Lamentations 3 26

Lamentations 3:26 kjv

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:26 nkjv

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:26 niv

it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:26 esv

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:26 nlt

So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the LORD.

Lamentations 3 verses

Lamentations 3 26 Meaning

It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. This verse expresses patient trust in God’s deliverance amidst suffering, highlighting the virtue of silent expectation for divine intervention. It signifies an active, hopeful, and submissive waiting rather than passive resignation.

Lamentations 3 26 Context

Lamentations 3:26 is found within the third chapter of Lamentations, which describes the profound suffering and despair of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians. The speaker, identified as "the man who has seen affliction," articulates the depths of his sorrow and his sense of abandonment by God. However, amidst this outpouring of grief, there is a crucial turning point. Verses 19-24 affirm God’s faithfulness and mercy, providing a foundation for the verses that follow. Chapter 3 emphasizes remembering God's compassion as a source of hope in times of extreme hardship. This specific verse is a declaration of the believer's proper response to overwhelming circumstances: to wait quietly for the Lord’s salvation.

Lamentations 3 26 Word analysis

• כִּי (ki): 'for', 'because', 'that', 'indeed'. Here, it introduces the reason or the beneficial aspect of waiting.
• טוֹב (ṭov): 'good', 'pleasant', 'beneficial', 'excellent'. It signifies that this act of waiting is not only permissible but advantageous and the right course of action.
• תִּקְוָה (tiqwâ): 'hope', 'expectation', 'cord', 'rope'. In this context, it signifies trust and hopeful anticipation of deliverance or salvation. The imagery can evoke a lifeline.
• אִישׁ (’îš): 'man', 'person', 'someone'. It speaks to the individual believer or humanity in general, suggesting a universal principle of conduct.
• וְיָחִיל (wəyāḥîl): 'and wait', 'and hope', 'and tarry'. This verb implies a steadfast, enduring expectation. It’s an active waiting, not passive.
• עוֹד (ʿôd): 'yet', 'still', 'again'. It emphasizes the continuous nature of this waiting, even when immediate relief is not apparent.
• וְיַחֲלִי (wəyaḥəlî): 'and humble himself', 'and be quiet', 'and afflicted'. The root suggests quietness, patience, and submitting oneself. The feminine form used here likely refers to the soul (nefesh) or the speaker’s self.
• יְשׁוּעַת (yəšûʿat): 'salvation', 'deliverance', 'help'. This points to the action of God providing rescue or aid.
• יְהוָה (Yhwh): 'The Lord'. The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His active role and relationship with His people.

words-group by words-group analysis

• כִּי טוֹב: 'For it is good'. Establishes a foundational truth about the nature of the action that follows.
• תִּקְוָה לְאִישׁ: 'Hope for a person' / 'Hope for someone'. Highlights that this waiting is not without foundation but grounded in hope for an individual.
• יָחִיל וְיַחֲלִי: 'Wait and be quiet/humble'. This combination stresses the internal disposition of patience and external quietness of action while awaiting divine intervention. The dual verbs capture a holistic approach to trust.
• עוֹד יְשׁוּעַת יְהוָה: 'Still salvation of the Lord'. The juxtaposition of "still" with "salvation of the Lord" underscores the enduring presence of God’s salvific power even amidst ongoing suffering.

Lamentations 3 26 Bonus section

The sentiment echoes the "Great Hushing" found in Zechariah 2:13, "Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD: for he is roused up out of his holy habitation." This indicates a divinely appointed moment of quiet before divine action. The phrase "wait quietly" reflects a profound spiritual discipline, a surrender of personal will and anxiety to God’s sovereignty. The Hebrew word 'yaḥel' carries connotations of tying oneself to something with a cord, implying a secure attachment to God's promises. The combination of "wait" and "humble/quiet" speaks to both a forward-looking hope and an inward stillness that acknowledges dependence on God alone for salvation.

Lamentations 3 26 Commentary

This verse is a profound statement of faith in the midst of desolation. It teaches that the most beneficial response to severe trial is not protest or despair, but a patient, quiet submission to God’s timing and plan for deliverance. This isn't a passive waiting but an active reliance on God’s character – His unfailing love and mercy mentioned previously. It requires humility of spirit and the understanding that God’s salvation is ultimately the true good. The believer is called to silence their own clamoring and anxieties, trusting that the Lord, in His time and way, will provide rescue. This quiet expectation is rooted in the assurance of God’s presence and His inherent goodness, even when His actions are not immediately apparent or understood.

• Example: A believer facing prolonged financial hardship quietly trusts God for provision, continuing their work diligently without constant complaint, waiting on the Lord’s opening.
• Example: Someone suffering from chronic illness finds strength in quietly submitting to God’s will, trusting Him for eventual healing or peace, rather than demanding an immediate end to pain.