Devine Scripture

Lamentations 3:43

What does Lamentations 3:43 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:43 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 3:43 means

They acknowledge that Jehovah covered Himself with anger and pursued, struck down, and showed no pity. This is strong language, owning that God’s judgment has been active and intense. Such words correct any notion that the disaster was merely political. It was theological—a covenant Lord responding to covenant breach. The lack of pity reflects the season of wrath, not God’s eternal heart. In confessing this, the people bow under His righteousness, creating the ground on which mercy can later be sought without presumption.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Covering yourself with wrath you have gone after us, cutting us off without pity;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain--Thou hast not pitied.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Samech. Thou hast covered in thy wrath, and hast struck us: thou hast killed and hast not spared.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Thou hast covered thyself with anger, and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not spared.

Context

Following confession of sin and the absence of pardon, this verse describes the ferocity of God’s judgment. Verse 44 will add the sense of blocked prayer, and verses 45–47 will recount public shame and terror. The community faces the full reality of what their rebellion has brought, which is necessary before they can appeal for compassionate intervention again.

v.42We have transgressed and have rebelled; thou hast not pardoned.

v.43This passage

v.44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 44:19

    That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

  • Psalms 83:15

    So pursue them with thy tempest, And terrify them with thy storm.

  • Lamentations 3:66

    Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Jehovah.

  • Ezekiel 8:18

    Therefore will I also deal in wrath; mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

  • Lamentations 2:17

    Jehovah hath done that which he purposed; he hath fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: And he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries.

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