): This verb means "to burn" or "consume." It suggests a fire that actively devours whatever is in its path, highlighting the totality of the desired outcome.
  • wood (יָעַר, ya‘ar): This word refers to a forest or wooded area. The mention of wood makes the image more vivid, as forests are especially vulnerable to fire.
  • flame (לֶהָבָה, lehabah): This word means "flame" and adds to the sense of intensity and spread, as flames leap and move quickly.
  • mountains (הָרִים, harim): "Mountains" here likely refers to the hills of Israel or surrounding regions, which could be covered in forests. The image is of fire spreading uncontrollably over a vast area.

Why Psalms 83:14 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the psalmist is not just asking for defeat of enemies, but for a dramatic, unmistakable act of God’s power that would leave no doubt about His involvement.
  • The imagery of fire and mountains connects to other biblical passages where God’s judgment is described as consuming fire, helping readers see a consistent theme in how God’s intervention is portrayed.
  • Understanding the original Hebrew words deepens appreciation for the vividness and urgency of the prayer, showing that the request is for something swift, overwhelming, and impossible for human enemies to resist.

Where else these words appear

“setteth” Hebrew H3857 · used in 11 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
  • Psalms 97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
  • Isaiah 42:25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

“flame” Hebrew H3852 · used in 19 verses

  • Numbers 21:28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
  • Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
  • Ezekiel 20:47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

“wood” Hebrew H3293 · used in 58 verses

  • Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
  • Psalms 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
  • Isaiah 56:9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

“burneth” Hebrew H1197 · used in 90 verses

  • Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
  • Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.