Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 83:3

"Thy take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones." — Psalms 83:3 (ASV)

They have taken crafty counsel - The one word translated “have taken crafty” — ערם ‛âram — means properly to make naked, and then, to be crafty, cunning, malignant (1 Samuel 23:22). It is well rendered here; they have taken crafty counsel. The meaning is, they have made their counsel or their consultations crafty, cunning, artful, malignant. Instead of pursuing a course in their deliberations that would be just, true, honorable, they have followed the reverse.

On the word rendered “counsel” — סוד sôd — which means a couch or cushion, and hence, a divan — see Job 15:8, note; Psalms 25:14, note; Psalms 64:2, note. The idea here is that the persons referred to in the subsequent part of the psalm (Psalms 83:6–8) had been assembled in a divan, or for consultation, and that they had there formed a malignant plan — against God and his people — which they were now proceeding to execute.

Against your people - For the purpose of destroying them.

And consulted against your hidden ones - The word rendered “hidden ones” — from the verb צפן tsâphan — to hide, to conceal — properly denotes that which is secret, private, inaccessible (Ezekiel 7:22); and then, anything protected or hidden so as to be secure. Compare the notes at Psalm 27:5. It would seem here to refer to those who were so protected by Yahweh — so inaccessible to others by reason of his guardian care — that they would be safe.