Lamentations 3:30 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Lamentations 3:30 kjv
He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Lamentations 3:30 nkjv
Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach.
Lamentations 3:30 niv
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.
Lamentations 3:30 esv
let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.
Lamentations 3:30 nlt
Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies.
Lamentations 3 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 50:6 | I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those... spitting. | Prophetic of Christ's suffering and endurance. |
| Matt 5:39 | But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. If anyone slaps... | New Testament command echoing this principle. |
| Luke 6:29 | To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also... | Parallel teaching to Matthew, emphasize non-retaliation. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered... | Christ's example of not retaliating under suffering. |
| Heb 12:3 | Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself... | Christ's endurance as a model for believers. |
| Rom 15:3 | For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written: “The reproaches of... fell on me.” | Christ bore the reproaches directed at God. |
| Ps 69:9 | For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches... have fallen on me. | A lament reflecting suffering reproach for righteousness. |
| Ps 123:3-4 | Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt... | Expresses being "filled with contempt" or reproach. |
| Jer 20:8 | For as often as I speak, I cry out... The word of the LORD has become for me reproach... | Jeremiah's experience of suffering reproach for prophecy. |
| Acts 5:41 | Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. | Apostles' joy in suffering for Christ. |
| Rom 8:17 | ...if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. | Suffering with Christ as a path to future glory. |
| Phil 3:10 | that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings... | Paul desiring to share in Christ's sufferings. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Persecution and suffering as inevitable for the godly. |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... | Prophetic description of Christ's rejection and suffering. |
| Heb 10:33 | ...made a public spectacle by insults and afflictions... | Believers enduring public shame and suffering. |
| 1 Cor 4:12-13 | When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat... | Paul's practice of enduring hardship and insult. |
| Job 16:10 | They have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me on the cheek with contempt... | Describes being struck on the cheek as an act of scorn. |
| Neh 1:3 | The remnant... are in great affliction and reproach. | The nation's experience of widespread suffering and dishonor. |
| Psa 44:13 | You make us an object of reproach for our neighbors, of scorn and derision... | National lament over collective disgrace. |
| Zech 13:6 | And if one asks him, 'What are these wounds on your body?' he will say, 'The wounds I received in the house of my friends.' | Bearing physical wounds from those who should not inflict them. |
| Ezra 9:6 | O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities... | Acknowledgment of national shame due to sin. |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 30 meaning
This verse describes a profound act of humble endurance and submission in the face of suffering and humiliation. It depicts a person who willingly accepts physical assault and verbal abuse without retaliation, surrendering to the affliction and the shame that comes with it. This posture is rooted in the belief that one should patiently bear the consequences of circumstances, acknowledging God's sovereignty even in times of severe distress and injustice, particularly when enduring divine discipline or the unjust actions of others.
Lamentations 3 30 Context
Lamentations chapter 3 is the emotional and theological core of the book, transitioning from the overwhelming despair of destruction to a glimmer of hope found in God's faithfulness. The surrounding verses (Lam 3:25-39) emphasize that the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, urging the individual and the nation of Judah to patiently bear the yoke of affliction, especially from youth. Verses 27-30 specifically advise the suffering person to quietly submit to divine discipline: to "sit alone," to "put his mouth in the dust," and here, to "give his cheek to him that smiteth him," implying the acceptance of deep humiliation and pain. Historically, this counsel emerges from the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon (586 BC), seen by the faithful as God's severe but righteous judgment for their sins. The message is one of endurance under discipline, with an underlying hope that God's compassion will eventually restore.
Lamentations 3 30 Word analysis
- He giveth (יִתֵּן - yittēn): This is a Qal imperfect form of the verb נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give, to set, to place." The imperfect tense suggests an ongoing or repeated action. The Qal stem denotes a simple active meaning. Crucially, "giveth" implies an intentional, voluntary act, not merely a passive reception. The person is not merely hit, but offers the cheek, suggesting a deliberate posture of non-retaliation and humble acceptance of the insult.
- his cheek (לִלֶּחְיוֹ - li-leḥyo): Derived from לְחִי (lechi), meaning "jaw, cheek." In ancient Near Eastern culture, striking someone on the cheek was a profound act of humiliation and an assault on one's honor and dignity (cf. Job 16:10). To "give" one's cheek is therefore an extremely radical act of humility and willingness to endure personal degradation without resistance or counter-insult.
- to him that smiteth him (לְמַכֵּהוּ - lə-makkēhū): This is a Qal participle of נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, beat." The participle indicates "the one who strikes him." The emphasis is on the action being endured rather than a specific identification of the perpetrator, maintaining the focus on the subject's response to suffering.
- he is filled full (יִשְׂבַּע - yiśbaʿ): A Qal imperfect form of the verb שָׂבַע (śavaʿ), "to be satisfied, filled, satiated." While often used for physical satiety (e.g., being full from food), here it is used metaphorically for an overwhelming, comprehensive experience of suffering. It conveys a sense of complete saturation or being utterly consumed by the reproach, indicating a deep and pervasive sense of shame.
- with reproach (חֶרְפָּה - ḥer-pāh): This noun signifies "reproach, scorn, disgrace, shame, insult, infamy." It is a strong term denoting public humiliation and the loss of honor. The individual is not just slightly shamed but fully engulfed by this severe form of public contempt.
- Words-group analysis: "He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him": This phrase portrays an active choice of non-resistance in the face of physical and public insult. It embodies profound humility and a radical commitment to patiently endure personal indignity, trusting that ultimate vindication rests with God rather than through self-defense or retaliation. It anticipates the suffering servant passages and Jesus' later teaching. "he is filled full with reproach": This highlights the comprehensive nature of the suffering. The individual is not merely subjected to reproach, but thoroughly inundated and saturated with it, to the point of being overwhelmed. This isn't just an external experience but also implies a deep, internal burden of humiliation, which the subject endures fully and without complaint.
Lamentations 3 30 Bonus section
The concept of "giving the cheek" was extraordinarily counter-cultural in the ancient Near East, where honor was paramount and any slight, especially a blow to the face, demanded swift and often violent retribution. This verse thus prescribes a radical departure from societal norms, indicating a divine or deeply spiritual principle at play. The active verb "giveth" emphasizes that this is a conscious decision, not mere resignation or incapacity to resist. It signifies an agency of endurance, where the individual chooses to defer vengeance and trust God's justice. This active suffering transforms the individual from a helpless victim into one who is spiritually disciplined and demonstrates profound faith in God's ultimate purpose, even amid intense dishonor and pain.
Lamentations 3 30 Commentary
Lamentations 3:30 offers a stark depiction of humble and patient suffering, particularly in the context of divine discipline or unjust oppression. It advocates for a posture of complete non-retaliation and submission to ignominy, where one willingly accepts physical assault and profound public humiliation. This is not passive weakness but an active, faith-filled choice to surrender one's rights and honor, trusting that God sees and will ultimately judge. The verse functions as counsel to endure hardship, knowing that suffering can be a crucible for spiritual growth and that God’s steadfast love and mercy will eventually prevail (as implied in the broader context of Lamentations 3:21-26). It also stands as a remarkable foreshadowing of the perfect obedience and non-resistance exemplified by Jesus Christ in His suffering.For example, one might think of this when enduring false accusations in the workplace, or when a follower of Christ faces public ridicule for their faith, choosing to respond with grace and prayer rather than anger.