Jeremiah 49:35

35 The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, Lo! I shall break the bow of Elam, and I shall take the strength of them (and I shall take away their strength).

Jeremiah 49:35 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 49:35

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I will break the bow of Elam,
&c.] The inhabitants of this country were famous for their skill in archery; (See Gill on Isaiah 22:6); this the Lord threatens to break, so that it, should be useless, and of no more service to them to defend themselves, or annoy others. Their strength, as the Targum; that in which their great strength and security lay; in which they put their trust and confidence, as follows: the chief of their might;
which may be interpreted, by way of apposition, of their bow, the chief instrument of their might and power; or may design their mighty men, the archers themselves, who should be destroyed, even Elam itself, and all the inhabitants of it; especially their warriors, who should be slain or carried captive.

Jeremiah 49:35 In-Context

33 And Hazor shall be into a dwelling place of dragons; it shall be forsaken till into without end; a man shall not dwell there, neither the son of (a) man shall inhabit it. (And Hazor shall be a dwelling place for dragons, or for jackals; it shall be deserted forever; no one shall live there, and no one shall inhabit it.)

34 The word of the Lord that was made to Jeremy, the prophet, against Elam, in the beginning of the realm of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and said, (The word of the Lord that was made to the prophet Jeremiah, about Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and said,)

35 The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, Lo! I shall break the bow of Elam, and I shall take the strength of them (and I shall take away their strength).

36 And I shall bring on Elam four winds, from [the] four coasts of heaven, and I shall winnow them into all these winds, and no folk shall be, to whom the fleers of Elam shall not come. (And I shall bring on Elam the four winds, from the four corners of the heavens, and I shall winnow them into all of these winds, and there shall be no nation, to whom the fleers from Elam shall not come.)

37 And I shall make Elam for to dread before their enemies, and in the sight of men seeking the life of them; and I shall bring on them evil, the wrath of my strong vengeance, saith the Lord; and I shall send after them a sword, till I waste them. (And I shall make Elam to be in terror, or in fear, before their enemies, and before those who seek their lives; and I shall bring in evil upon them, the anger of my strong vengeance, saith the Lord; and I shall send a sword after them, until I destroy them.)