Lamentations 3:38 kjv
Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
Lamentations 3:38 nkjv
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed?
Lamentations 3:38 niv
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
Lamentations 3:38 esv
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
Lamentations 3:38 nlt
Does not the Most High
send both calamity and good?
Lamentations 3 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 3:38 | Do not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the most High? | Lamentations 3:38 |
| Job 1:21 | And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD. | Job 1:21 (God's sovereignty in suffering) |
| Deuteronomy 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. | Deuteronomy 32:39 (God's power over life and death) |
| Isaiah 45:7 | I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. | Isaiah 45:7 (God's sovereignty over good and evil) |
| Amos 3:6 | Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil come upon a city, and the LORD hath not done it? | Amos 3:6 (God's direct involvement in calamity) |
| Romans 9:20-21 | Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? | Romans 9:20-21 (God's sovereign right as Creator) |
| Genesis 50:20 | But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. | Genesis 50:20 (God turning evil to good) |
| Psalm 119:75 | I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. | Psalm 119:75 (Affliction as faithfulness) |
| 1 Corinthians 11:32 | But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. | 1 Corinthians 11:32 (Chastening for correction) |
| 2 Corinthians 4:17 | For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; | 2 Corinthians 4:17 (Present suffering vs. future glory) |
| Philippians 1:29 | For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; | Philippians 1:29 (Suffering as a gift) |
| James 1:2-4 | My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. | James 1:2-4 (Joy in trials for patience) |
| Hebrews 12:5-11 | And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. | Hebrews 12:5-11 (Parental chastening and spiritual growth) |
| 1 Peter 4:12-13 | Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that ye may be glad also with exceeding joy when his glory shall be revealed. | 1 Peter 4:12-13 (Rejoicing in fiery trials) |
| Proverbs 16:4 | The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. | Proverbs 16:4 (God's purpose even for the wicked) |
| Ecclesiastes 7:14 | In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. | Ecclesiastes 7:14 (God sets prosperity and adversity) |
| Jeremiah 18:6 | Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. | Jeremiah 18:6 (God as Potter, Israel as clay) |
| Romans 11:36 | For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. | Romans 11:36 (All things from and through God) |
| Revelation 1:8 | I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. | Revelation 1:8 (God's eternal sovereignty) |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 38 Meaning
"Are not both evil and good from the mouth of the Most High?" This verse acknowledges that both prosperity and adversity, blessings and suffering, originate from God's sovereign authority. It highlights the perspective that even difficult circumstances serve a purpose within God's divine plan.
Lamentations 3 38 Context
Lamentations 3 is a powerful chapter of deep personal lament and reflection amidst national catastrophe. The prophet, identifying with the suffering of Israel due to their sins and God's judgment, expresses profound anguish. However, this verse emerges after a significant turn in the chapter. The prophet moves from despair to a reasoned consideration of God's character. He remembers God's faithfulness and the discipline that, while painful, ultimately stems from a loving intent. This specific verse reflects a theological contemplation that even the direst of circumstances, the "evil," originates from the same divine source as the "good" – the mouth of God. It speaks to the immense scope of God's sovereignty over all aspects of existence, both positive and negative, from an ancient Israelite perspective grappling with devastation.
Lamentations 3 38 Word Analysis
- הֲלוֹא (halō') - "Is not?" or "Are not?" This is a Hebrew interrogative particle introducing a rhetorical question. It implies a strong affirmation or an assumption that the listener will agree with the statement that follows.
- גַּם (gam) - "also," "and," or "even." It functions here to link or include "evil and good" under the umbrella of God's sovereignty.
- רָעָה (ra'ah) - "evil," "badness," "adversity," "calamity." In the context of divine action, this refers to misfortunes, suffering, and negative events, understood as instruments of God's judgment or testing.
- וְטוֹב (wəṭōḇ) - "and good." "Good" here encompasses blessings, prosperity, and positive circumstances. The conjunction "and" links it with "evil" as two facets of what proceeds from God.
- יֵצְאוּ (yēṣĕ'ū) - "they proceed," "they come forth." This is the third-person masculine plural imperfect verb from the root יצא (yatsa), meaning "to go out," "to come forth," or "to issue." It emphasizes that both types of events originate from a single source.
- מִפִּי (mippî) - "from the mouth of." "Mi" (מִ) is a preposition meaning "from" or "out of." "Pi" (פִּי) is the construct state of פֶּה (peh), meaning "mouth." This is a metaphorical expression signifying utterance, decree, command, or source of authority. What God speaks or ordains is what happens.
- עֶלְיוֹן (ʿelyôn) - "Most High," "Supreme One." This is a significant epithet for God, emphasizing His supreme majesty, power, and authority over all creation and events. It directly points to the ultimate sovereignty of God.
Group of words: "evil and good" (רָעָה וְטוֹב) - The juxtaposition of "evil" and "good" underscores the paradox that the same divine source is responsible for both experiences, challenging any dualistic understanding of powers. The latter part of Lamentations 3 reflects on how these experiences are intended for the believer's refinement and hope.
Lamentations 3 38 Bonus Section
The rhetorical question here is a device used to draw the reader into agreement with the prophet's conclusion about God's ultimate control. It serves to encourage believers to understand their trials not as random acts but as expressions of God’s directed will. This understanding is crucial for moving from despair to hope, as it places faith in the unchanging character of God even when circumstances appear dire. The reference to the "mouth of the Most High" links directly to God's spoken word as a creative and authoritative force in the universe, as seen in creation accounts. This suggests that all reality, including suffering, is brought into being and governed by God's decree.
Lamentations 3 38 Commentary
This verse asserts the ultimate sovereignty of God over all circumstances, both pleasant and painful. It’s a profound theological statement within a lament. The prophet, deeply afflicted, yet intellectually and spiritually anchored, acknowledges that his suffering is not arbitrary or due to a lesser power, but is within the decree of the Most High God. This perspective shifts the focus from passive victimhood to a posture of faith that trusts the Divine source of all experiences. The suffering is not necessarily good in itself, but it proceeds from the same God who is the source of good, and whose ultimate purpose, even in discipline, is beneficial and righteous. This understanding provides a basis for enduring hardship with hope, knowing that it is encompassed within God's ultimate plan.
- Practical application: When facing difficult times, remember that even challenging situations come from the hand of God who is inherently good. This truth doesn't negate the pain, but it reframes it within the context of divine sovereignty and ultimate redemptive purposes. It calls for trust and a discerning eye to see the potential for growth and refinement, just as God intended for Israel.