Lamentations 3 64

Lamentations 3:64 kjv

Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

Lamentations 3:64 nkjv

Repay them, O LORD, According to the work of their hands.

Lamentations 3:64 niv

Pay them back what they deserve, LORD, for what their hands have done.

Lamentations 3:64 esv

"You will repay them, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

Lamentations 3:64 nlt

Pay them back, LORD,
for all the evil they have done.

Lamentations 3 verses

Lamentations 3 64 meaning

Lamentations 3:64 is a fervent, deeply personal plea from the suffering prophet (or the nation personified) to the covenant God, YHWH. It is a desperate request for divine justice, asking God to repay the adversaries precisely and proportionately for the evil deeds they have committed against His people. The verse reflects an appeal to God's inherent righteousness as a judge who ensures that wickedness does not go unpunished and that those who inflict harm will receive their due retribution. It underscores a profound trust in God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to execute justice where human efforts have failed.

Lamentations 3 64 Context

Lamentations chapter 3 stands as the literary and theological center of the book, shifting from the depths of despair to an expression of hope in God's steadfast love and mercy. The preceding verses (Lam 3:1-39) describe the immense personal suffering of the speaker ("the man who has seen affliction"), often identified with Jeremiah or Judah personified, but crucially, acknowledging God's hand in it. Verses 40-51 lament the destruction of Zion, leading to an earnest plea for divine intervention. Verses 52-63 vividly describe the cruel and unwarranted persecution by enemies—they hunted, trapped, and slandered the speaker. Lamentations 3:64 concludes this section of personal suffering and plea, acting as a fervent imprecation, a request for God to avenge the injustices committed. It is an appeal to the covenant Lord, YHWH, reflecting a deeply ingrained belief that God, despite allowing affliction, is ultimately a righteous judge who will not permit evil to persist unchecked. The historical context is the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon, a period of immense national and personal trauma.

Lamentations 3 64 Word analysis

• Render (תָּשִׁיב - tāšîḇ): This is a Hiphil imperative of the Hebrew verb שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn, return, restore." In the Hiphil causative stem, it translates to "cause to return," or "repay," "render back." The imperative form signifies a direct, urgent, and authoritative plea to God to actively bring about this repayment. It's not a suggestion but a fervent petition for divine action, indicative of the intense suffering and powerlessness of the petitioner.
• unto them (לָהֶם - lāhem): The pronoun refers directly to the adversaries described in detail in the preceding verses (Lam 3:52-63)—those who had persecuted the prophet without cause, entrapping and seeking to silence him. It makes the request specific and personal.
• a recompense (גְּמוּל - gᵊmūl): Derived from the root גָּמַל (gamal), meaning "to deal out," "to ripen," or "to wean." Here, gᵊmūl denotes a "repayment," "requital," or "retribution," whether good or bad. In this context, given the prior description of suffering, it unequivocally means a punitive repayment—an exact and full return for their malicious acts. It emphasizes a measured, just response from God, not arbitrary punishment.
• O LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God. Addressing God by this name underscores a reliance on His faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His divine authority as the one who alone judges rightly and perfectly. It connects the suffering of the people to God's own honor and justice, implying that their affliction is an offense against Him as well.
• according to (כְּמַעֲשֵׂה - kəmáʿaśēh): The prefix kə- means "according to" or "like," followed by maʿaśēh, which signifies "work," "deed," "act." This phrase establishes the principle of proportional justice—the repayment is to be exactly commensurate with the wickedness committed. It evokes the concept of lex talionis (though not literally "eye for an eye" here, the principle of equivalent return is present) and emphasizes fairness in divine judgment.
• the work of their hands (יְדֵיהֶם - yəḏêhem): "Hands" (yad, plural yadayim) are often a metonymy for action, agency, power, and deeds. "The work of their hands" refers to their wicked deeds, oppressive acts, malevolent plans, and violent actions. It's a comprehensive term for all the evil they have actively brought about, linking their agency directly to the consequence requested from God.

Lamentations 3 64 Bonus section

The call for recompense in Lamentations 3:64 functions as a pivotal point in the lament. It transitions from focusing solely on the victim's suffering and God's role in it (even for corrective discipline) to affirming God's justice against external oppressors. This prayer also subtly distinguishes itself from a purely emotional outburst. By asking God to repay according to the work of their hands, the petitioner specifies a condition that limits God's judgment to strict justice, not unrestrained wrath. This nuance reflects an understanding of God's perfect and righteous character, even in His judgment. Such prayers, though challenging to reconcile with New Testament ethics on a superficial level, are fundamentally rooted in trusting God's justice over human capacity for vengeance, preventing personal retaliation.

Lamentations 3 64 Commentary

Lamentations 3:64 expresses the raw, desperate cry of a person and a nation devastated by the actions of their enemies. It is an imprecatory prayer, where the suffering supplicant appeals to God's character as a righteous judge to render precise retribution. This is not a vengeful act taken by the sufferer, but an earnest entrusting of judgment to the only one capable of perfectly administering it: YHWH. The verse embodies the profound belief in divine justice, that God will ultimately balance the scales, repaying evil deeds with appropriate punishment. While the New Testament emphasizes loving one's enemies and leaving vengeance to God (Rom 12:19), this Old Testament prayer highlights the deep human need for divine intervention when faced with overwhelming and unjust suffering. It reassures that even when earthly justice fails, God’s ultimate repayment for wickedness is certain and proportional to the "work of their hands."