Lamentations 3:5
Lamentations 3:5 in Multiple Translations
He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
He has put up a wall against me, shutting me in with bitter sorrow.
He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall, and labour.
He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.
He has built against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
He hath built against me, and compassed me with gall and labor.
Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with gall and labour.
He has surrounded me [DOU] with bitterness and suffering.
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 3:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Lamentations 3:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בָּנָ֥ה
עָלַ֛/י
וַ/יַּקַּ֖ף
רֹ֥אשׁ
וּ/תְלָאָֽה
בָּנָ֥ה
bânâh
H1129
to build
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
עָלַ֛/י
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
וַ/יַּקַּ֖ף
nâqaph
H5362
to strike
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms
רֹ֥אשׁ
rôʼsh
H7219
poison
N-ms
וּ/תְלָאָֽה
tᵉlâʼâh
H8513
hardship
Conj | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 3:5
בָּנָ֥ה
bânâh
H1129
"to build"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:22; 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 20:8.
עָלַ֛/י
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
וַ/יַּקַּ֖ף
nâqaph
H5362
"to strike"
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms
This word means to surround or go around something, like making a circle or enclosing an area. It can also imply a sense of violence or attack, like beating or knocking something down. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's presence surrounding his people.
Definition: 1) to strike, strike off 1a) (Piel) to strike off skin Aramaic equivalent: ne.qash (נְקַשׁ "to knock" H5368)
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: compass (about, -ing), cut down, destroy, go round (about), inclose, round. See also: Leviticus 19:27; Job 19:6; Psalms 17:9.
רֹ֥אשׁ
rôʼsh
H7219
"poison"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for poison refers to a harmful substance, possibly from a poppy plant. It appears in the Bible, including in the book of Deuteronomy, warning against poisonous things.
Definition: gall, venom, bitter, poisonous
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: gall, hemlock, poison, venom. See also: Deuteronomy 29:17; Jeremiah 9:14; Psalms 69:22.
וּ/תְלָאָֽה
tᵉlâʼâh
H8513
"hardship"
Conj | N-fs
This word describes hardship, distress, or weariness, like the kind experienced by the Israelites during their travels. It is used in the Bible to describe difficult times, such as the troubles faced by Job. The word conveys a sense of toil or travail.
Definition: toil, hardship, distress, weariness
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: travail, travel, trouble. See also: Exodus 18:8; Nehemiah 9:32; Lamentations 3:5.
Study Notes — Lamentations 3:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 3:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:5
- Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
- Sermons on Lamentations 3:5
Context — The Prophet’s Afflictions
3Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long.
4He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones.
5He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
6He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages. 7He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamentations 3:19 | Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 23:15 | Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” |
| 3 | Job 19:8 | He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness. |
| 4 | Lamentations 3:7–9 | He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains. Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer. He has barred my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 9:15 | Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. |
| 6 | Psalms 69:21 | They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 8:14 | Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. |
Lamentations 3:5 Summary
This verse means that the writer feels like God has surrounded them with difficult and bitter circumstances, which can be a hard and confusing experience. However, as we see in other parts of the Bible, like Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28, God often uses hardship to bring about good and to draw us closer to Himself. When we feel besieged, we can trust that God is still in control and that He loves us, even if we don't understand what's happening. We can also look to verses like Psalm 23:4 for comfort, where it's written that God is with us even in the darkest valleys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'besieged' by God?
In Lamentations 3:5, to be besieged by God means to be surrounded and hemmed in by His sovereign power, which can be a difficult experience, as seen in Job 19:6 and Psalm 88:8, where the writers also express feelings of being trapped by God's hand.
Why would God surround someone with bitterness and hardship?
According to Scripture, God sometimes allows hardship to refine and purify His people, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:3 and Hebrews 12:10-11, where it is written that God disciplines those He loves to produce a harvest of righteousness.
Is this verse describing a literal or spiritual siege?
In the context of Lamentations 3:5, the siege is likely a spiritual one, where the writer feels emotionally and spiritually overwhelmed by the hardships and bitter circumstances, similar to what is described in Psalm 116:3, where the psalmist feels the pains of death and the terrors of the grave.
How can I apply this verse to my own life when I'm facing difficulties?
When facing hardships, it's essential to remember that God is sovereign and that He can use even the most challenging circumstances to draw us closer to Himself, as seen in Romans 8:28, where it is written that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel besieged or surrounded by difficulties, and how can I trust God in the midst of them?
- How can I distinguish between God's refining fire and the enemy's attacks, and what role does faith play in this discernment?
- In what ways can I cooperate with God's work in my life, even when it involves hardship and bitterness, and what are some practical steps I can take to trust Him more?
- What are some promises from Scripture that I can hold onto when I feel like I'm under siege, and how can I apply them to my life right now?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:5
He hath builded against me,.... Fortresses, as the Targum adds; as when forts and batteries were raised by the Chaldeans against the city of Jerusalem, in which the prophet was: and compassed [me]
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:5
My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. My flesh and my skin hath he made old - (Job 16:8, "Thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me, and my leanness rising up"). Verse 5.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
He hath not builded with me, increasing my prosperity, and protecting my houses, but he hath builded forts, and batteries, and castles, (military buildings,) to batter down my walls and houses, ,3. And compassed me with gall and travel; or with poison, venom, and misery, as some translate it; and it seems more proper than gall and travel, which have no cognation one with another. We are not well acquainted with the ancient dialect of other countries: the sense is obvious, God had surrounded them with misery and calamities.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
Lamentations 3:5 He hath builded against me, and compassed [me] with gall and travail.Ver. 5. He hath builded against me.] Bulwarks and batteries. And compassed me with gall and travel.] Or, With venom and vexation. See Jeremiah 8:14. In these and the like hyperbolic expressions we must note that words are too weak to utter the greatness of the saints’ grief, when they lie under the sense of God’ s wrath and heavy displeasure.
Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
(5) He hath builded.—The attack of sorrow is presented under the figure of a siege. In the next clause the figure is dropped. “Gall” stands, as in Jeremiah 8:14, for bitterest sorrow. “Travel” is the old English form of “travail,” the two forms, originally identical, being now used with different meanings.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
Verse 5. He hath builded against me] Perhaps there is a reference here to the mounds and ramparts raised by the Chaldeans in order to take the city.
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:5
5. He hath builded against me, and compassed] Here as in Lamentations 3:3 we have to deal with the idiom by which two verbs are used where we should in English have a verb and adverb. Translate therefore He hath builded against me round about. gall] See on Jeremiah 8:14. The combination with “travail” suggests some corruption in the text. Löhr adopts for his translation (though with some hesitation) bitterness and wormwood. travail] weariness, hardship. From 1611 to the American edition of 1867 all editions of the Authorized Version had travel both here and in the case of Num 20:14. It was probably in comparatively recent times that the two modes of spelling came to be definitely appropriated to distinct meanings of the word.
Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:5
He hath builded ... - The metaphor is taken from the operations in a siege. Gall and travail - Or “travail;” i. e. bitterness and weariness (through toil).
Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:5
5. Hath builded against me — As besiegers enclose a city. Gall and travail — A most extraordinary combination surely, but not unlike Jeremiah.
Sermons on Lamentations 3:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Land Is in Ruins, Weep All Ye People! by Brian Long | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the desperate state of the nation during the time of Jeremiah. He emphasizes how Jeremiah's heart was deeply affected by the sins of God's p |
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(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 12 Psalm 137 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 137, emphasizing its prophetic nature and the deep sorrow of the Israelites in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem. He explores the contrast be |
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Lx. to Lady Kenmure, on the Death of Her Son, John, Second Viscount by Samuel Rutherford | Samuel Rutherford preaches a message of comfort and encouragement to a grieving noble lady who has lost her child, reminding her to submit to God's will and find solace in the fell |
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The Flood by Bill Randles | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that the world, despite its glitter and glamour, is under judgment and wrath. He warns against getting too excited about worldly things, suc |
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The Burning Hell That Jesus Preached by Ian Paisley | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the topic of hell and responds to a television program that ridiculed the teaching of the Word of God. He emphasizes the eternal nature of he |
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The Word of Suffering by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink explores the profound significance of Jesus' statement 'I thirst' during his crucifixion, emphasizing both His humanity and divine glory. This utterance reflects the inte |
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The First Time Jesus Cleans Out the Temple John 2:13-25 by David Servant | David Servant preaches about Jesus' righteous anger in the Temple, emphasizing the importance of honoring God and worshiping Him sincerely. Jesus' actions in the Temple reveal His |