Lamentations 3:35 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Lamentations 3:35 kjv
To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
Lamentations 3:35 nkjv
To turn aside the justice due a man Before the face of the Most High,
Lamentations 3:35 niv
to deny people their rights before the Most High,
Lamentations 3:35 esv
to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High,
Lamentations 3:35 nlt
if they deprive others of their rights
in defiance of the Most High,
Lamentations 3 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:25 | "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" | God as supreme and just Judge |
| Exod 23:6 | "You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit." | Explicit command against perverting justice |
| Deut 16:19 | "You shall not distort justice...for a bribe blinds the eyes." | Warning against perverting justice, cause |
| Deut 32:4 | "A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." | God's character as just |
| Ps 9:7-8 | "The LORD sits enthroned forever...He judges the world in righteousness." | God's eternal rule and righteous judgment |
| Ps 10:17-18 | "LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted...to do justice to the fatherless." | God hears and does justice for the oppressed |
| Ps 11:4-5 | "The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes behold..." | God observes all actions |
| Ps 33:13-15 | "The LORD looks down from heaven...He beholds all the children of man." | God's universal observation of humanity |
| Ps 76:8-9 | "From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish justice." | God intervenes for justice |
| Prov 17:15 | "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD." | Condemnation of judicial perversion |
| Prov 28:21 | "To show partiality is not good...for a piece of bread a man will transgress." | Danger of partiality in judgment |
| Isa 1:17 | "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless." | Call to actively pursue justice |
| Isa 5:23 | "Woe to those who...deprive the innocent of their right!" | Woe pronounced upon those who pervert justice |
| Jer 22:3 | "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed." | Prophetic command for justice |
| Amos 5:7 | "O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground!" | Indictment of injustice within Israel |
| Amos 5:24 | "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." | God's demand for abundant justice |
| Zech 7:9-10 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show mercy and compassion." | Call for righteous judgment and compassion |
| Mal 3:5 | "Then I will draw near to you for judgment...against those who oppress the wage earner..." | God as judge against oppressors |
| Rom 2:16 | "On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." | God's judgment includes secret acts |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time...until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden." | God brings hidden deeds to light |
| 2 Tim 4:1 | "I charge you...in the presence of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, who is to judge the living and the dead." | Christ as ultimate Judge |
| Heb 4:13 | "No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." | All actions are open before God |
| James 2:13 | "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." | Connection between mercy and judgment |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 35 meaning
Lamentations 3:35 states that it is a profound offense to actively deny or pervert justice to any human being, especially when such an act is committed openly, seemingly without regard for the ultimate scrutiny and authority of God, the Most High. This verse underscores God's deep concern for fairness and righteousness within human affairs, asserting His divine presence as the witness and ultimate judge over all legal and moral transactions.
Lamentations 3 35 Context
Lamentations 3:35 is situated within the theological and emotional core of the book. Chapter 3, often considered a literary masterpiece, reflects a single individual's profound suffering, which then broadens to encompass the collective agony of Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon. Following the raw expression of personal anguish and unwavering hope in God's faithfulness despite dire circumstances (vv. 22-33), the lamenter shifts to observe the specific injustices that have contributed to the people's suffering and potentially their judgment. Verses 34-36 describe acts of human oppression and legal perversion – crushing prisoners, denying rights, and subverting a person's case. These acts, described as committed under the gaze of the "Most High," implicitly justify God's righteous judgment against those who perpetuated such wickedness, even amidst the nation's overall calamity. The immediate historical context is post-destruction Jerusalem, a time when profound moral failures contributed to the devastation, leading the faithful to appeal to God's inherent justice.
Lamentations 3 35 Word analysis
- לַהֲשׁוֹת (la-ha-shōt): The Hebrew verb here implies "to pervert," "to subvert," "to turn aside," or "to deny." It indicates an active distortion of truth or legal process. This is not mere oversight but a deliberate manipulation or refusal of what is right, rendering an unfair outcome.
- אָדָם ('ā-ḏām): This term signifies "a man" or "human being." Its generality emphasizes that the injustice applies to any person, not just a specific group, highlighting the universal nature of the wrong and God's concern for all humanity.
- מִדִּין (mi-dīn): Meaning "from judgment," "from justice," or "from legal right." Dīn refers to the due process of law, a just legal ruling, or the fundamental right to fairness. The preposition mi- denotes deprivation, emphasizing the removal or denial of what is rightfully owed.
- נֶגֶד (ne-ḡeḏ): This preposition means "before," "in front of," or "in the presence of." It intensifies the gravity of the offense, suggesting the act is done brazenly and without fear, or critically, that it does not escape the notice of the Divine.
- פְּנֵי (pə-nê): Translates to "face of" or "presence of." When combined with ne-ḡeḏ, it forms the idiom "in the face of" or "in the very presence of," stressing the direct and undeniable witness of God to the injustice.
- עֶלְיוֹן ('elyōn): "The Most High." This is a profound title for God, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty, transcendent power, and ultimate authority over all things. Committing injustice in the presence of 'Elyon signifies not only the audacity of the act but also the certainty of its being observed by the highest, most authoritative Judge.
- Words-group: To deprive a man of justice: This phrase encompasses a deliberate, active suppression or twisting of a person's legal rights or the natural right to fair treatment. It highlights the direct assault on an individual's dignity and fundamental human entitlements as observed through a biblical lens.
- Words-group: in the presence of the Most High: This portion underscores the theological implication of the injustice. It signifies that all human actions, particularly those that violate divine precepts like justice, are committed under the direct gaze and ultimate judgment of God. This divine observation assures that such acts will not go unpunished and emphasizes God's unwavering moral authority.
Lamentations 3 35 Bonus section
The observation in Lamentations 3:35 regarding injustice being committed "in the presence of the Most High" forms a thematic pivot point within the broader literary structure of Lamentations chapter 3. Commentators note the poetic and thematic symmetry in the chapter (a chiastic structure or ring composition), where the Lamenter, having established God's justice in such verses (3:34-36), eventually pleads his own case for divine judgment: "O LORD, you have seen my wrong; judge my case!" (3:59). This establishes a critical link between the observation of general injustice and the plea for specific divine intervention for the suffering of God's people. This universality of God as 'Elyon, "Most High," also extends beyond Israel, demonstrating His claim to judicial oversight over all nations and their moral conduct. The profound theological point is that despite temporary human power dynamics and injustices, a transcendent power sees all and will ultimately restore justice.
Lamentations 3 35 Commentary
Lamentations 3:35 is a potent declaration of God's universal awareness and condemnation of injustice. It highlights that perverting justice against any individual is not merely a horizontal transgression between people, but a vertical affront committed directly "in the presence of the Most High." This assertion reminds us that all judicial systems and moral frameworks ultimately operate under God's supreme authority. Such acts of deprivation are not hidden from Him, who is the ultimate arbiter and protector of righteousness. The verse implies that while human systems may fail or be corrupted, the Divine court is always in session, providing hope for the oppressed and certain judgment for the oppressor. It reflects the truth that true justice originates with God and its denial on earth is an audacious challenge to His sovereign character. For example, when powerful individuals suppress legitimate legal claims of the vulnerable, they may escape human accountability but remain accountable to God.