Lamentations 3 32

Lamentations 3:32 kjv

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Lamentations 3:32 nkjv

Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.

Lamentations 3:32 niv

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

Lamentations 3:32 esv

but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

Lamentations 3:32 nlt

Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
because of the greatness of his unfailing love.

Lamentations 3 verses

Lamentations 3 32 Meaning

Even though God causes pain, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love. This verse expresses a profound theological paradox: suffering originates from God, yet His boundless mercy will ultimately prevail over that suffering. It speaks of God's sovereignty in allowing hardship but emphasizes His nature as one who deeply cares and provides comfort.

Lamentations 3 32 Context

Lamentations chapter 3 presents Jeremiah’s deeply personal reflection on the suffering of Jerusalem and its people. Despite the overwhelming despair and destruction, Jeremiah reiterates his trust in God. Verse 32 emerges within this context of national catastrophe and personal affliction. The prophet acknowledges the severe hand of God in bringing judgment, but firmly anchors his hope in God’s inherent nature of mercy. This verse speaks to a people experiencing profound devastation, likely due to their sin and God's righteous judgment, but it also offers a prophetic word of assurance that God's compassionate character will ultimately supersede His disciplinary actions. It was written to the Israelites during or shortly after the Babylonian exile, a time of immense national trauma.

Lamentations 3 32 Word Analysis

• כִּי (ki) - "for," "that," "though." This is a versatile conjunction introducing a clause. Here, it signifies a concession, setting up a contrast.
• גַּם (gam) - "also," "even." Adds emphasis, connecting the preceding or following thought.
• יָג֛וֹן (yagon) - "grief," "sorrow," "pain." Denotes deep emotional distress and suffering.
• יִסּ֧וּר (yissur) - "chastisement," "correction," "discipline." Refers to punishment or suffering intended for instruction and improvement, implying God's hand in the pain.
• יַחְדָּיו (yahdov) - "together," "at the same time." This word suggests a concurrent existence or experience of God's judgment and His love.
• יְרַחֵ֖ם (yerakhem) - "he will have compassion," "he will show mercy." From the root rakham, meaning "womb," evoking deep, tender, maternal affection and pity.
• כְּרֹב (k'rov) - "according to the abundance of," "in the multitude of." Denotes a great quantity or number, emphasizing the fullness of God's mercy.
• חֲסָדָ֥יו (chasadav) - "his kindnesses," "his mercies," "his steadfast love." From chesed, a rich Hebrew word for covenant loyalty, persistent love, and active benevolence. The plural form emphasizes the numerous facets of this love.

Words-Group Analysis

• "Though He brings grief, He will show compassion...": This phrase sets up a powerful antinomy, highlighting God's dual capacity to wound and heal, to discipline and comfort. The Hebrew structure presents these as coexisting aspects of God's dealing with humanity.
• "...according to the abundance of His steadfast love.": The qualification of God's compassion by "the abundance of His steadfast love" (כְּרֹב חֲסָדָיו) anchors the hope in God’s inherent covenant faithfulness rather than in human merit.

Lamentations 3 32 Bonus Section

The concept of God’s multifaceted nature—capable of both judgment and mercy—is central to Israel's theology and finds profound resonance in the New Testament. While human experience can be divided, God's character encompasses all. The term "steadfast love" (chesed) is key, pointing to a love that is faithful, loyal, and goes beyond mere feeling to active, enduring commitment, often in the context of a covenant relationship. This is a love that "remembers" and "does not forget" (Psa 103:8). The verse's placement within Lamentations emphasizes that even in the darkest hour of apparent abandonment, the prophetic voice clings to the immutable attributes of God as the basis of enduring hope. The Hebrew idiom can be interpreted as God's compassion being as abundant and as certain as His love itself.

Lamentations 3 32 Commentary

This verse offers a theological bedrock for enduring hardship. It does not deny the reality of God-sent sorrow, but insists that this suffering is temporary and framed by an overflowing, covenantal love. The prophet is wrestling with why God permits such devastation. His conclusion is not that God is uncaring, but that God’s love is so immense that even in His chastening, mercy is its ultimate aim and characteristic. This understanding combats despair by looking beyond the immediate pain to the enduring nature of God's grace, revealed fully in Christ.

• When facing trials, remember God’s heart is full of mercy, not just judgment.
• Recognize that God’s discipline, while painful, is tempered by His vast love.
• Hold onto the assurance that God’s ultimate intention is restorative, not destructive.