Psalms 46:9

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

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Psalms 46:9 in Other Translations

KJV

9 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.

ESV

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

NLT

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

MSG

9 Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee.

CSB

9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots.

Psalms 46:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 46:9

He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth
As at the birth of Christ, the Prince of peace, in the times of Augustus Caesar, when there was a general peace in the world, though it did not last long; and in the times of Constantine, signified by silence in heaven for half an hour, ( Revelation 8:1 ) ; when for a while there was a cessation from wars and persecution; and as will be in the latter day, and which is here chiefly designed; when nations shall learn war no more, and Christ's kingdom will take place; of which and its peace there shall be no end, ( Isaiah 2:4 ) ( Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:7 ) ( Psalms 72:7 ) . The consideration of which may serve to relieve distressed minds under terrible apprehensions of present troubles and public calamities;

he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the
chariot in the fire;
that is, "chariots", or "carts" ^F25 or "wagons", in which, as Aben Ezra observes, arms and provision were carried for the use of soldiers; the Targum renders it "round shields" ^F26: and the destroying of all these military weapons and carriages is a token of peace, and of war's being caused to cease, there being no more use for them; with this compare ( Ezekiel 39:8 Ezekiel 39:9 ) . It was usual to burn the arms of enemies taken in war ^F1.

FOOTNOTES:

F25 (twlge) "plaustra", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F26 So the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic and Arabic versions.
F1 Vid. Lydium de Re Militari, l. 6. c. 4. p. 229, 230.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 46:9 In-Context

7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

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

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Cross References 3

1. Isaiah 2:4
2. S Psalms 37:15; S Isaiah 22:6; Psalms 76:3
3. Isaiah 9:5; Ezekiel 39:9; Hosea 2:18

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or "chariots"