Devine Scripture

Lamentations 3:30

What does Lamentations 3:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 3:30 means

He advises offering the cheek to the one who strikes and being filled with reproach—accepting injustice without retaliation. This posture reflects meekness and trust in God’s vindication, rather than self-defense that could escalate evil. It shows that true repentance welcomes God’s humbling work, even through adversaries. For Christians, this finds its clearest expression in Jesus’ meek endurance of blows and insults, entrusting Himself to God. The verse shows that submission in suffering is not weakness but faith that God sees, judges rightly, and will act in His time to save and to set things right.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let his face be turned to him who gives him blows; let him be full of shame.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Jod. He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall be filled with reproaches.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

he giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him; he is filled full with reproach.

Context

These hard counsels—silence, dust, and non-retaliation—rest on a profound conviction about God’s character. Verses 31–33 will immediately declare that the Lord does not cast off forever and that His compassion is abundant, explaining why patient endurance is wise and not futile. The flow moves from exhortation to the theological foundation that sustains it.

v.29Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

v.30This passage

v.31For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:20

    For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

  • Psalms 123:3

    Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

  • Micah 5:1

    Now shalt thou gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us; they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

  • Psalms 69:9

    For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.

  • Luke 6:29

    To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.

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