Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Lamentations 3:1–10

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

10 selected · 0 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

47 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. Psalms 88:7Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

  2. Job 19:21Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    21Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

  3. Psalms 88:15–16Rank 3 from verse 1
    Open

    15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

    16Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

  4. Isaiah 53:3Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

  5. Jeremiah 15:17–18Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    17I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

    18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

From verse 2

  1. Isaiah 59:9Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    9¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

  2. Job 30:26Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    26When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

  3. Amos 5:18–20Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    18Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.

    19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

    20Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

  4. Deuteronomy 28:29Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    29And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

  5. Jeremiah 13:16Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    16Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

From verse 3

  1. Deuteronomy 29:20Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    20The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.

  2. Isaiah 1:25Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    25¶ And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

  3. Isaiah 5:25Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    25Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

  4. Isaiah 63:10Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    10¶ But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

  5. Job 31:21Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

From verse 4

  1. Isaiah 38:13Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    13I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

  2. Psalms 51:8Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

  3. Jeremiah 50:17Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    17¶ Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

  4. Psalms 31:9–10Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    9Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

    10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

  5. Psalms 38:2–8Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

    3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

    4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

    5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

    6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

    7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

    8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

From verse 5

  1. Lamentations 3:19Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

  2. Jeremiah 23:15Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    15Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

  3. Job 19:8Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    8He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

  4. Jeremiah 8:14Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    14Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord.

  5. Jeremiah 9:15Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    15Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

From verse 6

  1. Psalms 88:5–6Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    5Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

    6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

  2. Psalms 143:3Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

  3. Psalms 143:7Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    7Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

From verse 7

  1. Job 19:8Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    8He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

  2. Job 3:23Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    23Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

  3. Hosea 2:6Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    6¶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

  4. Jeremiah 38:6Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    6Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

  5. Jeremiah 40:4Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    4And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

From verse 8

  1. Job 30:20Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    20I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

  2. Psalms 22:2Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

  3. Job 19:7Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    7Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

  4. Lamentations 3:44Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

  5. Matthew 27:46Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

From verse 9

  1. Isaiah 63:17Rank 1 from verse 9
    Open

    17¶ O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  2. Hosea 2:6Rank 2 from verse 9
    Open

    6¶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

  3. Isaiah 30:28Rank 3 from verse 9
    Open

    28And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

  4. Lamentations 3:11Rank 4 from verse 9
    Open

    11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

From verse 10

  1. Amos 5:18–20Rank 1 from verse 10
    Open

    18Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.

    19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

    20Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

  2. Hosea 13:7–8Rank 2 from verse 10
    Open

    7Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

    8I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

  3. Hosea 5:14Rank 3 from verse 10
    Open

    14For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

  4. Hosea 6:1Rank 4 from verse 10
    Open

    1COME, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

  5. Isaiah 38:13Rank 5 from verse 10
    Open

    13I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:1

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wrath

↗

Fierce anger, indignation, displeasure, rage, or the punitive judgment and destructive action that proceed from it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:2

COMBINED MEANING

darkness

↗

Sense 1: Absence of light. Sense 2: Obscurity, ignorance, distress, or moral evil by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:3

COMBINED MEANING

against

↗

Opposed to, contrary to, facing, toward, or in contact with; in some settings, exposed to or ready for a stated time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

turned

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of turn, meaning to change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

turneth

↗

Third-person singular present form of turn, meaning to change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:4

COMBINED MEANING

flesh

↗

Sense 1: The soft substance of the body. Sense 2: The body, human nature, kindred, or mankind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

skin

↗

Sense 1: The natural outer covering of a person or animal; the hide or exterior covering. Sense 2: To strip off the skin or hide.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

old

↗

1. Advanced in age or existing for a long time. 2. Of the stated or specified age. 3. Ancient, former, previous, or worn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:5

COMBINED MEANING

builded

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of build, meaning to construct, rest or depend on as a foundation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

against

↗

Opposed to, contrary to, facing, toward, or in contact with; in some settings, exposed to or ready for a stated time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

compassed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of compass, meaning to go around, surround, enclose, or encircle.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

gall

↗

Sense 1: A bodily organ or its bitter fluid. Sense 2: A bitter or poisonous substance. Sense 3: By figure, extreme bitterness, misery, corruption, iniquity, or bitter judgment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

travail

↗

Sense 1: The painful labour and anguish of childbirth. Sense 2: To undergo such labour. Sense 3: Severe toil, trouble, sorrow, or suffering.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:6

COMBINED MEANING

set

↗

1. To put or place a person or thing in a position, relation, or condition; when passive, to be so placed, fixed, or adorned. 2. To establish, fix, appoint, assign, prescribe, or determine. 3. To arrange, prepare, present, display, or put in order or array. 4. To direct, turn, or firmly apply the face, heart, eyes, mind, affection, or action toward something. 5. To start, advance, send out, proceed on a course or work, or make an attack, as in set forward, set forth, or set upon where those meanings apply. 6. To value or esteem; or, in set at nought or set light by, to despise. 7. Of the sun, to go down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dark

↗

Sense 1: Without light or having little light. Sense 2: Obscure, hidden, or not understood. Sense 3: Darkness or a place or time without light.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

places

↗

1. Physical locations or rooms. 2. Positions or offices. 3. Occasions, circumstances, or passages.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

old

↗

1. Advanced in age or existing for a long time. 2. Of the stated or specified age. 3. Ancient, former, previous, or worn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:7

COMBINED MEANING

about

↗

1. Around or near in place, position, or movement; on every side, in a circuit, from place to place, or turned from one direction or state toward another. 2. Approximately in number, measure, distance, or time. 3. Concerning, occupied with, or engaged in a matter. 4. On the point of, intending, or attempting an action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

get

↗

To procure; to obtain; to gain possession of, by almost any means.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

chain

↗

Sense 1: A series of connected links, worn as an ornament or used to bind or restrain. Sense 2: Figuratively, a bond, confinement, affliction, or surrounding force.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

heavy

↗

Sense 1: Of great weight. Sense 2: Grievous, sorrowful, burdened, or hard to bear.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:8

COMBINED MEANING

cry

↗

1. A vocal call, shout, proclamation, alarm, wail, or other utterance, often loud. 2. An earnest appeal, prayer, complaint, or outcry for help, justice, or attention. 3. As a verb, to call out, shout, proclaim, wail, appeal, pray, or complain; figuratively, to bear urgent witness or demand notice.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shout

↗

Sense 1: A loud cry or sudden outburst of voices. Sense 2: As a verb, to utter such a cry.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:9

COMBINED MEANING

inclosed

↗

Enclosed, surrounded, shut in, bounded, or set within a surrounding frame or boundary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hewn

↗

Sense 1: Cut, chopped, shaped, carved, or taken out by a cutting tool. Sense 2: Cut down or separated from a source, literally or by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stone

↗

Sense 1: A piece or mass of rock. Sense 2: To strike or kill with stones.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

paths

↗

1. Figuratively, ways or courses of conduct, action, or direction. 2. Tracks, roads, routes, or ways of passage or travel.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

crooked

↗

1. Bent, winding, or not straight. 2. Figuratively, morally perverse or turned aside from what is right.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Lamentations 3:10

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

lying

↗

1. Reclining, resting, remaining, or being situated in a place. 2. Speaking or representing what is false or deceptive. 3. Lying with a person; having sexual intercourse.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wait

↗

Sense 1: To remain in expectation or readiness. Sense 2: To attend or serve. Sense 3: As a noun, an ambush or concealed watch.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

lion

↗

Sense 1: A large, powerful wild cat. Sense 2: Figuratively, one fierce or strong.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

secret

↗

1. Hidden, concealed, private, or not openly known. 2. A hidden matter, counsel, or mystery.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

places

↗

1. Physical locations or rooms. 2. Positions or offices. 3. Occasions, circumstances, or passages.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

Selected passage

2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

Selected passage

3Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.

Selected passage

4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.

Selected passage

5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

Selected passage

6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

Selected passage

7He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

Selected passage

8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

Selected passage

9He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

Selected passage

10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

Selected passage

11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.