Bible Strands
Psalms 46:9
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the assembly, urging them to observe the Lord’s actions after describing His protective works. The declaration occurs between a call to witness divine devastation and an imperative to recognize God’s supreme authority.
The words — The Hebrew מַשְׁבִּית (mash.bit) literally means "[he is] making cease," paired with מִלְחָמוֹת (mil.cha.mot) for "wars." The verb יְשַׁבֵּר (ye.sha.ber) translates to "he breaks," describing the physical destruction of weapons.
The thread — This motif of divine disarmament appears in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3, where nations repurpose weapons, and in Micah 5:10, where the Lord explicitly removes military equipment.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that God alone terminates human conflict and dismantles military power. Readers must recognize His sovereignty over warfare before responding with stillness and reverence.
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
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 2:4 Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
- Micah 4:3 Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.
- Micah 5:10 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will remove your horses from among you and wreck your chariots.
- Joshua 11:9 Joshua treated them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.
- Isaiah 60:18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
- 1 Samuel 2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength.
- Psalms 76:3 There He shattered the flaming arrows, the shield and sword and weapons of war. Selah
- Isaiah 11:9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.
- Joshua 11:6 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”
- Ezekiel 39:3 Then I will strike the bow from your left hand and dash down the arrows from your right hand.