Lamentations 3:10
Lamentations 3:10 in Multiple Translations
He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.
He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.
He is like a bear waiting for me, like a lion in secret places.
He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,
He was vnto me as a beare lying in waite, and as a Lion in secret places.
A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.
He is to me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in hiding.
He was to me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
Daleth. He is become to me as a bear lying in wait: as a lion in secret places.
He has waited to attack me like [SIM] a bear or a lion hides and waits to attack other animals.
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 3:10
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 3:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
דֹּ֣ב
אֹרֵ֥ב
הוּא֙
לִ֔/י
אריה
אֲרִ֖י
בְּ/מִסְתָּרִֽים
דֹּ֣ב
dôb
H1677
bear
N-ms
אֹרֵ֥ב
ʼârab
H693
to ambush
V-Qal
הוּא֙
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Pron
לִ֔/י
Prep | Suff
אריה
ʼărîy
H738
lion
N-ms
אֲרִ֖י
ʼărîy
H738
lion
N-ms
בְּ/מִסְתָּרִֽים
miçtâr
H4565
hiding
Prep | N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 3:10
דֹּ֣ב
dôb
H1677
"bear"
N-ms
The bear is described in the Bible as a slow-moving animal, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:34-37 where David fights a bear. The word for bear is also used in Proverbs 28:15.
Definition: bear Aramaic equivalent: dov (דֹּב "bear" H1678)
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: bear. See also: 1 Samuel 17:34; Proverbs 28:15; Proverbs 17:12.
אֹרֵ֥ב
ʼârab
H693
"to ambush"
V-Qal
This verb means to lie in wait or ambush someone, often used to describe a surprise attack. It is used in the Bible to talk about people who are hiding and waiting to attack. The word can also mean to lay a trap for someone.
Definition: 1) to lie in wait, ambush, lurk 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lie in wait 1a2) ambush (participle as subst) 1b) (Piel) ambushers, liers-in-wait (pl. participle) 1c) (Hiphil) to lay an ambush
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: (lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie in) wait. See also: Deuteronomy 19:11; Judges 20:38; Psalms 10:9.
הוּא֙
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
לִ֔/י
""
Prep | Suff
אריה
ʼărîy
H738
"lion"
N-ms
In biblical times, a lion was a symbol of strength and power, and is often mentioned in stories like Daniel in the lions' den. The word for lion appears in various forms, including pictures or images of lions, and is used in books like 1 Kings and 2 Kings.
Definition: 1) lion 1a) pictures or images of lions
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: (young) lion, [phrase] pierce (from the margin). See also: Genesis 49:9; Proverbs 22:13; Psalms 7:3.
אֲרִ֖י
ʼărîy
H738
"lion"
N-ms
In biblical times, a lion was a symbol of strength and power, and is often mentioned in stories like Daniel in the lions' den. The word for lion appears in various forms, including pictures or images of lions, and is used in books like 1 Kings and 2 Kings.
Definition: 1) lion 1a) pictures or images of lions
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: (young) lion, [phrase] pierce (from the margin). See also: Genesis 49:9; Proverbs 22:13; Psalms 7:3.
בְּ/מִסְתָּרִֽים
miçtâr
H4565
"hiding"
Prep | N-mp
This Hebrew word means a secret or hiding place, often used for protection or to conceal something, as seen in the Bible's description of hiding from danger. It can also refer to a place where wrongdoings are hidden. The KJV translates it as secret or secretly.
Definition: 1) secret place, hiding place 1a) secret place 1b) hiding place 1b1) for protection 1b2) for perpetration of crime
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: secret(-ly, place). See also: Psalms 10:8; Jeremiah 13:17; Psalms 10:9.
Study Notes — Lamentations 3:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 3:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:10
- Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
- Sermons on Lamentations 3:10
Context — The Prophet’s Afflictions
8Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.
9He has barred my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked.
10He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.
11He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces; He left me without help. 12He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 10:9 | He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net. |
| 2 | Amos 5:18–20 | Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light. It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it? |
| 3 | Hosea 13:7–8 | So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart. |
| 4 | Hosea 5:14 | For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them. |
| 5 | Job 10:16 | Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me. |
| 6 | Hosea 6:1 | Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. |
| 7 | Isaiah 38:13 | I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me. |
| 8 | Psalms 17:12 | like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush. |
Lamentations 3:10 Summary
[This verse describes God as a powerful and awe-inspiring presence, using the metaphors of a bear and a lion to convey His strength and authority. In simple terms, God is saying that He is in control, and we can trust Him even when things seem difficult or unclear, just like the Psalmist trusted God in Psalm 23:4. God's power is not something to be feared, but rather something to be revered and respected, as we see in Isaiah 40:28, which reminds us that God's power is beyond our understanding.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Bible describe God as a bear and a lion in this verse?
This description is a metaphor to convey God's power and authority, as seen in Job 38:39-40, where God's power is likened to that of a lion.
Is God being cruel by lying in wait and hiding in ambush?
No, God's actions are not cruel, but rather a demonstration of His sovereignty and justice, as stated in Deuteronomy 32:4, which says that God's ways are just and fair.
How can we trust God when He seems to be against us, as described in this verse?
We can trust God because He is always working for our good, even when circumstances seem difficult, as Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
What can we learn from the image of God as a bear and a lion in this verse?
We can learn that God is a powerful and awe-inspiring God, who demands our respect and reverence, as seen in Psalm 111:9, which says that God is fearful in praises, doing wonders.
Reflection Questions
- How do you feel when you sense that God is hiding or lying in wait, and what does this reveal about your trust in Him?
- In what ways have you experienced God's power and authority in your life, and how has this shaped your relationship with Him?
- What are some areas where you feel like you're being 'torn to pieces' or facing challenges, and how can you trust God to work these situations out for your good?
- How can you cultivate a deeper reverence and respect for God's sovereignty and justice, even when you don't understand His ways?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:10
He [was] unto me [as] a bear lying in wait,.... For its prey, which seizes on it at once, and tears it in pieces; such were the Chaldeans to the Jews by divine permission: [and as] a lion in secret
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:10
He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
That is, he hath taken all advantages against me to destroy me.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
Lamentations 3:10 He [was] unto me [as] a bear lying in wait, [and as] a lion in secret places.Ver. 10. He was unto me as a bear lying in wait.] So that if I do but offer to stir, or seek to make escape, I am in danger to be devoured. And as a lion in secret places.] God hath many ways and means to bemeet with sinners. He can stop them in their course, as he did Balaam, Jonah, and others.
Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
(10) As a bear . . . as a lion.—The figure found in Hosea 13:8; Amos 5:19, is specially characteristic of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44). We are reminded of Dante (Inferno, i. 31-51).
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:10
10. Not only misery, but active forms of danger present themselves. We find the bear and lion in conjunction also in Hosea 13:8.
Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:10
Having dwelt upon the difficulties which hemmed in his path, he now shows that there are dangers attending upon escape.
Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:10
10. As a bear… in wait — This is one of several allusions in the poetical and prophetical books, harmonizing with certain passages in the historical books, such as 1 Samuel 17:34; 1 Samuel 17:36-37;
Sermons on Lamentations 3:10
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Secrets of Happy Home Life by J.R. Miller | Greek Word Studies preaches about the dangers of trickery, using the term 'kubeia' to illustrate how some manipulate the Word of God for personal gain, similar to loaded dice used |
|
The Christian in Complete Armour - Part 8 by William Gurnall | William Gurnall preaches about the strengthening power of sincerity in a Christian's spirit, emphasizing how sincerity acts as a girdle that fortifies the believer in their spiritu |
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Dvd 02 - Jewish Unbelief by Art Katz | This sermon emphasizes the importance of boldly sharing the gospel with the Jewish community, highlighting the need for believers to be willing to endure rejection, insults, and su |
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Country Preacher Who Came to Town by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the days of Jeroboam and the prosperity that came to the land. The people were living in luxury, lying on beds of ivory and eating the finest |
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Bristol Conference 1962 - Part 6 by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the preacher highlights the issue of luxury, complacency, and ease in today's society, particularly within the church. He references 1 Corinthians chapter 4, where |
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The Blowing of the Great Trumpet by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches on the significance of 'The day of the Lord' as a time when God's power is prominently displayed, bringing both trouble and deliverance. The blowing of the gr |
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The Poor of the Land and the Pride of Jacob by John Piper | John Piper preaches on the message of Amos, a shepherd turned prophet, who delivered a warning of coming judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite Amos' faithful procla |