Lamentations 3:44
What does Lamentations 3:44 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:44 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 3:44 means
They feel that God has wrapped Himself in a cloud that blocks prayer. Heaven seems closed. This expresses the experiential side of judgment—divine distance. While prayer is not literally powerless, the felt absence of God’s response is real and painful. The verse gives words to that ache, validating how delayed mercy can feel. Yet even voicing it is a kind of prayer, a reaching through the cloud. Later in the chapter, the testimony that Jehovah heard and drew near will answer this darkness, showing that such clouds eventually part for the penitent.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Covering yourself with a cloud, so that prayer may not get through.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Samech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may not pass through.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that prayer should not pass through.
Context
The confession of God’s fierce judgment expands to include spiritual isolation. Verses 45–47 will now consider the social consequences: being treated as refuse among nations and facing ongoing threats. The chapter cycles back to lament but does so as a repentant community, ready to appeal to God’s justice and past mercies in the following sections.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 7:13
And it is come to pass that, as he cried, and they would not hear, so they shall cry, and I will not hear, said Jehovah of hosts;
- Psalms 97:2
Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
- Jeremiah 15:1
Then said Jehovah unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
- Jeremiah 14:11
And Jehovah said unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
- Psalms 80:4
O Jehovah God of hosts, How long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
- Lamentations 3:8
Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.
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