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Jeremiah 49:38 — Word Study

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WLCוְשַׂמְתִּ֥י כִסְאִ֖י בְּעֵילָ֑ם וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥י מִשָּׁ֛ם מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִ֖ים נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה׃

BSAI will setsûwm [establish, appoint] My thronekiççêʼ [seat of power, authority] in ElamʻÊylâm [a region, a son of Shem] and destroyʼâbad [perish, utterly ruin] itsshâm kingmelek [ruler, monarch] and officialssar [princes, leaders] declaresnᵉʼum [utters, speaks] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 49
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 38 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 49:38quick helps
In a sentenceThe LORD declares His intention to establish His authority in Elam and to bring destruction upon its rulers.
Who is speakingThe LORD, identified as Yahweh.
Where we areIn a prophecy concerning Elam, a region associated with the descendants of Shem.
The hard wordכִּסְאִי
Take awayThe establishment of God's throne signifies His sovereignty over nations.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשׂים The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Jeremiah 49:38

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Prophecy Against Elamgenerated

36I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds. There will not be a nation to which Elam’s exiles will not go.
37So I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster upon them, even My fierce anger,” declares the LORD. “I will send out the sword after them until I finish them off.
38I will set My throne in Elam, and destroy its king and officials,” declares the LORD.
39“Yet in the last days, I will restore Elam from captivity, ” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:38 is part of a prophecy where the LORD announces judgment against Elam. This passage highlights God's authority and His plans for both destruction and eventual restoration of the region. The preceding verses describe the calamity that will befall Elam, emphasizing the LORD's control over nations and their leaders.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 43:10Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones that I have embedded, and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.
2Daniel 7:9–14As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 43:10 Daniel 7:9–14

The Key Word כִּסְאִי, khis.'Igenerated

The word כִּסֵּא (kis.se) means 'throne' and symbolizes a seat of power or authority. It is derived from a root meaning 'covered' and is often associated with royal dignity. In this verse, it indicates the establishment of God's reign in Elam.

The parsing tells us that it is a noun in the singular form, indicating a specific throne. This emphasizes the unique authority that the LORD will exercise in this region.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs וְשַׂמְתִּי and וְהַאֲבַדְתִּי govern the sentence, indicating two actions: setting the throne and destroying the king and officials. The structure shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship between God's establishment of authority and the destruction of leadership.

The Hebrew word order places the verb first, emphasizing the actions of the LORD, followed by the objects and their respective contexts, which serves to highlight the divine authority behind the decree.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וְשַׂמְתִּי as θήσωI will set. This choice reflects a straightforward rendering that maintains the original meaning of establishing authority.

The translation for מֶ֥לֶךְ is βασιλέα, indicating a direct correlation to the concept of kingship, which aligns with the Hebrew's emphasis on royal authority.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 49:38 shows the LORD declaring His intention to set His throne in Elam and destroy its king and officials. This prophecy highlights God's authority and the impending judgment on Elam, while also pointing to future restoration.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the LORD will set His throne in Elam?

It signifies God's sovereignty and authority over the region, establishing His rule.

Who will be destroyed according to this verse?

The king and officials of Elam will be destroyed, indicating a complete overthrow of their leadership.

Is there hope for Elam after this destruction?

Yes, the prophecy indicates that in the last days, the LORD will restore Elam from captivity.

What does 'utterance of the LORD' signify?

It indicates a direct message from God, often delivered through a prophet, emphasizing the divine authority behind the declaration.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see God's authority established in my life or community?
  2. How can I understand the concept of God's judgment in relation to His sovereignty?
  3. What does the promise of restoration mean for those who have faced destruction or loss?
  4. How can I respond to God's declarations in my own life?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 49:38 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And I will set my throne in Elam,.... Either when Alexander subdued it, or Cyrus, or rather Nebuchadnezzar, whose palace probably was, as it is certain his successors was, in Shushan in Elam, as before observed from Daniel 8:2.

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 49 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. I will set my throne in Elam - I will show myself King by my judgments there, as though my tribunal were erected there.

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 49 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

God here calls the throne of Nebuchadnezzar, or Cyrus, or Alexander, (whoever he was that conquered the Persians,) his throne: 1. Because God gave it the conqueror. 2. Or because God showed himself the Lord of hosts, or the Lord of the whole earth, by disposing the kingdom of Persia at his pleasure. He doth not threaten the destruction of the whole nation, but the making of it all tributary, so as it should have no kings nor princes of its own.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 49 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 49:38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.Ver. 38. And I will set my throne in Elam,] i.e., I will solemnly execute my judgments upon these people, as if I sat in my judgment seat in a public court in the midst of them. Diod.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 49 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(38) I will set my throne in Elam.—The throne of Jehovah is, it is clear, the throne of the king who is, for the time, His chosen instrument and servant, in this case therefore the throne of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 43:10), against whom. Elam, like the other nations in Jeremiah 25:13-25, and in Jeremiah 48, 49, had apparently risen in rebellion. Of this we have, perhaps, a trace in the statement of Jdt 1:1-13, that Nebuchadnezzar defeated Arphaxad, a king of Media, in the seventeenth year of his reign. The words find an historical fulfilment in the fact that Shushan, “in the province of Elam,” became one of the royal residences of the Chaldæan kings (Daniel 8:2), and continued to be so…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 49 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 38. I will set my throne in Elam] This is spoken either of Nebuchadnezzar or Cyrus. It is certain that Cyrus did render himself master of Elymais and Media, which are in the land of Elam.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 49 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

38. set my throne in] sit in judgement upon. Cp. Jeremiah 1:15, Jeremiah 43:10.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 49 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Literally, king and princes. Elam will lose its independence, and henceforward have no native ruler with his attendant officers.

Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 49 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

I will set My throne in Elam, and destroy its king and officials,” declares the LORD.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from there king and princes,’ says Yahweh.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will set My throne in Elam, and destroy its king and officials,” declares the LORD.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will establish my sovereignty over Elam. I will destroy their king and their leaders,” says the Lord.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence king and princes, saith Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence king and princes, saith the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And I wil set my throne in Elam, and I wil destroy both the King and the princes from thence, saith the Lord: but in the latter daies I wil bring againe the captiuitie of Elam, sayeth the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence king and princes, saith Jehovah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I have set My throne in Elam, And I have destroyed thence King and princes — an affirmation of Jehovah.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I have set My throne in Elam, || And I have destroyed king and princes from there, || A declaration of YHWH.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I will set up my throne in 'Elam, and I will destroy thence king and princes, saith the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then I will put my throne in Elam and will destroy its king and leaders from there—this is Yahweh's declaration—

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy kings and princes from thence, saith the Lord.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will set up my throne in Elam, and destroy its king and officials, declares the Lord.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I will put the seat of my power in Elam, and in Elam I will put an end to kings and rulers, says the Lord.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclauseverbשַׂמְתִּ֥יI.will.setnoun phrase · objectכִסְאִ֖throneיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinעֵילָ֑םElamוְandclauseverbהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥יI.will.destroyprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromשָּׁ֛םtherenoun phrase · objectמֶ֥לֶךְkingוְandשָׂרִ֖יםofficialsclausenoun phrase · predicateנְאֻםthe.utteranceיְהוָֽהof.Yahweh

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text reads: וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י כִסְאִ֖י בְּעֵילָ֑ם וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥י מִשָּׁ֛ם מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִ֖ים נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה׃. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 9 words, indicating a strong consistency in the core message of the prophecy.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י כִסְאִ֖י בְּעֵילָ֑ם וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥י מִשָּׁ֛ם מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִ֖ים נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְשַׂמְתִּ֥יθήσωכִסְאִ֖יμουבְּעֵילָ֑םαιλαμוְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥יἐχαποστελῶמִשָּׁ֛םἐκεῖθενמֶ֥לֶךְβασιλέαוְשָׂרִ֖יםμεγιστᾶνας

7 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Jeremiah 49:38שׂוּםand I will and I will setשׂוּםכִּסֵּאthrone mythrone myכִּסֵּאעֵילָםin Elamin Elamעֵילָםאָבַדand I will and I will destאָבַדשָׁםfrom therefrom thereשָׁםמֶ֫לֶךְkingkingמֶ֫לֶךְשַׂרand officiaand officialsשַׂרנְאֻם[the] utter[the] utteranceנְאֻםיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהכָּסָהto coverto coverכָּסָהעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְשָׂרַרto ruleto ruleשָׂרַרנָאַםto prophesto prophesyנָאַםהָיָהto beto beהָיָהאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyfiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםשַׁמָּהhorror: dehorror: destroyשַׁמָּהשְׁמָמָהDesolateDesolateשְׁמָמָהמַלְכוּתroyaltyroyaltyמַלְכוּתרֵאשִׁיתfirst: begfirst: beginninרֵאשִׁיתתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהשָׁמַדto destroyto destroyשָׁמַדנָדַחto banishto banishנָדַחגּוּרto sojournto sojournגּוּרנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּראַשּׁוּרAsshurAsshurאַשּׁוּר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 49:38

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
וְשַׂמְתִּ֥יve.sam.Ti and I will set H7760 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
585× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to put or place something, and is used in many different ways in the Bible, such as to appoint or determine something. It is first used in Genesis to describe God's creation. In the KJV, it is translated as 'appoint' or 'set' in various contexts.
Amplified meaning
establish, appoint
Tyndale gloss
to set: make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׂוּם (sum) is a verb meaning to put, place, or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, establishing, and making. It can also refer to laying something upon or directing it. There is a related noun שׂוּמָה (sumah), which may denote a token of unluckiness. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set

Qal

put, set, in a place

put something upon

put, lay, set

put, c. בֵּין

set, direct

set, ordain, in a place

set, establish a law, statute

set, found a nation

set, appoint (as ruler, official)

set, constitute, make

set, determine, fix, bounds

set, station, at a post

put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

set up altars

= plant, wheat

set, fix (countenance)

make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

make, constitute

work, bring to pass

appoint, give

set, fix (countenance)

Hiph. I will make him for a sign

Hoph. there was set before him

base

שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7760a שׂוּם, שִׂים put, place, set .. . put, set, in a place

. put something upon

. put, lay, set

. put, c. בֵּין

. set, direct

. . set, ordain, in a place

. set, establish a law, statute

. set, found a nation

. set, appoint (as ruler, official)

. set, constitute, make

. set, determine, fix, bounds

. . set, station, at a post

. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

. set up altars

. = plant, wheat

. set, fix (countenance)

. . make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

. make, constitute

. work, bring to pass

. appoint, give

. set, fix (countenance)

. I will make him for a sign

. there was set before him

H7760b שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7760 suwm soom

or siym {seem}; a primitive root; to put (used in a great

variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially,

and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a

name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider,

convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap

up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out),

mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve,

purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set

(on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down,

((over-))turn, X wholly, work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׂוּם (sum) — to set: make.

: make/establish

1) to put, place, set, appoint, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

1a2) to set, direct, direct toward

1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)

1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix

1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix

1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give

1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign

1c) (Hophal) to be set

שׂוּמָה (su.mah) — fate.

token of unluckiness, scowl

שׂוּם (sum) — to set: put.

: put/give

1) to put, place, set, appoint, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

1a2) to set, direct, direct toward

1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)

1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqq1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Few words in the English language have such a rich variety of meaning and are used in so rich a variety of idiomatic expression as the word "set." A glance at any of the great dictionaries will convince anyone of the truth of this statement. The Standard Dictionary devotes three and a half columns to the word. In its primary meaning it there denotes 22 distinct things, in its secondary meaning 17 more, while 18 distinct phrases are given in which it is used, in some cases again in a variety of meanings. It is indeed a word calculated to drive a foreigner to despair. Some 70 Hebrew and about 30 Greek words in the original tongues of the Holy Scriptures have been rendered by the word "set," in the King James Version and also in the Revised Version (British and American). A careful comparative study of the original and of translations in other tongues will at once indicate that a lack of…

and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
כִסְאִ֖יkhis.'I throne my H3678 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
135× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a throne, symbolizing a seat of power or authority, often canopied or covered. It is used to describe the throne of God or a king, representing royal dignity and power.
Amplified meaning
seat of power, authority
Tyndale gloss
throne
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּסֵּא (kis.se) refers to a seat of honour or throne, often associated with royal dignity and authority. It is derived from a root meaning 'covered' and encompasses meanings like stool and seat. The entries consistently highlight its significance in both literal and figurative contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּסֵּא, כִּסֵּה 133 n.m. seat of honour, throne

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3678 כִּסֵּא, כִּסֵּה seat of honour, throne

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3678 kicce' kis-say'

or kicceh {kis-say'}; from 3680; properly, covered, i.e. a

throne (as canopied):--seat, stool, throne.

see HEBREW for 03680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּסֵּא (kis.se) — throne.

1) seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool

1a) seat (of honour), throne

1b) royal dignity, authority, power (fig.)

כִּסֵּא (kis.se) — (Hall of) the Throne.

Combined with u.lam (אוּלָם "Hall" H0197I)

This name means throne, seat

כִּסֵּא (kis.se) — throne: seat.

1) seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool

1a) seat (of honour), throne

1b) royal dignity, authority, power (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
בְּעֵילָ֑םbe.'ei.Lam in Elam H5867 Preposition · noun proper
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Elam refers to a son of Shem and his descendants, as well as a region, first mentioned in Genesis 10:22. The name means eternity. Elam is also the name of several Israelites, including one mentioned in Nehemiah 12:42.
Amplified meaning
a region, a son of Shem
Tyndale gloss
Elam
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֵילָם (*Eylam*) refers primarily to Elam, a region and its people, descendants of Shem. It encompasses various individuals, including heads of families among the exiles, a chief in Benjamin, and a Levite. The term is linked to the concept of 'eternity' and appears in contexts related to the Exile and Return, as well as genealogies from the time of the Patriarchs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵילָם n.pr.gent. et terr. Elam

base

עֵילָם n.pr.m.

heads of families of returned exiles

a chief of people

name in Benjamin

Levite name

a priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5867a עֵילָם n. pr. gent. et terr. Elam H5867b עֵילָם . heads of families of returned exiles

. a chief of people

. name in Benjamin

. Levite name

. a priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5867 `Eylam ay-lawm'

or mOwlam (Ezra 10:2; Jeremiah 49:36) {o-lawm'}; probably

from 5956; hidden, i.e. distant; Elam, a son of Shem and his

descendants, with their country; also of six

Israelites:--Elam.

see HEBREW for 05956

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵילָם (e.lam) — Elam.

§ Elam = "eternity"

a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris

עֵילָם (e.lam) — Elam.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.7

§ Elam = "eternity"

1) a Korhite Levite in the time of David

2) a chief man of the tribe of Benjamin

3) ancestor of a family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel

4) a chief of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah

5) another ancestor of another family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel

6) a priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah

7) another head of a family of returning exiles

עֵילָם (e.lam) — Elam.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.22;

son of: Shem (H8035);

brother of: Asshur (H0804H), Arpachshad (H0775), Lud (H3865) and Aram (H0758)

§ Elam = "eternity"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e'-lam (`elam):

(1) A son of Shem (Ge 10:22; 1Ch 1:17; see ELAMITES).

(2) A Benjamite (1Ch 8:24).

(3) A Korahite (1Ch 26:3).

(4) Heads of families in the return (Ezr 2:7 parallel Ne 7:12; Ezr 2:31 parallel Ne 7:34; Ezr 8:7; 10:2,26).

(5) A chief of the people (Ne 10:14).

(6) A priest (Ne 12:42).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Elam

Highland, the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22), and the name of the country inhabited by his descendants (14:1, 9; Isa. 11:11; 21:2, etc.) lying to the east of Babylonia, and extending to the shore of the Mediterranean, a distance in a direct line of about 1,000 miles. The name Elam is an Assyrian word meaning “high.”

“The inhabitants of Elam, or ‘the Highlands,’ to the east of Babylon, were called Elamites. They were divided into several branches, speaking different dialects of the same agglutinative language. The race to which they belonged was brachycephalic, or short-headed, like the pre-Semitic Sumerians of Babylonia.

“The earliest Elamite kingdom seems to have been that of Anzan, the exact site of which is uncertain; but in the time of Abraham, Shushan or Susa appears…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(eternity). This seems to have been originally the name of a man, the son of Shem. (Genesis 10:22; 1 Chronicles 1:17) Commonly, however, it is used as the appellation of a country. (Genesis 14:1,9; Isaiah 11:11; 21:2) The Elam of Scripture appears to be the province lying south of Assyria and east of Persia proper, to which Herodotus gives the name of Cissia (iii. 91, v. 49, etc.), and which is termed Susis or Susiana by the geographers. Its capital was Susa. This country was originally people by descendants of Shem. By the time of Abraham a very important power had been built up in the same region. It is plain that at this early time the predominant power in lower Mesopotamia was Elam, which for a while held the place…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The region afterwards called Persia, Ge 14:1. It was called Elam after a son of Shem, Ge 10:22. It corresponded to the Elymais of Greek and Roman writers, which comprehended a part of Susiana, now Khusistan or more probably included the whole of Susiana. The city Susa, or Shushan, was in it, Da 8:2. See also Ac 2:9.

and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥יve.ha.'a.vad.Ti and I will destroy H6 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect first person common singular
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Amplified meaning
perish, utterly ruin
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—

Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,

lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be

undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate

1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vhq1cs
and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
מִשָּׁ֛םmi.Sham from there H8033 Preposition · adverb
834× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Tyndale gloss
there
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁם adv. there, thither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8033 שָׁם there, thither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8033 sham shawm

a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or

thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +

thither, + whither.

see HEBREW for 0834

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁם (sham) — there.

1) there, thither

1a) there

1b) thither (after verbs of motion)

1c) from there, thence

1d) then (as an adverb of time)

Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)

שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

This name means there, thither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adv — Preposition · adverb
HR/D
and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
מֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekh king H4428 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Amplified meaning
ruler, monarch
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

King

Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).

This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called KING OF KINGS Ezr 7:12; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37

→ Divinely authorized De 17:15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12; 1Ch 22:10; 2Ch 2:11,12; Pr 8:15; Da 2:21,37; 4:17; 5:20; Ho 8:4; 13:11

→ How chosen

By divine appointment, Saul 1Sa 10:1

and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
וְשָׂרִ֖יםve.sa.Rim and officials H8269 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A leader or person in charge, like a prince or captain, as seen in the Bible with King David and other rulers.
Amplified meaning
princes, leaders
Tyndale gloss
ruler
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂר (sar) refers to a leader or ruler, encompassing a range of meanings from prince and chief to official and captain. It denotes various ranks, including military commanders and religious leaders, and can also imply a noble or merchant of high status. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to rule'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׂר 420 n.m. chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8269 שַׂר chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8269 sar sar

from 8323; a head person (of any rank or class):--captain

(that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper,

lord, ((-task- ))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.

see HEBREW for 08323

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂר (sar) — ruler.

1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain

1a) chieftain, leader

1b) vassal, noble, official (under king)

1c) captain, general, commander (military)

1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes)

1e) heads, princes (of religious office)

1f) elders (of representative leaders of people)

1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity)

1h) patron-angel

1i) Ruler of rulers (of God)

1j) warden

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
נְאֻם־ne.'um- [the] utterance of H5002 Noun common · masculine singular construct
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to an utterance or declaration from God, often through a prophet. It is used in the Bible to describe a revelation or message from God, like in Exodus or Numbers.
Amplified meaning
utters, speaks
Tyndale gloss
utterance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נְאֻם (*n'um*) means 'utterance' or 'oracle,' derived from the root meaning 'to say.' It refers to declarations, often made by prophets, particularly in ecstatic states or preceding divine names. The entries consistently highlight its prophetic context without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְאֻם 376 n.m. utterance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5002 נְאֻם utterance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5002 n'um neh-oom'

from 5001; an oracle:--(hath) said, saith.

see HEBREW for 05001

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְאֻם (ne.um) — utterance.

1) (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet)

1a) utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state)

1b) utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and I will set throne my in Elam and I will destroy from there king and officials [the] utterance of Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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