Jeremiah 49:39

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 49:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, saith Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, saith Jehovah.
Jeremiah 49:39 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 49

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
39But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, saith Jehovah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But it shall come to pass in the latter days, etc.] Not in the times of Cyrus, when these people enjoyed their liberty, as the Jews and other nations did, freed by him from the Babylonian yoke; which cannot with propriety be called the latter days, being but seventy or eighty years at most after this prophecy; but in the times of the Messiah, often in prophecy called the latter days: [that] I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord: which was accomplished in a spiritual sense, when some of these people, the Elamites, were converted to Christ, and delivered by him from the captivity of sin and Satan, and were brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God; (see…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“latter days--The full restoration belongs to gospel times. Elamites were among the first who heard and accepted it (Act 2:9). After the predictions of judgment to be inflicted on other nations by Babylon, follows this one against Babylon itself, the longest prophecy, consisting of one hundred verses. The date of utterance was the fourth year of Zedekiah, when Seraiah, to whom it was committed, was sent to Babylon (Jer 51:59-60). The repetitions in it make it likely that it consists of prophecies uttered at different times, now collected by Jeremiah to console the Jews in exile and to vindicate God's ways by exhibiting the final doom of Babylon, the enemy of the people of God, after her long…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Elam - Elam was subject to Babylon Daniel 8:2, and its capital Shushan a favorite residence of the Persian kings Esther 1:2. Of its subsequent fate we know little; the Elamites continued to exist, and members of their nation were present at Pentecost among those chosen to represent the Gentile world at the first preaching of the Gospel Acts 2:9. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Jeremiah 49". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/jeremiah-49.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“But - We had the like promise as to Moab, Jer 48:47, and as to Ammon, Jer 49:6, the same latter days either signify after many days, or in the time of the Messiah. In the former sense it may refer to Cyrus, who conquered Persia. In the latter sense it refers to the spiritual liberty which some of these poor Heathens were brought into by the gospel. We read Act 2:9, that some of the Elamites were at Jerusalem at pentecost, and were some of those converted to Christ. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 50”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“49:39 The Lord’s decree of judgment was balanced by his promise to restore the fortunes of Elam. In 539 BC, a native of Elam named Cyrus conquered Babylon and founded the Persian Empire. Susa, the former capital of Elam, then became the capital of the Persian Empire (Esth 1:2). Cyrus would be God’s anointed instrument to set the Jews free (Isa 44:28–45:1).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in the: Jer 48:47; Isa 2:2; Eze 38:16; Dan 2:28, Dan 10:14; Hos 3:5; Mic 4:1 I will: Jer 49:6; Job 42:10; Eze 16:53-55, Eze 29:14, Eze 39:25; Amo 9:14 Next: Jeremiah Chapter 50”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification