Lamentations 3:34 kjv
To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
Lamentations 3:34 nkjv
To crush under one's feet All the prisoners of the earth,
Lamentations 3:34 niv
To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,
Lamentations 3:34 esv
To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,
Lamentations 3:34 nlt
If people crush underfoot
all the prisoners of the land,
Lamentations 3 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lam 3:34 | That he should crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth | Lam 1:14; Ps 106:41-42 |
| Ps 106:41 | He gave them into the hand of the nations, | Isa 5:26; Jer 50:17 |
| Jer 14:8 | O hope of Israel, its Savior in time of trouble, | Jer 3:23; Joel 2:27 |
| Jer 50:17 | Israel is a scattered sheep. The lions have driven him away. | Ps 44:11; Jer 2:30 |
| Mic 7:9 | I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, | Mic 6:7; Hab 2:12 |
| Isa 5:26 | He will lift up an ensign to the nations from afar, | Isa 11:12; Jer 50:4 |
| Jer 13:14 | And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, | Prov 30:33; Isa 24:1 |
| Ezek 7:22 | And I will give them into the hand of the worst of the nations, | Ezek 28:7; Ezek 32:12 |
| Zeph 3:8 | "Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "on the day when I rise up to seize the prey." | Zeph 3:15; Isa 10:25 |
| Ps 44:11 | You gave us as sheep to be eaten, and have scattered us among the nations. | Rom 8:36; Ps 79:1 |
| Rom 8:36 | As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." | Matt 10:16; Mark 13:9 |
| Matt 10:16 | "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." | Luke 10:3; John 21:15 |
| Luke 10:3 | Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs into the midst of wolves. | Matt 10:16; John 10:3 |
| Prov 30:33 | When the milk is pressed, it comes out curd, and when some strong thing is pressed, it comes out blood. | Isa 1:17; Lam 3:33 |
| Hab 2:12 | "Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed and establishes a city on injustice!" | Ezek 18:22; Amos 5:11 |
| Ezek 18:22 | "None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him." | Ezek 33:16; 1 John 1:7 |
| Ezek 33:16 | None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him. | Ezek 18:22; Ps 103:10 |
| Ps 103:10 | He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. | Isa 64:5; Jer 30:11 |
| Isa 64:5 | You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. | Ps 1:1; Prov 8:34 |
| Prov 8:34 | Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. | Ps 119:15; Heb 12:15 |
| Hab 1:13 | You who are of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on wrong, | Job 1:8; Ps 5:4 |
| Lam 3:33 | For he does not afflict with his whole heart or bring children of men into contempt. | Job 5:11; Ps 90:7 |
| Ezek 32:12 | To the swords of the mighty men, the most ruthless of the nations, all of them. | Isa 10:24; Ezek 39:14 |
| Ps 79:1 | O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; | 1 Cor 3:16; Rev 11:2 |
| Rev 11:2 | While you leave out the court that is outside the temple, do not measure it, for it is given to the nations, | Dan 7:25; Rev 13:7 |
| Dan 7:25 | He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the laws, | Rev 13:5; 2 Thess 2:4 |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 34 Meaning
This verse from Lamentations speaks to God's permissive will, acknowledging that despite human suffering, God's justice does not completely cease. Even in severe distress, the inherent divine order and accountability, representing a form of God's righteousness, are not entirely abandoned. It’s a complex statement recognizing that human sin doesn't lead to the utter void of divine principle, even when consequences are harsh.
Lamentations 3 34 Context
Lamentations 3 finds the prophet Jeremiah in a state of deep lamentation over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. Despite the immense suffering, Jeremiah proclaims that God's mercies are new every morning, emphasizing God's faithfulness even in judgment. Verse 34, placed within this context of personal and national suffering, reflects on the justice of God, stating that the Lord does not completely disregard the plight of the oppressed on Earth, even though severe judgment is being executed. It follows verses where Jeremiah recounts God’s justice in action but asserts God does not delight in the complete crushing of humanity.
Lamentations 3 34 Word analysis
- That (which): This introduces a concessive clause, indicating what God does not do fully or entirely.
- He: Refers to the LORD God, the subject of the lament.
- should crush: Hebrew: "yid’kā" (יִדְכָּא), from the root "daka" (דכא), meaning to crush, bruise, or oppress. This word conveys extreme suffering and subjugation.
- under his feet: A common idiom in the ancient Near East representing complete subjugation, triumph, and dominance over an enemy.
- all: Indicates the comprehensive nature of the action described.
- the prisoners: Hebrew: "asirey" (אַסִּירֵי), from "asar" (אָסַר), meaning to bind or imprison. It refers to those who are held captive, oppressed, or bound.
- of the earth: Refers to the inhabitants of the land, the people of Judah, or humanity in general, subject to God's governance.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "should crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth": This phrase describes the ultimate severity of divine judgment and subjugation. The "crushing under his feet" signifies total defeat and dominion, preventing any escape or uprising. The "prisoners of the earth" highlights that this oppression, though severe, is not a total annihilation of justice but rather God's sovereign action in response to sin, acknowledging human captivity under the consequences of disobedience. It underscores that even in His judgment, God's power and authority are paramount.
Lamentations 3 34 Bonus section
The imagery of crushing underfoot is potent and seen throughout Scripture. It speaks of ultimate victory and humiliation for the vanquished. The verse implies that even though God’s justice leads to the people's suffering and captivity, there is an element of righteous judgment at play, which contrasts with mere arbitrary cruelty. It prevents the understanding of God’s judgment as being purely vindictive, or the total absence of His ruling principles on earth, even for the oppressed. The concept is echoed in prophecies of God’s future vindication where He crushes His enemies, but here, it speaks to the experience of His own people undergoing His chastisement, which, though painful, is framed within a broader context of His overarching justice and sovereignty, ultimately upholding His moral order for the earth.
Lamentations 3 34 Commentary
Verse 34 articulates a critical nuance in God’s interaction with humanity. While God's judgment can be severe and lead to widespread suffering and captivity, it doesn't represent an absolute abandonment of all principles of righteousness. The Hebrew verb for "crush" suggests an intense but perhaps not ultimate or perpetual subjugation, implying that there is a limit or a purpose to the suffering. The reference to "prisoners of the earth" acknowledges the reality of human bondage and oppression, which God, as sovereign Lord, can allow or enact. However, the prophet's preceding statements (like verse 33, "For he does not afflict with his whole heart...") suggest that even within this severe context, God's inherent compassion or purpose ensures that humanity is not entirely obliterated or forgotten. This verse is a complex assertion of divine justice that allows for immense suffering while simultaneously suggesting an underlying divine order and the possibility of ultimate restoration. It cautions against presuming God’s total withdrawal even in His most profound disciplinary actions.