Jeremiah 49:37

For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, [even] my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

For I will cause Elam {H5867} to be dismayed {H2865} before {H6440} their enemies {H341}, and before {H6440} them that seek {H1245} their life {H5315}: and I will bring {H935} evil {H7451} upon them, even my fierce {H2740} anger {H639}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}; and I will send {H7971} the sword {H2719} after {H310} them, till I have consumed {H3615} them:

I will break 'Eilam before their foes, before those who seek their lives; I will bring disaster on them, my burning anger,' says ADONAI. 'I will send the sword to pursue them until I have finished them off.

So I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster upon them, even My fierce anger,” declares the LORD. “I will send out the sword after them until I finish them off.

And I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life; and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith Jehovah; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

Jeremiah 49:37 is part of a series of prophecies delivered by the prophet Jeremiah against various surrounding nations, demonstrating the Lord's absolute sovereignty over all peoples and kingdoms. This particular verse focuses on the ancient kingdom of Elam, located east of Babylonia in what is now southwestern Iran.

Context of Jeremiah 49:37

The book of Jeremiah chronicles the prophet's warnings to Judah before its fall to Babylon, but it also includes pronouncements against foreign nations (Jeremiah 46-51). These prophecies served multiple purposes: to show that God's judgment was not limited to Israel, to reveal His control over history, and to offer a glimmer of hope for future restoration (though Elam's specific prophecy in Jeremiah 49:39 does mention future restoration, this verse focuses on judgment). Elam was a significant military power, often noted for its archers, and had a complex history with various Mesopotamian empires. The prophecy here foretells its downfall at the hands of its enemies, likely referring to the Babylonian conquests or subsequent Persian dominance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse explicitly states, "I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD." This highlights God's active role in executing divine judgment against nations that oppose His will or are steeped in wickedness.
  • Sovereignty of God: The Lord declares, "I will cause Elam to be dismayed," and "I will send the sword after them." This powerfully asserts God's sovereignty over all nations, demonstrating that He orchestrates the rise and fall of empires according to His divine plan.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: Elam, like other nations, faces severe consequences for its actions and its opposition to God's purposes, culminating in utter consumption by the sword.

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "dismayed" comes from the Hebrew ḥāṯaṯ (חָתַת), meaning to be shattered, terrified, or confounded. It implies a complete loss of courage and hope, rendering them powerless before their adversaries.
  • "Fierce anger" translates the Hebrew ḥărôn 'ap (חָרוֹן אַף), which literally means "burning of nose/face." This idiom vividly conveys the intense, consuming wrath of God, signifying a righteous and powerful indignation.
  • "Consumed them" is from the Hebrew kālāh (כָּלָה), meaning to complete, finish, or bring to an end, emphasizing the thoroughness of the destruction God would bring upon Elam.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 49:37 serves as a sober reminder that God is not only the God of Israel but the sovereign ruler of all the earth. His justice extends to all nations and peoples. This verse encourages us to:

  • Acknowledge God's Authority: Recognize that all earthly powers are ultimately subject to God's will and judgment.
  • Consider Consequences: Understand that there are divine consequences for rebellion, pride, and wickedness, both for individuals and for nations.
  • Trust God's Word: The fulfillment of such specific prophecies reinforces the reliability and truthfulness of God's prophetic word, assuring us that His promises and warnings are certain.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 9:16

    I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

  • Jeremiah 48:2

    [There shall be] no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from [being] a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.

  • Psalms 48:4

    For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

  • Psalms 48:6

    Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.

  • Jeremiah 49:29

    Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear [is] on every side.

  • Jeremiah 49:24

    Damascus is waxed feeble, [and] turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on [her]: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

  • Leviticus 26:33

    And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

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