Jeremiah 49 37

Jeremiah 49:37 kjv

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:

Jeremiah 49:37 nkjv

For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies And before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,' says the LORD; 'And I will send the sword after them Until I have consumed them.

Jeremiah 49:37 niv

I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who want to kill them; I will bring disaster on them, even my fierce anger," declares the LORD. "I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them.

Jeremiah 49:37 esv

I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the LORD. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them,

Jeremiah 49:37 nlt

I myself will go with Elam's enemies to shatter it.
In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster
upon the people of Elam," says the LORD.
"Their enemies will chase them with the sword
until I have destroyed them completely.

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 37 meaning

Jeremiah 49:37 declares God's imminent and devastating judgment upon Elam. The verse states that the LORD Himself will cause Elam to be overcome with despair and terror, rendering them helpless before their enemies who seek to utterly destroy them. This profound calamity and existential threat is not a random occurrence but a direct consequence of God's intense, burning wrath against them.

Jeremiah 49 37 Context

Jeremiah 49:37 is situated within Jeremiah's "Oracles Against the Nations" (Jer 46-51), a section of prophecies foretelling divine judgment on various foreign peoples surrounding Israel. Specifically, verses 34-39 comprise the oracle against Elam, a powerful kingdom located to the east of Babylon (modern-day southwestern Iran). This prophecy was given early in the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, placing it chronologically around 597-586 BCE, a time of significant political upheaval in the ancient Near East orchestrated by the rising Babylonian empire. The immediate preceding verses highlight Elam's prominent military feature (the bow, Jer 49:35) which God vows to break, thereby amplifying the shame and terror of their coming dismay. The historical context showcases the LORD's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations, demonstrating that no worldly power, however strong, is immune to His judgment. The prophecy also served as a polemic against the reliability of national deities and military strength, asserting that the God of Israel is the supreme orchestrator of history.

Jeremiah 49 37 Word analysis

• For I will make Elam dismayed:

  • וַהֲרִמֹּתִי֙ (va-ha-ri-mo-ti): "And I will cause to shatter/break/dismay." This Hiphil perfect verb highlights God's active, direct, and intentional agency in bringing about Elam's state. It's a deliberate act of divine power, not mere observation.
  • אֶת־עֵילָ֤ם (et-Elam): "Elam." An ancient, powerful nation, known historically for its skilled archers, situated east of Mesopotamia. The target of God's direct judgment.
  • מַחְתָּה֙ (maḥtaḥ): "dismay," "terror," "breaking," "crushing." This word implies not just fear, but a profound and overwhelming state of terror and psychological collapse, indicating the total loss of resolve and morale.

• before their enemies, and before those who seek their lives:

  • לִפְנֵי֙ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם (lifney oyeveyhem): "before their enemies." Literally, "in the face of their enemies." This emphasizes the public, humiliating, and inevitable nature of Elam's defeat.
  • וְלִפְנֵי֙ מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשָׁ֔ם (v'lifney mevakshei nafsham): "and before seekers of their lives." This intensifies the previous phrase. It’s not just military defeat but an existential threat, where adversaries intend to kill and utterly annihilate. נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) can mean "life," "soul," or "being."

• I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,

  • וְהֵֽבֵאתִי֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם (v'heveti aleyhem): "and I will bring upon them." Again, a clear declaration of God's active, direct involvement as the source of the calamity.
  • רָעָ֔ה (ra'ah): "evil," "calamity," "disaster," "trouble." This comprehensive term encompasses the full extent of the devastating consequences of divine judgment, affecting all aspects of life.
  • אֶת־חֲר֥וֹן אַפִּֽי (et-ḥaron appi): "My fierce anger." Literally "the burning of My nose/face." This vivid anthropomorphism signifies intense, boiling, unbridled divine wrath. It reveals the deeply felt and justified reason for the judgment.

• declares the LORD.

  • נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה (n'um-YHWH): "the declaration of the LORD." This is a classic prophetic formula, serving as an authoritative stamp that authenticates the message as coming directly from God. It conveys certainty and divine authority to the pronouncement.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For I will make Elam dismayed before their enemies": This phrase highlights God's absolute sovereignty, not only over military outcomes but also over the internal emotional and psychological state of nations, breaking their morale before a visible adversary.
  • "and before those who seek their lives": This elevates the severity of the judgment from mere defeat to an all-consuming, life-threatening pursuit. It underscores the ultimate and devastating nature of the coming calamity.
  • "I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger": This links the physical and existential 'disaster' directly to the righteous 'fierce anger' of God. It clarifies that the impending doom is not accidental or external but a divine response, rooted in God's character and judgment.

Jeremiah 49 37 Bonus section

• Elam's Archery: The particular mention of "dismay" for Elam is especially significant when considering their historical reputation. Elamites were renowned and feared archers in the ancient world (cf. Isa 22:6, Jer 49:35). To have this formidable military power be reduced to a state of absolute terror and panic, unable to defend themselves, speaks volumes about the overwhelming power of the LORD's judgment, surpassing even the greatest human strengths.
• Divine 'I Will': The repeated "I will" phrases – "I will make Elam dismayed," "I will bring disaster" – emphasize the divine initiation and execution of the judgment. It's not just a prediction but a decree, an active work of God. This direct agency underscores that God is intimately involved in history, sovereignly guiding its course even amidst human decisions and conflicts.
• Wider Application: While specific to Elam, this prophecy illustrates a universal principle of biblical judgment: all nations, including those seemingly mighty, are subject to God's sovereign review and, if impenitent, His just wrath. This applies not just to ancient kingdoms but holds a timeless message about accountability to the one true God.

Jeremiah 49 37 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:37 powerfully encapsulates God's absolute authority and direct agency in the affairs of nations. It's a precise, divine pronouncement of Elam's undoing. The LORD will actively orchestrate their complete breakdown, ensuring their 'dismay' and making them utterly vulnerable to enemies who seek their very existence. This catastrophic event is unequivocally declared as a direct consequence of "My fierce anger," illustrating that God's justice is neither arbitrary nor passive but an intensely personal and righteous response to sin and the nations' rebellion. The judgment is not merely a consequence of external political dynamics, but an intentional act of the sovereign God who governs all, reinforcing the biblical truth that worldly powers ultimately answer to Him. This passage underscores God's commitment to holding nations accountable and demonstrating His supreme rule over all creation.