Lamentations 3:4 kjv
My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
Lamentations 3:4 nkjv
He has aged my flesh and my skin, And broken my bones.
Lamentations 3:4 niv
He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones.
Lamentations 3:4 esv
He has made my flesh and my skin waste away; he has broken my bones;
Lamentations 3:4 nlt
He has made my skin and flesh grow old.
He has broken my bones.
Lamentations 3 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lamentations 3:4 | My flesh and my skin He has worn out. | Suffering of the righteous |
| Psalms 22:14 | I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart within me is melted like wax. | Descriptive suffering and weakness |
| Psalms 38:3 | There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. | Sin's consequence leading to physical decay |
| Psalms 102:24 | I say, “O my God, take not my life in the midst of my days— your years are throughout all generations.” | Despair during affliction |
| Isaiah 53:5 | But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his stripes we are healed. | Christ's suffering for humanity |
| Isaiah 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. | Meekness in suffering |
| Jeremiah 37:15 | And the officials were angry with Jeremiah and flogged him and imprisoned him in the cell of Jonathan the secretary, for they had made it a prison. | Physical mistreatment and imprisonment |
| Matthew 27:26 | Then he released Barabbas to them, but after flogging Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. | Roman flogging and crucifixion |
| Matthew 27:29 | And when they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” | Mockery and physical abuse of Christ |
| Matthew 27:31 | And after mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. | Further humiliation and physical harm |
| Mark 15:15 | So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas. And after flogging Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. | Similar to Matthew, focus on Pilate's action |
| Mark 15:19 | They struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him, and kneeling down, they worshiped him. | Physical abuse and degradation |
| Luke 23:33 | And when they came to the place that is called the Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. | The crucifixion event |
| Luke 23:36 | The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine. | Soldiers' mockery and offering of vinegar |
| John 19:1 | Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and flogged him. | Pilate's order of flogging |
| John 19:3 | and came up to him, saying, “Greetings, King of the Jews!” and they struck him with their hands. | Soldiers' striking Christ |
| 1 Peter 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. | Christ bearing our suffering and sin |
| Hebrews 12:5 | And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when rebuked by him. | God's discipline leading to hardship |
| Job 19:20 | My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I escape by the skin of my teeth. | Extreme physical emaciation and suffering |
| Psalms 42:3 | My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?” | Emotional distress mirrored in physical state |
| Lamentations 1:14 | My transgressions were bound in a yoke; they have been woven together; they have climbed up on my neck; my strength has failed. | Burden of sin causing physical weakness |
| Lamentations 5:10 | Our skin is as hot as an oven because of the fierceness of the famine. | Extreme hunger and its physical toll |
Lamentations 3 verses
Lamentations 3 4 Meaning
My flesh and my skin He has worn out. My bones He has broken.
Lamentations 3 4 Context
Chapter 3 of Lamentations shifts from describing the devastation of Jerusalem and the nation to the personal suffering of the prophet, who identifies with his people. This verse, 3:4, is a stark and graphic description of the physical toll of extreme suffering, implying prolonged distress, hardship, and possibly divine punishment. It paints a picture of physical breakdown and emaciation, reflecting the deep agony and weakness experienced during times of intense affliction. The preceding verses set the stage for this personal suffering, spoken from the perspective of one who has borne the brunt of God's wrath against sin.
Lamentations 3 4 Word Analysis
- "My" (Chai/נַפְשִׁי - naphshiy): Possessive first-person singular pronoun attached to "flesh." Indicates personal ownership of the suffering. Refers to one's life, self, or inner being, but here directly linked to the physical body.
- "flesh" (Bāsār/בָּשָׂר): Hebrew word for flesh, skin, or meat. In scripture, it often represents the physical body, mortal humanity, or even kinship and the living. Here, it signifies the physical substance of the body, which has been wasted.
- "and" (Waw/וְ): Conjunction connecting the two clauses. Shows a parallel or sequential suffering affecting different parts of the body.
- "my" (Chai/עוֹרִי - ‘ōri): Possessive first-person singular pronoun attached to "skin." Reinforces the personal and pervasive nature of the affliction.
- "skin" (‘Ōr/עוֹר): Hebrew word for skin, hide, or surface. Refers to the outer covering of the body. The wearing out of skin suggests emaciation and decay.
- "He" (Hu'/הוּא): Masculine singular pronoun. Refers back to God (Elohim/אֱלֹהִים) as the active agent in this suffering, as established in verse 3. This points to a sovereign, though harsh, divine action.
- "has worn out" (Kālû/כָּלוּ): This is the plural perfect form of the verb "kalah" (כָּלָה), meaning to finish, end, consume, complete, or be worn out. Used in the plural form to emphasize the completeness of the wearing out, affecting the whole body, flesh and skin.
- "My" (Atsāmāy/עַצְמוֹתַי): Possessive first-person singular pronoun attached to "bones." Indicates personal possession of the suffering and pain.
- "bones" (‘Atsāmōṯ/עַצְמוֹת): Hebrew word for bones, the framework of the body. Bones represent the innermost structure, strength, and support of a person. Their breaking signifies deep internal damage and utter debilitation.
- "He" (Hu’/הוּא): Again, referring to God as the agent.
- "has broken" (Shi’ar‘ōw/שִׁיִּבְרֵם): This is the third-person masculine singular perfect form of the verb "shabar" (שָׁבַר), meaning to break, shatter, crush, or break in pieces. The suffix "m" indicates the object, "them," referring to "my bones."
Group of Words Analysis:
The pairing of "flesh and skin" (Bāsār wə‘ōr) with "bones" emphasizes the totality of the physical breakdown. The flesh and skin are the outer layers, showing weariness and decay. The bones being broken represent a deeper, structural collapse. The repeated "He" (Hu') attributes this profound physical deterioration directly to God's action. The perfect tense verbs (kālû and shi‘bar ‘ēm) convey that this wearing out and breaking are completed actions, representing the result of sustained suffering.
Lamentations 3 4 Bonus Section
The language here is intensely physical and visceral, mirroring the "body language" of grief and despair found throughout Scripture. It suggests a complete wasting away, a state where the physical casing of the person is no longer sound. This can be seen as the prophet taking on the suffering of his people to an extreme degree. The breaking of bones is a particularly severe image, implying that even the underlying strength and support are gone. This can also be interpreted theologically as God's severe pruning or testing of the prophet, though the pain is immense. This verse prepares the way for the prophet's declaration of hope in verse 21, showing the depth of despair from which that hope arises. The graphic nature serves to convey the unparalleled nature of the calamity described in Lamentations.
Lamentations 3 4 Commentary
This verse is a powerful articulation of extreme suffering where the body itself deteriorates to its core. The prophet is experiencing a suffering so severe that it physically wastes away his flesh and skin, making him emaciated. More profoundly, his bones, the very structure and strength of his being, are depicted as broken. This isn't merely a feeling but a devastating physical reality that incapacitates him. The identification of God (He) as the one who has caused this highlights the profound theological wrestling within the lament – enduring hardship understood as divine discipline or judgment, yet leading to an almost existential weariness and ruin. It speaks to the vulnerability of the human body under extreme duress and the deep connection between emotional/spiritual anguish and physical deterioration, particularly when viewed through the lens of divine interaction. The experience reflects a state of utter helplessness and breaking down, mirroring the ruin of Jerusalem itself, but now personalized and intensified.