Jeremiah 49:34
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הָיָ֧ה
H1961
הָיָ֧ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְבַר
The word
H1697
דְבַר
The word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 15
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֛ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ
that came to Jeremiah
H3414
יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ
that came to Jeremiah
Strong's:
H3414
Word #:
6 of 15
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
עֵילָ֑ם
against Elam
H5867
עֵילָ֑ם
against Elam
Strong's:
H5867
Word #:
9 of 15
elam, a son of shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six israelites
בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית
in the beginning
H7225
בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית
in the beginning
Strong's:
H7225
Word #:
10 of 15
the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
Cross References
Jeremiah 25:25And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,Genesis 10:22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.Genesis 14:1And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;Daniel 8:2And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.Isaiah 21:2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.Isaiah 11:11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.Acts 2:9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,Ezra 4:9Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
Historical Context
Elam was located in modern Khuzestan (southwestern Iran). They had been conquered by Assyria (645 BC) but remained culturally distinct. Under Neo-Babylonian rule, Elamites served as mercenaries and allies. Cyrus the Persian (an Elamite-related Achaemenid) would eventually conquer Babylon in 539 BC, ironically fulfilling this prophecy's promise of restoration (v. 39).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God pronounce judgment on Elam, a nation seemingly peripheral to Israel's story?
- What does the specific dating of this oracle teach about the historical precision of biblical prophecy?
- How does God's judgment of Babylon's allies demonstrate that no human coalition can withstand His purposes?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam (אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֶל־עֵילָם, asher hayah d'var-YHWH el-Yirmeyahu hannavi el-Elam)—A new oracle begins. Elam (southwest Iran) was an ancient civilization east of Babylon, periodically allied with or against Mesopotamian powers. The prophetic word specifically against (el) Elam indicates judgment, not blessing.
In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah (בְּרֵאשִׁית מַלְכוּת צִדְקִיָּהוּ, b're'shit malkhut Tzidqiyyahu)—This dates the oracle to 597 BC, shortly after Jehoiachin's exile and Zedekiah's installation by Babylon. Elam had recently participated in Babylonian campaigns, but God's word announces their own coming judgment. The timing is significant: while Judah faces Babylon's wrath, God reveals that even Babylon's allies will eventually fall—no human alliance offers lasting security against divine decrees.