Lamentations 3:15 kjv
He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
Lamentations 3:15 nkjv
He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood.
Lamentations 3:15 niv
He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink.
Lamentations 3:15 esv
He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood.
Lamentations 3:15 nlt
He has filled me with bitterness
and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink.
Lamentations 3 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lam 3:16 | He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones… | Lam 3:16 (Continuing the lament) |
| Jer 9:15 | I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood... | Jer 9:15 (Divine judgment) |
| Jer 23:15 | Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning… | Jer 23:15 (Prophetic warning of bitterness) |
| Amos 6:12 | Will horses run upon the rock? will one plow… | Amos 6:12 (Perverted justice leading to bitterness) |
| Deut 29:18 | Lest there be among you a root that beareth gall… | Deut 29:18 (Warning against bitter sin) |
| Heb 12:15 | Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace… | Heb 12:15 (Spiritual bitterness) |
| Jer 8:14 | Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let… | Jer 8:14 (Disappointment and sorrow) |
| Psa 75:8 | For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and… | Psa 75:8 (God's judgment and wrath) |
| Rev 14:10 | The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of… | Rev 14:10 (Divine wrath and judgment) |
| Psa 11:6 | Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and… | Psa 11:6 (God's judgment) |
| Jer 31:28 | And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched… | Jer 31:28 (Promise of restoration) |
| Psa 38:3 | There is no soundness in my flesh because of thy… | Psa 38:3 (Guilt and its effects) |
| Psa 42:3 | My tears have been my meat day and night, while… | Psa 42:3 (Deep sorrow and despair) |
| Job 16:13 | His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth… | Job 16:13 (Suffering and abandonment) |
| Isa 51:17 | Awake, awake, and stand up, O Jerusalem, which… | Isa 51:17 (Divine judgment for sin) |
| Lam 2:11 | Mine eyes fail from weeping, my bowels are… | Lam 2:11 (Similar expression of suffering) |
| Lam 1:20 | Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: mine… | Lam 1:20 (Plea in distress) |
| Psa 69:21 | They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my… | Psa 69:21 (Fulfillment in Christ's suffering) |
| Matt 27:34 | And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha… | Matt 27:34 (Jesus offered vinegar/gall) |
| Luke 23:36 | And the soldiers also mocked him, and came to him… | Luke 23:36 (Soldiers mocking Jesus) |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 15 Meaning
The verse states that God has filled the speaker with bitterness and made them drink wormwood. This signifies an intense experience of suffering, divine discipline, and sorrow, leading to profound anguish.
Lamentations 3 15 Context
Lamentations 3 describes the deep anguish and suffering of the prophet Jeremiah, reflecting the collective suffering of the people of Judah due to their sins and the ensuing Babylonian exile. Verse 15 is part of Jeremiah's personal lament, acknowledging the bitter experiences as a divinely permitted reality. The immediate context portrays a deep sense of desolation and distress, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the affliction. Historically, this reflects the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Lamentations 3 15 Word analysis
- He (וְהוּא - vehu'): Refers to God.
- hath filled (מִלֵּא - mille'): Means to fill, to fulfill, to be full. Implies completeness and entirety of the experience.
- me (אֹתִי - o'ti): The first-person pronoun, signifying the personal experience of suffering.
- with (בְּ - be): A preposition indicating inclusion or accompaniment.
- bitterness (מֹר - mor): Hebrew for bitterness. Represents intense sorrow, anguish, and affliction. Often associated with poisonous substances or experiences that cause great suffering.
- and (וְ - ve): Conjunction linking two clauses.
- made me drink (הִשְׁקָה - hishqa): Causative form of "to drink." God actively caused the speaker to consume this bitter substance.
- wormwood (לַעֲנָה - la'anah): Hebrew for wormwood, a bitter herb. Symbolically represents extreme bitterness, suffering, and divine judgment. The bitterness of wormwood was proverbial in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Words-group analysis
- Filled me with bitterness: This phrase vividly describes a complete overwhelming of the senses and spirit with profound sorrow and affliction. It is not a partial experience but a total inundation by hardship.
- Made me drink wormwood: This reinforces the active role of God in administering this bitter experience. The imagery of drinking implies involuntary consumption, suggesting the inevitability and severity of the suffering being imposed. Wormwood itself is symbolic of severe bitterness and the consequences of sin.
Lamentations 3 15 Bonus section
The imagery of God making someone drink a bitter substance is echoed in other parts of Scripture, often in contexts of judgment. Wormwood is a strong symbol of bitterness and divine displeasure, frequently mentioned in prophetic contexts concerning judgment upon sinning nations. This verse serves as a reminder that even in moments of extreme personal anguish, the psalmist and prophets often affirmed God's ultimate control and purpose in all circumstances, however dire. It sets the stage for a profound exploration of hope and restoration found later in Lamentations chapter 3.
Lamentations 3 15 Commentary
This verse articulates a profound theological understanding of suffering as an experience that can be directly administered by God. The use of "bitterness" and "wormwood" powerfully conveys the intense, painful, and unpleasant nature of the affliction. It suggests that God, in His sovereignty, can pour out or cause to be experienced severe distress as a form of discipline or judgment. The lament is not an accusation but an honest expression of a reality faced by the speaker, recognizing God's hand even in overwhelming pain. This highlights a deep trust, acknowledging that God's actions, though difficult, have a purpose, even if it's not immediately understood.