Lamentations 3 10

Lamentations 3:10 kjv

He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

Lamentations 3:10 nkjv

He has been to me a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in ambush.

Lamentations 3:10 niv

Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,

Lamentations 3:10 esv

He is a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding;

Lamentations 3:10 nlt

He has hidden like a bear or a lion,
waiting to attack me.

Lamentations 3 verses

Lamentations 3 10 Meaning

Lamentations 3:10 describes God's omnipresent opposition, like a lion lying in wait, presenting insurmountable obstacles to the speaker's path. This imagery conveys a sense of being trapped and unable to escape the divine judgment or predicament.

Lamentations 3 10 Context

This verse is found in the book of Lamentations, which is a collection of poems expressing grief and sorrow, particularly over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. Chapter 3 reflects a shift in Jeremiah the prophet's perspective as he contemplates his own suffering in the context of national disaster. Despite the overwhelming despair, there are threads of hope and resilience woven throughout the chapter, culminating in a declaration of God's faithfulness and the people's call to repentance. The imagery of God lying in wait like a lion speaks to the severity and seeming inescapability of the divine judgment upon Judah for its sins.

Lamentations 3 10 Word Analysis

• He: (Hebrew: הוּא - hu') - Pronoun referring to God.

• has covered: (Hebrew: סָתַר - satar) - To hide, conceal, screen.

• my way: (Hebrew: דַּרְכִּי - darki) - My path, my journey, my manner of life.

• with stones: (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים - avanim) - Stones, rocks.

• has hedged up: (Hebrew: גָּדַר - gadar) - To build a wall around, to block up, to enclose.

• my path: (Hebrew: נְתִיבֹתַי - netivotai) - My pathways, my tracks, my routes.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "has covered my way with stones" and "has hedged up my path": These phrases, used in parallelism, vividly illustrate a blocked and impassable journey. The "stones" represent obstacles, hindrances, and perhaps the crushing weight of divine judgment. "Hedged up" reinforces the idea of being confined, entrapped, with no clear avenue of escape or progression. The divine action is portrayed as deliberately constructing barriers to progress.

Lamentations 3 10 Bonus Section

The "lion" motif is significant in the Old Testament, often representing strength, power, and sometimes predatory danger (e.g., Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9; Hosea 13:7-8). In this context, it emphasizes the inescapable nature of God's power and the formidable opposition the prophet feels. This verse echoes the human experience of feeling trapped by circumstances or divine dealings, highlighting the tension between suffering and trust in God's ultimate purposes. The specific wording of "hedged up my path" (גָּדַר נְתִיבֹתַי - gadar netivotai) also suggests a deliberate construction of boundaries, perhaps as a consequence of straying from the right path.

Lamentations 3 10 Commentary

The prophet expresses a profound sense of helplessness and entrapment under God's discipline. The barriers erected are not arbitrary but are perceived as a direct consequence of God's judgment for the nation's sin. Yet, even in this bleak depiction, the underlying theme of Lamentations remains God's sovereign hand. While the immediate experience is one of confinement, the eventual hope in God's steadfast love (vv. 21-24) suggests that this is a disciplinary period, not an ultimate abandonment. The imagery is potent for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles or experiencing the weight of consequences for wrongdoing.