Psalm 46:9
New International Version
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

New Living Translation
He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

English Standard Version
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

Berean Standard Bible
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

New American Standard Bible
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.

NASB 1995
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.

NASB 1977
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.

Legacy Standard Bible
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts up the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.

Amplified Bible
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.

Christian Standard Bible
He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; he sets wagons ablaze.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots.”

American Standard Version
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariots in the fire.

Contemporary English Version
God brings wars to an end all over the world. He breaks the arrows, shatters the spears, and burns the shields.

English Revised Version
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariots in the fire.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He puts an end to wars all over the earth. He breaks an archer's bow. He cuts spears in two. He burns chariots.

Good News Translation
He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire.

International Standard Version
He causes wars to cease all over the earth, he causes the bow to break, the spear to snap, the chariots to ignite and burn.

Majority Standard Bible
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.

NET Bible
He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; he shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

New Heart English Bible
He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire.

Webster's Bible Translation
He maketh wars to cease to the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear asunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

World English Bible
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Causing wars to cease, "" To the end of the earth, He shatters the bow, "" And He has cut apart the spear, "" He burns chariots with fire.

Young's Literal Translation
Causing wars to cease, Unto the end of the earth, the bow he shivereth, And the spear He hath cut asunder, Chariots he doth burn with fire.

Smith's Literal Translation
Causing wars to cease even to the end of the earth; he will break the bow, and be cut off the spear, and he will burn the cars in fire.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.

Catholic Public Domain Version
carrying away wars even to the end of the earth. He will crush the bow and break the weapons, and he will burn the shield with fire.

New American Bible
Who stops wars to the ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields with fire;

New Revised Standard Version
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and cuts the spear asunder; he burns the chariot in the fire.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He stops wars from the ends of the Earth; he breaks the bows and breaks spears and burns chariots in fire.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariots in the fire.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Putting an end to wars as for the ends of the earth; he will crush the bow, and break in pieces the weapon, and burn the bucklers with fire.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God is Our Refuge and Strength
8Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth. 9He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire. 10“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”…

Cross References
Isaiah 2:4
Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.

Micah 4:3
Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.

Hosea 2:18
On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 9:5
For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

Ezekiel 39:9-10
Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. / They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it from the forests, for they will use the weapons for fuel. They will loot those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. / The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. / The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. ...

Isaiah 60:18
No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

1 Kings 5:4
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.

2 Chronicles 14:6
Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

Ephesians 2:14-17
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace / and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. ...

Colossians 1:20
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire.

maketh

Isaiah 2:4
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 60:18
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

breaketh

Psalm 76:3-6
There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah…

Ezekiel 39:3,9,10
And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand…

burneth

Joshua 11:6,9
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire…

Micah 5:10
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:

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Asunder Bow Breaketh Breaks Broken Burn Burned Burneth Burns Carriage Causing Cease Chariot Chariots Cut Cuts Cutteth Earth End Ends Fire Makes Maketh Puts Shatters Shields Shivereth Spear Sunder Wars
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Asunder Bow Breaketh Breaks Broken Burn Burned Burneth Burns Carriage Causing Cease Chariot Chariots Cut Cuts Cutteth Earth End Ends Fire Makes Maketh Puts Shatters Shields Shivereth Spear Sunder Wars
Psalm 46
1. The confidence which the church has in God
8. An exhortation to behold it














He makes wars cease
This phrase highlights God's sovereign power over the nations and conflicts of the world. The Hebrew root for "makes cease" is "שָׁבַת" (shavat), which means to rest or to put an end to. This word is also related to the concept of the Sabbath, a day of rest ordained by God. In the context of this verse, it signifies God's ability to bring about peace and rest from the turmoil of war. Historically, this reflects the periods in Israel's history when God intervened to deliver His people from their enemies, demonstrating His control over human affairs.

to the ends of the earth
This phrase emphasizes the universal scope of God's authority. The Hebrew word for "ends" is "קָצֶה" (qatseh), which can mean extremity or boundary. It suggests that there is no place on earth beyond God's reach or influence. This is a powerful reminder of God's omnipresence and omnipotence, reinforcing the belief that His peace is not limited to a specific region or people but is available to all creation.

He breaks the bow
The imagery of breaking the bow symbolizes the disarmament of military power. The Hebrew word for "breaks" is "שָׁבַר" (shavar), which means to shatter or destroy. This action signifies God's ability to dismantle the instruments of war, rendering them useless. In a historical context, this reflects God's interventions where He has rendered the weapons of Israel's enemies ineffective, showcasing His protective power over His people.

and shatters the spear
Similar to breaking the bow, shattering the spear further illustrates the dismantling of warfare. The Hebrew word "חָתַת" (chatat) means to break down or dismay. This conveys the idea of God not only physically destroying weapons but also demoralizing those who wield them. It is a testament to God's ability to bring about peace by removing the means of conflict.

He burns the shields with fire
Burning the shields with fire is a vivid image of complete destruction of defensive implements. The Hebrew word for "burns" is "שָׂרַף" (saraph), which means to consume with fire. Fire in the Bible often symbolizes purification and judgment. This act of burning signifies God's judgment against the instruments of war and His purifying power to cleanse the earth of violence. Historically, this could be seen in the context of God's deliverance of Israel, where He not only defeated their enemies but also removed the threat of future attacks.

(9) He maketh.--Comp. Virg. 'n., 3:560.

Verse 9. - He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth (comp. Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 65:25). Each great deliverance effected by God is followed naturally by a term of peace (comp. Judges 3:11, 30; Judges 5:31; Judges 8:28; "and the land had rest twenty, forty, eighty years"), each such term being typical of the final peace, when God shall have put down all enemies under Messiah's feet. He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; i.e. he destroys all offensive weapons, so that none may "hurt or destroy in all his holy mountain" (Isaiah 11:9). He burneth the chariot in the fire. War-chariots were largely employed by the Assyrians, and formed the main strength of the army of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He makes wars
מִלְחָמוֹת֮ (mil·ḥā·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

to cease
מַשְׁבִּ֥ית (maš·bîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion

throughout
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the earth;
הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

He breaks
יְ֭שַׁבֵּר (yə·šab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

the bow
קֶ֣שֶׁת (qe·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

and shatters
וְקִצֵּ֣ץ (wə·qiṣ·ṣêṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7112: To chop off

the spear;
חֲנִ֑ית (ḥă·nîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2595: A lance

He burns
יִשְׂרֹ֥ף (yiś·rōp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

the shields
עֲ֝גָל֗וֹת (‘ă·ḡā·lō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5699: Something revolving, a wheeled vehicle

in the fire.
בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire


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OT Poetry: Psalm 46:9 He makes wars cease to the end (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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