Lamentations 3:11 kjv
He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
Lamentations 3:11 nkjv
He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces; He has made me desolate.
Lamentations 3:11 niv
he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.
Lamentations 3:11 esv
he turned aside my steps and tore me to pieces; he has made me desolate;
Lamentations 3:11 nlt
He has dragged me off the path and torn me in pieces,
leaving me helpless and devastated.
Lamentations 3 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 3:7 | He has hedged me about that I cannot go forth; he has made my chain heavy. | (Similar imagery of entrapment) |
| Job 3:23 | ...to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? | (Divine concealment of path) |
| Psalm 88:8 | You have put far from me my friends; you have made me to them an abomination. | (Separation and isolation) |
| Psalm 31:11 | Because of all my enemies, I am become a reproach, especially to my neighbours. | (Public shame and isolation) |
| Psalm 119:72 | The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. | (Value of God's ways) |
| Proverbs 4:26 | Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. | (Importance of deliberate path) |
| Isaiah 45:2-3 | I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. | (God actively opening paths) |
| Jeremiah 20:9 | Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. | (Internal struggle despite constraints) |
| Ezekiel 14:3 | Thus saith the Lord God; Are these elders of Israel come to inquire of me? | (Inquiring of God in distress) |
| Matthew 7:13-14 | Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. | (Constrained paths to life) |
| Romans 11:33 | O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! | (Unsearchable divine ways) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? | (God's wisdom contrasts worldly wisdom) |
| Philippians 4:6-7 | Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. | (Peace beyond confusion) |
| Hebrews 12:1 | Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, | (Endurance in appointed paths) |
| Revelation 3:7 | And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; | (God's sovereign control over access) |
| Psalm 118:26 | Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. | (Welcoming God's intervention) |
| Isaiah 54:17 | No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. | (Divine protection against opposition) |
| Proverbs 20:18 | Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. | (Wisdom in planning) |
| Song of Solomon 2:5 | Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. | (A cry for comfort in distress) |
| Lamentations 1:14 | It is a yoke of my transgressions: it is bound close, and girded for my neck: he hath made my steps to slide: he hath delivered me into the hands of them that can not raise me up. | (Burden and inability to stand) |
| Lamentations 2:20 | Behold, O Lord, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Is it proper for women to eat their fruit, and the children of a cubit long? Is it proper for the priest and the prophet to be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? | (Questioning God's dealings) |
| Jeremiah 8:15 | We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, but behold, trouble. | (Disappointment in expectations) |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 11 Meaning
He has fenced up my paths as with hewn stones; he has put my ways in perplexity. This verse describes a state of complete blockage and confusion imposed by God, signifying that all avenues of escape or understanding are sealed off. The imagery suggests not a natural barrier, but one intentionally constructed and impenetrable, leading to an overwhelming sense of disorientation and helplessness in one's life journey.
Lamentations 3 11 Context
This verse is found in Lamentations chapter 3, where the prophet Jeremiah, or an individual representing the suffering people of Judah, expresses profound grief and lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile. The preceding verses describe a deep personal suffering and a sense of abandonment by God. This verse, "He has fenced up my paths as with hewn stones; he has put my ways in perplexity," occurs within a broader context of acknowledging God's sovereign hand in the present calamities, even amidst intense personal pain and confusion. The historical context is the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest of Judah, a time of immense national trauma and loss, where the people grappled with the meaning of their suffering in light of God's covenant promises.
Lamentations 3 11 Word Analysis
- He (hu): Pronoun, third person masculine singular, referring to God. It emphasizes God's direct agency in the depicted suffering.
- has fenced up (tsr) - tsarar: Hebrew verb meaning "to hem in," "to besiege," "to distress," or "to cause difficulty." It implies a deliberate encirclement and restriction, making escape impossible.
- my paths (muthsehay): Hebrew for "my paths" or "my ways." This refers to the course of life, one's journey, direction, or opportunities. The plural suggests multiple aspects or stages of life being blocked.
- as with (ke-even): "Like stones" or "as with stones." The simile points to the solid, unyielding, and rough nature of the obstruction.
- hewn stones (gezym): Hebrew for "hewn stones" or "cut stones." These are not natural, rough stones but stones deliberately cut and shaped, implying a deliberate, precise, and strong construction, leaving no gaps or easy ways through. This imagery speaks of meticulous and insurmountable barriers.
- he has put (syt): Hebrew verb meaning "to set," "to place," "to appoint," or "to cause." This indicates God's active placement of the condition of confusion.
- my ways (ma'galay): Hebrew for "my ways" or "my tracks." Similar to "paths," it emphasizes the individual's progression and decisions in life. The plural again suggests a comprehensive disruption.
- in perplexity (b'-bulla'th): Hebrew word for "bewilderment," "confusion," or "disorientation." It signifies a loss of clarity, a lack of direction, and inability to understand or navigate life's circumstances.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He has fenced up my paths as with hewn stones": This phrase vividly portrays a comprehensive and unyielding containment. The "hewn stones" suggest a purposeful and expertly constructed barrier, indicating that this is not random misfortune but a divinely imposed and complete blockage.
- "he has put my ways in perplexity": This complements the previous statement by describing the effect of the blockage on the individual's understanding and ability to move forward. It signifies mental and spiritual disorientation, where one cannot discern the right direction or reason for their situation.
Lamentations 3 11 Bonus Section
The imagery of God "fencing up paths" and putting ways "in perplexity" resonates with the concept of divine discipline or judgment, as understood within the covenantal framework. However, it is crucial to distinguish this from capricious cruelty. Within biblical thought, such divine confinement often serves a corrective or purificatory purpose, albeit one that is agonizing for the one experiencing it. The "hewn stones" can symbolize the solidified, unchangeable reality of the consequences of sin or the immutability of God's decree in a specific situation. The perplexity underscores that God's ways and judgments are often beyond human comprehension, especially in times of trial, prompting reliance on faith rather than understanding. The deliberate nature described emphasizes God's ultimate control and His specific interaction with the sufferer, even if that interaction feels like severe confinement.
Lamentations 3 11 Commentary
Lamentations 3:11 captures a profound sense of entrapment and utter confusion. The divine actions described are not random events but deliberate acts of divine sovereignty. God has not merely created obstacles, but constructed insurmountable walls of "hewn stones," sealing off all avenues of progress or understanding. This intentional fencing and placement of "perplexity" speaks to the overwhelming nature of suffering when one feels divinely shut in, with no discernible way out or explanation for their plight. The verse conveys the emotional and intellectual crisis that arises from such perceived divine action, leading to a state where one's entire life journey feels incomprehensible and irrevocably blocked. It highlights the human struggle to comprehend God's purpose when His actions result in such profound distress and disorientation.