Jeremiah 49:37

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

Jeremiah 49:37 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 49:37

For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies,
&c.] Frightened; thrown into the utmost consternation, so that they shall have no heart nor spirit to go out against them, and meet them, and defend themselves; but make all haste imaginable to flee from them, such a panic would seize them: and before them that seek their life;
a further description of their enemies; they being such, who, not content with their substance, sought to take away their lives; nothing less would satisfy them, being: cruel and blood thirsty ones: and I will bring evil upon them, [even] my fierce anger, saith the
Lord;
and a greater evil than that cannot be; signifying that the destruction that should be made among them would be the effect of the wrath of God upon them for their sins: and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them;
that is, those that slay with the sword, as the Targum; these should go after those that fled, and destroy them, till the greater part of them were consumed; for all of them that were taken were not destroyed; or otherwise there would have been none to return from captivity, as is promised at the close of this prophecy.

Jeremiah 49:37 In-Context

35 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might;

36 and I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; and I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come.

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

38 and I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy their king and princes, says the LORD.

39 "But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, says the LORD."