Lamentations 3:65
What does Lamentations 3:65 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:65 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 3:65 means
He prays that God would give the enemies hardness of heart and His curse. This requests judicial hardening—a severe but just response where persistent rebels are confirmed in their chosen path and face covenant curses. It recognizes that some opposition is incorrigible and that God’s judgment is the only remedy. The verse is sobering, reminding us that mercy rejected can give way to hardened ruin. The sufferer leaves such severe actions to God’s wisdom and justice, not taking them into his own hands.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, thy curse unto them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, thy curse unto them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You will let their hearts be covered over with your curse on them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thau. Thou shalt give them a buckler of heart, thy labour.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890give them obduracy of heart, thy curse unto them;
Context
The imprecation intensifies from recompense to a request for divine cursing and hardening. The closing verse (v. 66) will seek God’s active pursuit and destruction of the enemies from under the heavens of Jehovah. This language aims to secure the safety and vindication of God’s people by removing unrepentant wickedness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.
- Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
- Psalms 109:17
Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.
- Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as at this day.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.
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