Jeremiah 49:37

37 I will devastate Elam before their enemies, before those who want to take their lives. I will bring disaster on them, My burning anger. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. I will send the sword after them until I finish them off.

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 This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I am about to shatter Elam's bow, the source of their might.

36 I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds. There will not be a nation to which Elam's banished ones will not go.

37 I will devastate Elam before their enemies, before those who want to take their lives. I will bring disaster on them, My burning anger. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. I will send the sword after them until I finish them off.

38 I will set My throne in Elam, and I will destroy the king and officials from there. [This is] the Lord's declaration.

39 In the last days, I will restore the fortunes of Elam. [This is] the Lord's declaration.