Lamentations 3:37 kjv
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Lamentations 3:37 nkjv
Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?
Lamentations 3:37 niv
Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?
Lamentations 3:37 esv
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
Lamentations 3:37 nlt
Who can command things to happen
without the Lord's permission?
Lamentations 3 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lam 3:37 | Who is he who spoke and it came to pass, when the Lord did not command it? | Lamentations 1:14 |
| Lam 3:37 | Did not the sovereign LORD make the heavens and the earth? | Isaiah 40:26 |
| Lam 3:37 | For I am the LORD, and I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. | Malachi 3:6 |
| Lam 3:37 | Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. | Isaiah 40:15 |
| Lam 3:37 | The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. | Psalm 33:10 |
| Lam 3:37 | For all flesh shall know that I the LORD have brought thy sack unto thee, and I have taken away thy spoil. | Ezekiel 7:27 |
| Lam 3:37 | Hath he said it, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? | Numbers 23:19 |
| Lam 3:37 | If a trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall be prepared to the battle? | 1 Corinthians 14:8 |
| Lam 3:37 | And the LORD delivered him into his hands. | 1 Samuel 24:10 |
| Lam 3:37 | He also brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness. | Psalm 105:43 |
| Lam 3:37 | Thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty. | Psalm 89:19 |
| Lam 3:37 | For he saith to snow, Be thou on the earth. | Job 37:6 |
| Lam 3:37 | Thou hast done all these things, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. | Psalm 50:21 |
| Lam 3:37 | For what man is he that shall understand the course of the sun, or who can know his works? | Sirach 43:29 |
| Lam 3:37 | None shall say, when he appeareth, By what didst thou this? for who can question with him, or who can look in his face? | Sirach 18:1 |
| Lam 3:37 | Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? | Isaiah 45:9 |
| Lam 3:37 | He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man. | Psalm 104:14 |
| Lam 3:37 | Thus saith the LORD, For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof. | Jeremiah 48:46 |
| Lam 3:37 | Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my king, and my God. | Psalm 84:3 |
| Lam 3:37 | They shall speak, and say, He is brought low. | Psalm 53:6 |
| Lam 3:37 | Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. | Psalm 90:3 |
| Lam 3:37 | Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? | Lamentations 3:39 |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 37 Meaning
No evil or misfortune occurs in a city unless the Lord has brought it about. This verse asserts that even calamities, disasters, and personal suffering within a community are ultimately under the sovereign control and permission of the Lord. It does not mean God directly causes all evil in the sense of initiating it, but rather that nothing happens outside of His overarching divine plan and permissive will.
Lamentations 3 37 Context
Chapter 3 of Lamentations powerfully expresses the profound sorrow and affliction of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians. The prophet Jeremiah, speaking for the people, reflects on their suffering, acknowledging their sinfulness as the cause. Despite the devastation, he pivots from despair to a statement of trust in God's sovereign control. Verse 37, specifically, follows verses that grapple with the source of suffering. The people have endured immense hardship, and this verse offers a theological interpretation of that suffering, anchoring it in God’s ultimate authority and will, even in the face of immense destruction.
Lamentations 3 37 Word Analysis
- מי (mi): "Who?" - This interrogative pronoun introduces a rhetorical question designed to emphasize the absolute nature of the Lord's authority.
- הדבר (hadavar): "the thing that was spoken" or "the word that was spoken" - Refers to a decree, command, or utterance. It highlights the power of God's word to bring reality into existence.
- ויאמר (v'yomer): "and he said" or "and it came to pass" - When used in conjunction with "hadavar" and God, it signifies God speaking and His word being enacted. This verb is causative, meaning God's declaration results in action.
- ויהי (v'yehi): "and it happened" or "and it became" - Signifies occurrence or existence. The structure links the spoken word directly to its realization.
- בלתי (bilti): "except" or "unless" - This conjunction introduces a condition or a statement of exclusion. In this context, it limits the possibility of anything happening outside of divine decree.
- אם (im): "if" - Part of the "bilti im" construction, reinforcing the conditional and exclusive nature of the statement. It means "unless" or "except if".
- ה' (Yahweh): "the LORD" - The personal covenantal name of God, emphasizing His active involvement and relationship with His people.
- צווה (tzivvah): "commanded" - Indicates an order, instruction, or decree given by divine authority.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "מי הדבר ויהי" (mi hadavar v'yehi): "Who is it that spoke and it came to pass?" This phrase interrogates the possibility of any event occurring independently of a prior spoken word of command. It establishes God's creative and providential speech as the ultimate causal force.
- "בלתי אם ה' צווה" (bilti im Yahweh tzivvah): "unless the LORD commanded it." This clause completes the rhetorical question, asserting that every event, without exception, is dependent on a prior command or authorization from the LORD. This covers both His active commands and His permissive will.
Lamentations 3 37 Bonus Section
This verse resonates with the concept of God's "effective word" or "creative word" as seen in Genesis 1, where God speaks and creation comes into being. It also highlights the challenge of reconciling God's goodness and sovereignty with the existence of evil and suffering, a theme explored throughout Scripture. The rhetorical nature of the question implies that any answer other than "no one" would deny God's ultimate authority. This theological assertion is foundational to a biblical worldview, emphasizing that history, personal circumstances, and the totality of existence are ultimately directed by God.
Lamentations 3 37 Commentary
This verse stands as a profound declaration of divine sovereignty amidst utter devastation. It is not an excuse for evil but a theological framework for understanding suffering. Even when human actions and the actions of nations lead to destruction, the prophet asserts that the LORD permits or ordains these events within His larger, inscrutable plan. This truth was meant to bring comfort, implying that no force can truly overwhelm God's purpose and that in the midst of pain, He is still in control. It underscores that the "word" of God has inherent power to effect change and establish reality, and that His pronouncements are always enacted. This concept is central to the biblical understanding of God's relationship with creation and history.