Lamentations 3:36 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Lamentations 3:36 kjv
To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approveth not.
Lamentations 3:36 nkjv
Or subvert a man in his cause? The Lord does not approve.
Lamentations 3:36 niv
to deprive them of justice? would not the Lord see such things?
Lamentations 3:36 esv
to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.
Lamentations 3:36 nlt
if they twist justice in the courts ?
doesn't the Lord see all these things?
Lamentations 3 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 23:6 | "You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit." | Command against perverting justice for the poor. |
| Exo 23:8 | "You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right." | Bribery leading to subversion of justice. |
| Deu 16:19 | "You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality..." | Broad command for impartial justice. |
| Deu 24:17 | "You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless..." | Protection for vulnerable in legal matters. |
| Lev 19:15 | "You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great..." | Impartiality in judgment commanded. |
| Pro 17:15 | "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD." | Condemnation of unjust judgment. |
| Pro 18:5 | "It is not good to show partiality to the wicked or to subvert the righteous in judgment." | Perverting judgment against the righteous. |
| Pro 24:23 | "...It is not good to show partiality in judgment." | Further warning against judicial partiality. |
| Isa 1:17 | "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless; plead the widow's cause." | Call for actively pursuing justice. |
| Isa 5:7 | "...he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!" | God's disappointment at the lack of justice. |
| Isa 10:1-2 | "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and the writers who keep writing mischief..." | Condemnation of unjust laws and rulers. |
| Amo 5:12 | "For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins—you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate." | Prophet's denunciation of judicial corruption. |
| Mic 3:9-11 | "Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob...who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight..." | Condemnation of leaders perverting justice. |
| Zep 3:5 | "The LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he brings his justice to light..." | God's own righteous character. |
| Jer 9:24 | "...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on earth..." | God's attributes include justice. |
| Psa 33:5 | "He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD." | God's love for justice and righteousness. |
| Psa 82:3-4 | "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." | Divine command for human agents to administer justice. |
| Mal 3:5 | "Then I will draw near to you for judgment... against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who push aside the sojourner, and do not fear me..." | God's judgment on oppressors. |
| Luk 18:7-8 | "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?" | God's promise to bring justice to His people. |
| Jas 2:1-4 | "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ..." | New Testament warning against partiality in judgment. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | God reserves ultimate justice. |
| Heb 4:13 | "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." | God sees all, ensuring nothing escapes His notice. |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 36 meaning
To subvert or pervert the justice of a person in their legal dispute is an act that the Lord unequivocally disapproves of. This verse declares God's active opposition to any manipulation or distortion of the legal process, affirming His moral stand against injustice and oppression, especially against those seeking fair judgment.
Lamentations 3 36 Context
Lamentations chapter 3 is often considered the emotional and theological heart of the book, shifting from communal lament over Jerusalem's destruction to a deeply personal reflection on suffering, hope, and God's faithfulness. The prophet, Jeremiah, speaking as "the man who has seen affliction," details his immense personal sorrow (verses 1-18) but then, mid-chapter, pivots to remembering God's steadfast love, mercies, and faithfulness (verses 19-33). This section of hope leads into an affirmation of divine justice. Verses 34-36 specifically articulate God's disapproval of various forms of oppression, injustice, and the perversion of legal rights, asserting that such actions do not escape His divine scrutiny or approval. Historically, these laments arise from the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, where profound suffering, social breakdown, and potentially widespread injustices occurred among the survivors. This verse reminds the afflicted that despite present chaos, God's moral order endures.
Lamentations 3 36 Word analysis
- To subvert (לְעַוֵּת - l'avvet): Derived from the Hebrew root עָוַת ('avat), meaning "to bend, twist, pervert, distort." This infinitive form signifies the deliberate action of corrupting or turning justice aside. It implies an active intention to warp what is inherently straight or right, leading to moral or legal deviation. This act is a severe violation of truth and fairness.
- a man (אָדָם - adam): This generic term means "a person" or "humankind." It emphasizes that the perversion of justice is a transgression against any individual, not just the powerful or significant. It highlights the universality of human rights within the divine economy.
- in his lawsuit (בְּרִיבוֹ - b'rivo): Composed of the preposition בְּ (be, "in") and the noun רִיב (riv, "dispute, contention, lawsuit") with the possessive suffix וֹ (-o, "his"). This specifies the context of the injustice: a legal or judicial setting where a person is engaged in a dispute, seeking resolution or defending their rights. It points to a situation where the legal system, meant to provide fairness, is corrupted.
- The Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): This is a solemn and reverent title for God, typically used as a substitute for the divine personal name YHWH. It highlights God's sovereignty, mastery, and supreme authority. Its use here underscores that this condemnation comes from the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge, whose standards are absolute.
- does not approve of it (לֹא רָאָה - lo ra'ah): The negation לֹא (lo, "not") combined with the verb רָאָה (ra'ah, "to see, look, perceive, approve"). In this context, it doesn't mean God literally fails to see, but rather He does not sanction, does not tolerate, does not overlook, or does not view with favor. It's a strong statement of divine rejection and disapproval. God is omniscient and sees everything (Heb 4:13); therefore, "He does not approve" is a powerful idiom indicating His profound moral abhorrence and righteous judgment.
Words-group analysis:
- To subvert a man in his lawsuit: This phrase details a specific act of grave injustice: deliberately manipulating or distorting legal proceedings against an individual. It captures the essence of legal corruption, where truth is twisted, and due process is undermined, causing profound harm to the person involved.
- the Lord does not approve of it: This is the divine verdict on such an action. It serves as an authoritative theological statement affirming God's justice. It guarantees that despite human failings and judicial corruption, there is an ultimate moral authority who rejects such acts, bringing both condemnation for the perpetrator and an implicit promise of ultimate vindication for the victim.
Lamentations 3 36 Bonus section
- Ethical Core: This verse is a bedrock statement for understanding God's ethical requirements, especially concerning legal and social justice. It emphasizes that while nations might rise and fall, and human justice systems might fail, God's fundamental nature as just and righteous remains unwavering.
- Prophetic Parallel: This declaration resonates strongly with the pronouncements of many Old Testament prophets (e.g., Amos, Isaiah, Micah) who frequently condemned Israel and Judah for widespread judicial corruption and the oppression of the poor and vulnerable.
- Meiosis: The phrase "does not approve of it" (or "does not see") functions as a rhetorical figure of speech called meiosis or understatement, where something is stated less emphatically than it could be to draw attention to its full significance. It means God intensely disapproves, abhors, and will certainly act against such injustice.
Lamentations 3 36 Commentary
Lamentations 3:36 is a succinct yet profound declaration of divine justice, firmly situated within a chapter that oscillates between deep personal suffering and renewed hope in God's steadfast character. The verse focuses on a particularly insidious form of injustice: the subversion of a person's rights within a legal context. This is not merely a disregard for the law but an active, deliberate bending or twisting of it to harm an individual, suggesting acts like bearing false witness, manipulating evidence, or rendering biased judgments. By stating that "the Lord does not approve of it," the verse unequivocally asserts God's moral revulsion against such corruption. God, as Adonai, the sovereign Lord and righteous Judge, is neither ignorant of nor indifferent to human injustice. His disapproval means He condemns such actions as contrary to His very nature and will. This provides solace to those suffering under perverted justice, affirming that their plight is not unseen or unaddressed by heaven. It also serves as a stark warning to those who hold judicial or authoritative power that their actions are under divine scrutiny and will ultimately be met with divine reckoning. This principle applies in all ages, reminding believers that the pursuit of justice, fairness, and upholding the rights of others is fundamental to God's heart.