Devine Scripture

Lamentations 3:40

What does Lamentations 3:40 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 3:40 means

He calls the people to search out and test their ways, then to return to Jehovah. This is not self-absorption but honest moral inventory leading to repentance. “Search and try” implies careful scrutiny under God’s light, comparing life to His covenant standards. The goal is turning—not despair, but reorientation to God. The verse models the proper use of suffering: it becomes a mirror. Instead of merely enduring hardship, the community is invited to learn from it, confess, and change course, trusting that Jehovah welcomes those who come back to Him in truth.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let us make search and put our ways to the test, turning again to the Lord;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

Context

Applying the previous verse’s counsel, this call summons a communal response to discipline. Verse 41 will express this return in prayerful posture: lifting both heart and hands to God. Verses 42–45 will then voice corporate confession, owning rebellion and acknowledging God’s anger. This flow shows how lament matures into repentance and intercession.

v.39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

v.40This passage

v.41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Chronicles 15:12

    and said unto them, Ye are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto the place that I have prepared for it.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:6

    So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

  • Acts 26:20

    but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judæa, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

  • Haggai 1:5

    Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.

  • Ezekiel 18:28

    Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

  • Psalms 119:59

    I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

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