Jeremiah 49:35 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 49:35 mean?

Jeremiah 49:35 says that God, speaking as the LORD of hosts, will break the bow of Elam, which is described as the main source of their strength. This means that God is declaring He will take away Elam’s military power, especially the weapon they rely on most.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is delivering a message from God to the people of Elam, an ancient kingdom east of Babylon. The “bow” was a symbol of Elam’s military might, so breaking it means God will defeat or weaken them. This is part of a larger section where Jeremiah announces God’s judgment on various nations surrounding Israel.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 49:35

• “LORD” (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, emphasizing that this message comes directly from Him, not just from Jeremiah.
• “hosts” (צְבָאוֹת, tseva’ot): This word means “armies” or “heavenly armies,” highlighting God’s authority and power over all forces, earthly and spiritual.
• “break” (שָׁבַר, shavar): This verb means to shatter or destroy completely, stressing the total loss of Elam’s strength.
• “bow” (קֶשֶׁת, qeshet): The bow was the chief weapon of Elam, so breaking it means removing their main defense and pride.
• “chief” (רֵאשִׁית, re’shit): This word means “beginning” or “chief,” pointing out that the bow was the foremost part of Elam’s might.
• “might” (גְּבוּרָה, gevurah): This word means strength or power, underlining that what is being taken away is the very heart of Elam’s military force.

Why Jeremiah 49:35 matters

• Jeremiah 49:35 clarifies that God’s judgment targets the very thing Elam trusts in most, not just their land or people but their military strength.
• The verse connects to a larger theme in Jeremiah where God shows He is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel.
• Understanding the specific mention of the bow helps readers see how God’s message was tailored to each nation’s unique strengths and weaknesses.