---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Lamentations 3"
description: "CHAPTER (ELEGY) 3   :-. Jeremiah proposes his own
experience under afflictions, as an example as to how the Jews should
behave under theirs, so as to have"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/lamentations/3"
---

CHAPTER (ELEGY) 3

.
Jeremiah proposes his own
experience under afflictions, as an example as to how the Jews should
behave under theirs, so as to have hope of a restoration; hence the
change from *singular* to *plural* ([Lamentations 3:22](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/22);
[Lamentations 3:40-47](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/40-47)). The stanzas
consist of three lines, each of which begins with the same *Hebrew*
letter.
*Aleph.*

**1-3. seen affliction**—his own
in the dungeon of Malchiah (); that of his countrymen also in the siege. Both were types
of that of Christ.

**2. darkness**—calamity.
**light**—prosperity.

**3. turneth . . . hand**—to
inflict again and again new strokes. "His hand," which once
used to protect me. "Turned . . . turneth" implies *repeated*
inflictions.
*Beth.*

**4-6.** ().

**5. builded**—mounds, as against
a besieged city, so as to allow none to escape (so [Lamentations 3:7](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/7);
[Lamentations 3:9](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/9)).

**6. set me**—HENDERSON
refers this to the custom of placing the dead in a sitting posture.
**dark places**—sepulchers.
As those "dead long since"; so Jeremiah and his people are
consigned to oblivion ([Psalms 88:5](../../../kjv/psalms/88/5);
[Psalms 88:6](../../../kjv/psalms/88/6); [Psalms 143:3](../../../kjv/psalms/143/3);
[Ezekiel 37:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/13)).
*Gimel.*

**7-9. hedged**— ([Job 3:23](../../../kjv/job/3/23);
[Hosea 2:6](../../../kjv/hosea/2/6)).
**chain**—literally, "chain
of *brass.*"

**8. shutteth out**—image from a
door *shutting out* any entrance (). So the antitype. Christ ().

**9. hewn stone**—which coheres so
closely as not to admit of being broken through.
**paths crooked**—thwarted
our plans and efforts so that none went right.
*Daleth.*

**10-13.** ([Job 10:16](../../../kjv/job/10/16);
[Hosea 13:7](../../../kjv/hosea/13/7); [Hosea 13:8](../../../kjv/hosea/13/8)).

**11. turned aside**—made me
wander out of the right way, so as to become a prey to wild beasts.
**pulled in pieces**— (), as a "bear" or a "lion" ().

**12.** ().
*He.*

**13-15. arrows**—literally,
"*sons*" of His quiver (compare ).

**14.** ().
**their song**— (). Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah. "All my
people" ([John 1:11](../../../kjv/john/1/11)).

**15. wormwood**— (). There it is regarded as *food,* namely, the leaves:
here as *drink,* namely, the juice.
*Vau.*

**16-18. gravel**—referring to the
*grit* that often mixes with bread baked in ashes, as is the
custom of baking in the East (). We fare as hardly as those who eat such bread. The same
allusion is in "Covered me with ashes," namely, as bread.

**17.** Not only present, but all
hope of future prosperity is removed; so much so, that I am as one
who never was prosperous ("I forgat prosperity").

**18. from the Lord**—that is, my
hope derived from Him ([Psalms 31:22](../../../kjv/psalms/31/22)).
*Zain.*

**19-21.** This gives the reason why
he gave way to the temptation to despair. The *Margin,*
"Remember" does not suit the sense so well.
**wormwood . . . gall**—
([Jeremiah 9:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/9/15)).

**20.** As often as *my soul calls
them to remembrance, it is humbled* or bowed down in me.

**21. This**—namely, what follows;
the view of the divine character ([Lamentations 3:22](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/22);
[Lamentations 3:23](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/23)). CALVIN
makes "this" refer to Jeremiah's infirmity. His very
weakness ([Lamentations 3:19](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/19); [Lamentations 3:20](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/20))
gives him hope of God interposing His strength for him (compare
[Psalms 25:11](../../../kjv/psalms/25/11); [Psalms 25:17](../../../kjv/psalms/25/17);
[Psalms 42:5](../../../kjv/psalms/42/5); [Psalms 42:8](../../../kjv/psalms/42/8);
[2 Corinthians 12:9](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/12/9); [2 Corinthians 12:10](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/12/10)).
*Cheth.*

**22-24.** ().

**23.** ().

**24.** ([Numbers 18:20](../../../kjv/numbers/18/20);
[Psalms 16:5](../../../kjv/psalms/16/5); [Psalms 73:26](../../../kjv/psalms/73/26);
[Psalms 119:57](../../../kjv/psalms/119/57); [Jeremiah 10:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/10/16)).
To have God for our portion is the one only foundation of hope.
*Teth.*

**25-27.** The repetition of "good"
at the beginning of each of the three verses heightens the effect.
**wait**— ().

**26. quietly wait**—literally,
"be in silence." Compare [Lamentations 3:28](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/28);
[Psalms 39:2](../../../kjv/psalms/39/2); [Psalms 39:9](../../../kjv/psalms/39/9),
that is, to be patiently quiet under afflictions, resting in the will
of God ([Psalms 37:7](../../../kjv/psalms/37/7)). So Aaron
([Leviticus 10:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/10/2); [Leviticus 10:3](../../../kjv/leviticus/10/3));
and Job ([Job 40:4](../../../kjv/job/40/4); [Job 40:5](../../../kjv/job/40/5)).

**27. yoke**—of the Lord's
*disciplinary* teaching ([Psalms 90:12](../../../kjv/psalms/90/12);
[Psalms 119:71](../../../kjv/psalms/119/71)). CALVIN
interprets it, The Lord's *doctrine* ([Matthew 11:29](../../../kjv/matthew/11/29);
[Matthew 11:30](../../../kjv/matthew/11/30)), which is to be
received in a docile spirit. The earlier the better; for the old are
full of prejudices ([Proverbs 8:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/17);
[Ecclesiastes 12:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/1)). Jeremiah himself
received the yoke, both of doctrine and chastisement in his youth
([Jeremiah 1:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/6); [Jeremiah 1:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/7)).
*Jod.*

**28-30.** The fruit of true
docility and patience. He does not fight against the yoke ([Jeremiah 31:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/18);
[Acts 9:5](../../../kjv/acts/9/5)), but accommodates
himself to it.
**alone**—The heathen
applauded magnanimity, but they looked to display and the praise of
men. The child of God, in the absence of any witness, "alone,"
silently submits to the will of God.
**borne it upon him**—that
is, because he is used to bearing it on him. Rather, "because He
(the Lord, [Lamentations 3:26](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/26)) *hath
laid it on* him" [VATABLUS].

**29.** (). The mouth in the dust is the attitude of suppliant and
humble submission to God's dealings as righteous and loving in design
(compare [Ezra 9:6](../../../kjv/ezra/9/6); [1 Corinthians 14:25](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/14/25)).
**if so be there may be
hope**—This does not express doubt as to whether GOD
be willing to receive the penitent, but the *penitent's* doubt
as to himself; he whispers to himself this consolation, "Perhaps
there may be hope for me."

**30.** Messiah, the Antitype,
fulfilled this; His practice agreeing with His precept ([Isaiah 50:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/6);
[Matthew 5:39](../../../kjv/matthew/5/39)). Many take patiently
afflictions from God, but when man wrongs them, they take it
impatiently. The godly bear resignedly the latter, like the former,
as sent by God ([Psalms 17:13](../../../kjv/psalms/17/13)).
*Caph.*

**31-33.** True repentance is never
without hope ([Psalms 94:14](../../../kjv/psalms/94/14)).

**32.** The punishments of the godly
are but for a time.

**33.** He does not afflict any
willingly (literally, "from His heart," that is, as if He
had any pleasure in it, ), much less the godly ().
*Lamed.*

**34-36.** This triplet has an
infinitive in the beginning of each verse, the governing finite verb
being in the end of [Lamentations 3:36](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/36),
"the Lord approveth not," which is to be repeated in each
verse. Jeremiah here anticipates and answers the objections which the
Jews might start, that it was by His connivance they were "crushed
under the feet" of those who "turned aside the right of a
man." God approves (literally, "seeth," [Lamentations 3:36](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/36); so "behold," "look on," that is, look
on *with approval*) not of such unrighteous acts; and so the
Jews may look for deliverance and the punishment of their foes.

**35. before . . . face of . . . most
High**—Any "turning aside" of justice in court is done
*before the face of God,* who is present, and "regardeth,"
though unseen ([Ecclesiastes 5:8](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/8)).

**36. subvert**—to wrong.
*Mem.*

**37-39.** Who is it that can (as
God, [Psalms 33:9](../../../kjv/psalms/33/9)) effect by a word
anything, without the will of God?

**38. evil . . . good**—*Calamity*
and prosperity alike proceed from God ([Job 2:10](../../../kjv/job/2/10);
[Isaiah 45:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/7); [Amos 3:6](../../../kjv/amos/3/6)).

**39. living**—and so having a
time yet given him by God for repentance. If sin were punished as it
deserves, *life* itself would be forfeited by the sinner.
"Complaining" (murmuring) ill becomes him who enjoys such a
favor as life ([Proverbs 19:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/19/3)).
**for the punishment of his
sins**—Instead of blaming God for his sufferings, he ought to
recognize in them God's righteousness and the just rewards of his own
sin.
*Nun.*

**40-42. us**—Jeremiah and his
fellow countrymen in their calamity.
**search**—as opposed to
the torpor wherewith men rest only on their outward sufferings,
without attending to the cause of them ([Psalms 139:23](../../../kjv/psalms/139/23);
[Psalms 139:24](../../../kjv/psalms/139/24)).

**41. heart with . . . hands**—the
antidote to hypocrisy ([Psalms 86:4](../../../kjv/psalms/86/4);
[1 Timothy 2:8](../../../kjv/1-timothy/2/8)).

**42. not pardoned**—The
Babylonian captivity had not yet ended.
*Samech.*

**43-45. covered**—namely, thyself
(so [Lamentations 3:44](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/44)), so as not to see
and pity our calamities, for even the most cruel in seeing a sad
spectacle are moved to pity. Compare as to God "hiding His
face," [Psalms 10:11](../../../kjv/psalms/10/11); [Psalms 22:25](../../../kjv/psalms/22/25).

**44.** (). The "cloud" is our sins, and God's wrath because
of them ([Isaiah 44:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/22); [Isaiah 59:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/2)).

**45.** So the apostles were
treated; but, instead of murmuring, they rejoiced at it ().
*Pe.*

**46-48.** *Pe* is put before
*Ain* ([Lamentations 3:43](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/43); [Lamentations 3:46](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/46)),
as in [Lamentations 2:16](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/16); [Lamentations 2:17](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/17);
[Lamentations 4:16](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/16); [Lamentations 4:17](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/17).
([Lamentations 2:16](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/16).)

**47.** Like animals fleeing in
fear, we fall into the snare laid for us.

**48.** ().
*Ain.*

**49-51. without . . . intermission**—or
else, "because there is no intermission" [PISCATOR],
namely, of my miseries.

**50. Till**—His prayer is not
without hope, wherein it differs from the blind grief of unbelievers.
**look down,** &c.—
([Isaiah 63:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/15)).

**51. eye affecteth mine heart**—that
is, causeth me grief with continual tears; or, "affecteth my
*life*" (literally, "soul," *Margin*), that
is, my health [GROTIUS].
**daughters of . . . city**—the
towns around, dependencies of Jerusalem, taken by the foe.
*Tzaddi.*

**52-54. a bird**—which is
destitute of counsel and strength. The allusion seems to be to [CALVIN].
**without cause**— ([Psalms 69:4](../../../kjv/psalms/69/4);
[Psalms 109:3](../../../kjv/psalms/109/3); [Psalms 109:4](../../../kjv/psalms/109/4)).
Type of Messiah ([John 15:25](../../../kjv/john/15/25)).

**53. in . . . dungeon**— ().
**stone**—usually put at
the mouth of a dungeon to secure the prisoners ([Joshua 10:18](../../../kjv/joshua/10/18);
[Daniel 6:17](../../../kjv/daniel/6/17); [Matthew 27:60](../../../kjv/matthew/27/60)).

**54. Waters**—not literally, for
there was "no water" () in the place of Jeremiah's confinement, but emblematical of
overwhelming calamities ([Psalms 69:2](../../../kjv/psalms/69/2);
[Psalms 124:4](../../../kjv/psalms/124/4); [Psalms 124:5](../../../kjv/psalms/124/5)).
**cut off**— ([Isaiah 38:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/10);
[Isaiah 38:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/11)). I am abandoned by
God. He speaks according to carnal sense.
*Koph.*

**55-57. I called out of dungeon**—Thus
the spirit resists the flesh, and faith spurns the temptation
[CALVIN], ([Psalms 130:1](../../../kjv/psalms/130/1);
[Jonah 2:2](../../../kjv/jonah/2/2)).

**56. Thou hast heard**—namely
formerly (so in [Lamentations 3:57](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/57);
[Lamentations 3:58](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/58)).
**breathing . . . cry**—two
kinds of prayer; the sigh of a prayer silently *breathed* forth,
and the loud, earnest cry (compare "prayer," "*secret
speech,*" [Isaiah 26:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/16),
*Margin;* with "cry aloud," [Isaiah 26:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/16)).

**57. Thou drewest near**—with Thy
help ([James 4:8](../../../kjv/james/4/8)).
*Resh.*

**58-60.** Jeremiah cites God's
gracious answers to his prayers as an encouragement to his fellow
countrymen, to trust in Him.
**pleaded**— ([Psalms 35:1](../../../kjv/psalms/35/1);
[Micah 7:9](../../../kjv/micah/7/9)).

**59.** God's past deliverances and
His knowledge of Judah's wrongs are made the grounds of prayer for
relief.

**60. imaginations**—devices ().
**Their vengeance**—means
*their malice.* Jeremiah gives his conduct, when plotted against
by his foes, as an example how the Jews should bring their wrongs at
the hands of the Chaldeans before God.
*Schin.*

**61-63. their reproach**—their
reproachful language against me.

**62. lips**—speeches.

**63. sitting down . . . rising
up**—whether they sit or rise, that is, whether they be actively
engaged or sedentary, and at rest "all the day" (), I am the subject of their derisive songs ().
*Tau.*

**64-66.** ([Jeremiah 11:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/11/20);
[2 Timothy 4:14](../../../kjv/2-timothy/4/14)).

**65. sorrow**—rather, *blindness*
or *hardness;* literally, "a veil" covering their
heart, so that they may rush on to their own ruin ([Isaiah 6:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/10);
[2 Corinthians 3:14](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/3/14); [2 Corinthians 3:15](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/3/15)).

**66. from under . . . heavens of . .
. Lord**—*destroy* them so that it may be seen everywhere
*under heaven* that thou sittest above as Judge of the world.

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