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.

PSALMS 46:9KJV
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Psalms 46:9 (KJV)

What does Psalms 46:9 mean?

Psalms 46:9 describes God as the one who brings an end to wars everywhere, destroying weapons and burning chariots so that fighting cannot continue. The verse pictures God’s power to stop conflict completely, showing that peace comes from His direct action.

The psalm is written by the sons of Korah, addressing anyone who reads or hears it, and it celebrates God as a refuge and source of strength in times of trouble. In this verse, the focus is on God’s ability to bring lasting peace by breaking the tools of war—bows, spears, and chariots—so that no one can use them again. The language is vivid and concrete, emphasizing that God’s intervention is total and unmistakable.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 46:9

  • The word "wars" (מִלְחָמָה, milchamah; H4421) refers to battles or conflicts, highlighting that God’s action is not limited to one place but applies to all warfare.
  • "Cease" (שָׁבַת, shavat; H7673) means to cause something to stop or rest, stressing that God actively puts an end to fighting, not just letting it fade away.
  • "Breaketh" (שָׁבַר, shavar; H7665) and "cut" (קָצַץ, qatsats; H7112) both describe forceful destruction, showing that God doesn’t just set aside weapons—He destroys them so they cannot be used again.
  • "Burneth" (שָׂרַף, saraph; H8313) with "chariot" (רֶכֶב, rekhev; H5699) and "fire" (אֵשׁ, esh; H784) paints a picture of total removal of war machines, making it clear that God’s peace is thorough and irreversible.

Why Psalms 46:9 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that peace is just a temporary pause in fighting; instead, it shows that God’s peace means the complete destruction of the means to make war.
  • The verse emphasizes that real, lasting peace is not achieved by human effort but by God’s decisive action.
  • In the context of the whole psalm, Psalms 46:9 highlights God’s role as a protector and peacemaker, encouraging trust in Him even when the world seems unstable.

Where else these words appear

“cutteth” Hebrew H7112 · used in 14 verses

  • Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
  • 2 Samuel 4:12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

“chariot” Hebrew H5699 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 45:19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
  • Numbers 7:7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:
  • 1 Samuel 6:14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

“spear” Hebrew H2595 · used in 40 verses

  • 1 Samuel 13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
  • 1 Samuel 26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

“cease” Hebrew H7673 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
  • Jeremiah 48:35 Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.