Psalm 46 9

Psalm 46:9 kjv

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Psalm 46:9 nkjv

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

Psalm 46:9 niv

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

Psalm 46:9 esv

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

Psalm 46:9 nlt

He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

Psalm 46 verses

Psalm 46 9 Meaning

Psalm 46:9 declares God's supreme authority over conflict and His ability to bring universal peace. It describes a definitive, active cessation of all forms of warfare, symbolized by the breaking, shattering, and burning of various military instruments, signifying their complete and permanent incapacitation. This portrays God not just as one who can stop battles, but as the one who dismantles the very means and future potential for war, establishing an enduring peace throughout the whole earth.

Psalm 46 9 Context

Psalm 46 is a "Song for the sons of Korah" and often referred to as a "city-Zion" psalm, celebrating God as a powerful refuge for His people, particularly for Jerusalem. The broader context of Psalm 46 speaks of cataclysmic natural disasters (v. 2-3) and raging nations (v. 6), portraying a world in turmoil. Amidst this chaos, God's presence in Zion (v. 4-5) guarantees security and victory. Verse 9 then serves as the culminating demonstration of God's sovereignty over these external threats. Historically, it may reflect events like Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem (Isa 37) or other divine interventions against invading armies, where God miraculously intervened, bringing an abrupt end to conflict without human might. It transitions from local deliverance to a universal declaration of God's peace.

Psalm 46 9 Word analysis

• He makes: (יַשְׁבִּית֙ - yashbith) - Hiphil imperfect of shabath (שָׁבַת), meaning "to cause to cease, bring to an end, stop." This is an active, definitive action on God's part, not a passive event. It indicates that God is the initiator and ultimate agent of peace, rather than peace being a result of human diplomacy or effort.

• wars: (מִלְחָמוֹת֙ - milchamoth) - Plural of milchamah (מִלְחָמָה), meaning "battle, conflict, warfare." The use of the plural emphasizes the totality and variety of armed conflicts God will bring to an end. It suggests a complete cessation of all forms of hostility.

• cease: Implied by yashbith above.

• to the end: (עַד־קְצֵה - ‘ad-qetsech) - ‘ad means "until, to, up to"; qetseh means "end, boundary, extremity." This phrase signifies ultimate reach and finality. It's not a temporary or partial cessation of war.

• of the earth: (הָאָ֑רֶץ - ha'aretz) - The definite article ha ("the") + ‘erets (אֶרֶץ), meaning "earth, land, ground." Here it refers to the entire planet or all humanity. This highlights the universal and eschatological scope of God's peace, not just a regional or temporal cease-fire.

• He breaks: (יְקַשֵּׁ֥ת֙ - yekasheth) - Piel imperfect of qashat (קָשַׁת), which can mean "to string a bow" or, in Piel, "to break" or "shatter." Here it specifically implies the action of breaking or making useless. God actively incapacitates the offensive capacity of the enemy.

• the bow: (קֶ֫שֶׁת - qesheth) - The primary long-range weapon of ancient warfare. Its breaking symbolizes the disarmament of distant aggressors and the rendering useless of their initial strike capability.

• and shatters: (וְשָׁבַר֙ - v’shabar) - Waw-conjunction (and) + Perfect verb shabar (שָׁבַר), meaning "to break, smash, tear to pieces." This is a forceful, violent destruction of the weapon, rendering it utterly unusable.

• the spear: (רֹ֑מַח - romach) - A common close-combat, thrusting weapon. The shattering of the spear represents the breaking of immediate, close-quarter aggression, signaling the end of both distant and proximate threats.

• He burns: (שֹׂרֵ֨ף֙ - soref) - Qal participle of saraf (שָׂרַף), meaning "to burn." This is a definitive act of destruction. Burning transforms and consumes the object, ensuring its permanent removal. It’s an act of judgment and removal of something despised.

• the chariots: (וַעֲגָל֨וֹת - va'agalot) - Waw-conjunction (and) + 'agalah (עֲגָלָה), meaning "wagon, chariot." Chariots were the ancient world's most advanced military technology, signifying power, speed, and invincibility. Their destruction signifies the complete dismantling of sophisticated military might.

• with fire: (בָּאֵ֑שׁ - ba'esh) - be (with) + esh (אֵשׁ), meaning "fire." Fire is an agent of total destruction, purification, and judgment. Burning them with fire goes beyond merely rendering them useless; it symbolizes a cleansing and complete elimination of the instruments of war, implying a world transformed and purged of conflict.

Psalm 46 9 Bonus section

The complete dismantling of the "bow," "spear," and "chariots" covers the full spectrum of ancient warfare: long-range weapons (bow), close-quarter weapons (spear), and advanced mobility/offensive platforms (chariots). This comprehensive destruction points to God's capability to nullify every form of military threat. The shift from plural "wars" (v. 9a) to specific war implements signifies not just the cessation of conflict but the removal of the very instruments that cause it, highlighting the permanent nature of this peace. This imagery also served as a powerful polemic against the contemporary beliefs of relying on military strength or pagan war gods for security. It firmly asserts that Yahweh alone is the source of ultimate security and peace, transcending all human and divine pretensions to power.

Psalm 46 9 Commentary

Psalm 46:9 presents a powerful vision of divine disarmament and peace. It emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty, not just in mitigating conflicts but in fundamentally altering the nature of the world by eliminating the very means of warfare. This verse moves beyond mere ceasefire to a state of irreversible peace, brought about by God’s decisive actions. The imagery of breaking bows, shattering spears, and burning chariots illustrates the utter dismantling of both primitive and advanced military capabilities. This points to a future reality—a "shalom" of universal peace—that God Himself will usher in. It’s a testament to His ultimate triumph over all forms of human strife and violence, transforming a world of chaos into one of tranquil order under His rule. This echoes prophetic visions of a new heaven and earth where peace reigns because God has brought all opposition to an end.