Jeremiah 49:37

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah during a prophetic sequence of judgments against surrounding nations. The oracle targets Elam immediately after declaring its scattering to the winds.

The words — The Hebrew verb וְ/הַחְתַּתִּ֣י (ve./hach.ta.Ti) translates literally as "and I will shatter," while מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם (me.vak.Shei naf.Sha/m) means "[those who] seek their life." These terms anchor the declaration of violent destruction before the pursuing enemies.

The thread — The motif of divine judgment followed by a drawn sword appears in Jeremiah 9:16 and Leviticus 26:33. The theme of cutting off a nation from existence runs parallel to Jeremiah 48:2.

Why it lands — The text states the LORD will shatter Elam, bring disaster and fierce anger, and pursue them with the sword until they are finished. It demands recognition that divine judgment is total, leaving no refuge from the declared outcome.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהַחְתַּתִּ֣יve./hach.ta.Tiand/ I will shatter אֶת־'et-<obj.>עֵ֠ילָם'Ei.lomElam לִפְנֵ֨יli/f.Nei<to>/ before אֹיְבֵיהֶ֜ם'o.ye.vei./Hemenemies/ their וְלִפְנֵ֣י׀ve./li/f.Neiand/ <to>/ before מְבַקְשֵׁ֣יme.vak.Shei[those who] seek נַפְשָׁ֗םnaf.Sha/m<of> life/ their וְהֵבֵאתִ֨יve./he.ve.Tiand/ I will bring עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם׀'a.lei./Hemon/ them רָעָ֛הra.'Ahcalamity אֶת־'et-<obj.>חֲר֥וֹןcha.Ron[the] burning of אַפִּ֖י'a.P/ianger/ my נְאֻם־ne.'um-[the] utterance of יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤יve./shi.lach.Tiand/ I will send אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙'a.cha.rei./Hemafter/ them אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַחֶ֔רֶבha./Che.revthe/ sword עַ֥ד'aduntil כַּלּוֹתִ֖יka.lo.T/ihave made an end of/ I אוֹתָֽם׃'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Jeremiah 9:16 I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.”
Jeremiah 48:2 There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen, will be silenced; the sword will pursue you.
Leviticus 26:33 But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
Psalms 48:4 For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.
Jeremiah 30:24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this.
Jeremiah 34:20 I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.
Jeremiah 48:39 “How shattered it is! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule and horror to all those around him.”
Jeremiah 49:5 Behold, I am about to bring terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, from all those around you. You will each be driven headlong, with no one to regather the fugitives.
Jeremiah 49:22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s mighty men will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
Jeremiah 49:24 Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor.