Lamentations 3:23 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Lamentations 3:23 kjv
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23 nkjv
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23 niv
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23 esv
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23 nlt
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind... | God's unchangeable nature |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant... | God as the faithful God |
| Ps 30:5 | ...weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. | Hope after suffering, new morning brings joy |
| Ps 36:5 | Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. | God's immense steadfast love and faithfulness |
| Ps 65:8 | ...the dawnings of morning and evening you make shout for joy. | God's power over day and night, bringing joy |
| Ps 89:1-2 | I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations... Your faithfulness you will establish in the heavens. | Everlasting nature of God's faithfulness |
| Ps 92:2 | to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, | Declaring God's faithfulness daily |
| Ps 103:8 | The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | God's overflowing mercy and steadfast love |
| Ps 119:90 | Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. | God's faithfulness as foundation of creation |
| Ps 143:8 | Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. | Hearing God's steadfast love in the morning |
| Isa 33:2 | O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. | God as daily strength and salvation |
| Hos 6:3 | ...he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth. | God's coming like life-giving, refreshing rain |
| Mic 7:18 | Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression...? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. | God's unique delight in steadfast love |
| Zeph 3:5 | The LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice... | God's consistent manifestation of justice |
| Mal 4:2 | But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. | Hope for those who fear God, dawn brings healing |
| 1 Cor 1:9 | God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. | God's faithfulness for calling into fellowship |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. | Spiritual newness in Christ |
| Phil 1:6 | And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. | God's faithfulness to complete His work |
| 1 Thes 5:24 | He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. | God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. | God's faithfulness is the basis of hope |
| Jas 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. | God's unchangeable, good nature |
| Rev 21:5 | And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." | God's ultimate renewal of all things |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 23 meaning
Lamentations 3:23 declares that God's mercies and compassions, which never come to an end, are fresh and renewed with the arrival of each new day. The verse emphasizes the abundant and unwavering nature of God's faithfulness, presented as a constant source of hope and reliability, regardless of the severity of present circumstances or past failures. It pivots from despair to profound assurance in God's character.
Lamentations 3 23 Context
Lamentations 3:23 is nestled within the literary centerpiece of the book of Lamentations, a communal lament after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Chapter 3 begins as an individual lament of a man who describes deep personal suffering mirroring that of the nation. The author, traditionally Jeremiah, expresses profound anguish and describes God as having afflicted him. However, beginning in verse 21, there's a dramatic shift, a pivot from despair to hope, fueled by the memory and affirmation of God's unchanging character. Verse 22 states that it is the Lord's chesed (steadfast love, mercy) that prevents them from being utterly consumed. Verse 23 then elaborates on how this unending mercy manifests: afresh each morning. This verse acts as a light breaking through deep spiritual darkness, a declaration of theological truth that provides solace and a basis for continued trust amidst national catastrophe and personal grief.
Lamentations 3 23 Word analysis
They are new: (Hebrew:
chadash, חָדָשׁ)- This term signifies not merely a repetition but a renewal, a refreshing, an invigorating newness.
- It suggests that God's mercies are not stale or diminished, but vibrant and inexhaustible, just as a fresh day begins.
- In the context of suffering, it implies that God provides precisely what is needed for this day, enabling survival and hope for the present moment.
every morning: (Hebrew:
babeqer, בַּבְּקֶר)beqerrefers to the dawn, the morning light breaking through darkness. It symbolizes a fresh start, an opportunity, and the end of the previous night's sorrows.- The repetition "every morning" highlights the unfailing regularity and consistency of God's mercies. It's a continuous, daily provision.
- The transition from night to morning is a metaphor for the divine pattern of overcoming despair with hope. Just as the sun inevitably rises, so too does God's compassion.
- This is a strong counter-point to the constant suffering experienced by the people, affirming a divine schedule of renewal that transcends their immediate circumstances.
Great is your faithfulness: (Hebrew:
rab'ah 'emunatheka, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ)Rab'ahmeans abundant, much, numerous, extensive. It emphasizes the magnitude of God's faithfulness.'Emunatheka('emunah- faithfulness, trustworthiness, steadfastness, truth) is a fundamental attribute of God, linked to His covenant character. It speaks of God's reliability and integrity; He always keeps His word.- This declaration contrasts sharply with the unfaithfulness of Israel, the fleeting nature of human strength, and the inconstancy of pagan deities who might be indifferent or capricious. It serves as a profound affirmation and a direct, though implicit, polemic against any notion that God has abandoned His people or proven unreliable. His character remains unblemished even when His judgment falls.
- This isn't merely a static theological concept but an active, ongoing demonstration, newly available
every morning.
Lamentations 3 23 Bonus section
The phrase "new every morning" does not imply that God's nature changes, but rather that His mercies are continually supplied, fresh and relevant to each moment's need. This concept challenges any despair that suggests God's compassion might run out or grow stale, especially for those experiencing prolonged suffering. The very structure of Lamentations, moving from profound grief to this declarative hope in the central chapter, suggests a profound theological progression from outward observation of suffering to inward contemplation of God's immutable attributes. It underscores the redemptive power of recalling theological truth in the face of experiential desolation. This verse is also deeply personal; though delivered in the context of national calamity, its message offers individual sustenance for anyone waking to a new day with fresh burdens or needs.
Lamentations 3 23 Commentary
Lamentations 3:23 offers a profound and necessary anchor in the midst of overwhelming despair. While surrounded by desolation and the consequences of sin, the prophet declares an unwavering truth about God: His mercies (chesed) are not only inexhaustible but also new every morning. This means God's compassion and steadfast love are not just sustained, but they manifest afresh, as vibrant and full as if newly given, meeting the specific needs of each new day. This daily renewal provides a constant, tangible source of hope, preventing utter desolation. The concluding phrase, "Great is Your faithfulness," serves as a cornerstone, declaring the immense and unchanging reliability of God's character. His faithfulness guarantees that His mercies will indeed never fail. This verse transforms the perspective from concentrating on the unreliability of human circumstances to trusting in the unfailing, consistent character of God. It encourages looking not to yesterday's trials, but to the present mercies granted in His faithful presence.Examples: A person struggling with persistent sin can claim new mercy daily for repentance and striving; one facing chronic illness finds fresh grace for strength and perseverance; someone burdened by anxiety can seek new peace and trust for that day.