Lamentations 3:52
Lamentations 3:52 in Multiple Translations
Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird.
Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
They have chased me sore like a bird, they that are mine enemies without cause.
They who are against me without cause have gone hard after me as if I was a bird;
For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.
Mine enemies chased me sore like a birde, without cause.
Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.
They have chased me relentlessly like a bird, those who are my enemies without cause.
My enemies chased me fiercely, like a bird without cause.
Sade. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, without cause.
Those who are my enemies hunted for me like [SIM] people hunt for a bird to kill it even though there was no reason for them to do that.
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 3:52
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 3:52 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
צ֥וֹד
צָד֛וּ/נִי
כַּ/צִּפּ֖וֹר
אֹיְבַ֥/י
חִנָּֽם
צ֥וֹד
tsûwd
H6679
to hunt
V-Qal-Ptc
צָד֛וּ/נִי
tsûwd
H6679
to hunt
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
כַּ/צִּפּ֖וֹר
tsippôwr
H6833
bird
Prep | N-cs
אֹיְבַ֥/י
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
V-Qal | Suff
חִנָּֽם
chinnâm
H2600
for nothing
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 3:52
צ֥וֹד
tsûwd
H6679
"to hunt"
V-Qal-Ptc
To provision means to gather food and supplies for a journey, as in Genesis 45:23, where Jacob prepares for his trip to Egypt. It represents God's care for His people.
Definition: 1) to hunt 1a) (Qal) to hunt 1b) (Poel) to hunt, hunt eagerly or keenly
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: chase, hunt, sore, take (provision). See also: Genesis 27:3; Psalms 140:12; Proverbs 6:26.
צָד֛וּ/נִי
tsûwd
H6679
"to hunt"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
To provision means to gather food and supplies for a journey, as in Genesis 45:23, where Jacob prepares for his trip to Egypt. It represents God's care for His people.
Definition: 1) to hunt 1a) (Qal) to hunt 1b) (Poel) to hunt, hunt eagerly or keenly
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: chase, hunt, sore, take (provision). See also: Genesis 27:3; Psalms 140:12; Proverbs 6:26.
כַּ/צִּפּ֖וֹר
tsippôwr
H6833
"bird"
Prep | N-cs
This Hebrew word means a little bird, often hopping, and is used to describe a sparrow or fowl in the Bible, such as in Psalm 84:3.
Definition: 1) bird, fowl 1a) bird (singular) 1b) birds (coll) Aramaic equivalent: tse.phar (צְפַר "bird" H6853)
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: bird, fowl, sparrow. See also: Genesis 7:14; Psalms 84:4; Psalms 8:9.
אֹיְבַ֥/י
ʼôyêb
H341
"enemy"
V-Qal | Suff
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national
Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.
חִנָּֽם
chinnâm
H2600
"for nothing"
Adv
For nothing means something is done without a reason or cost. It can also mean something is done in vain or without purpose. This concept is seen in various Bible stories and teachings.
Definition: 1) freely, for nothing, without cause 1a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing 1b) for no purpose, in vain 1c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain. See also: Genesis 29:15; Psalms 69:5; Psalms 35:7.
Study Notes — Lamentations 3:52
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 3:52 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:52
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:52
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
- Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:52
- Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:52
- Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
- Sermons on Lamentations 3:52
Context — God’s Justice
50until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.
51My eyes bring grief to my soul because of all the daughters of my city.
52Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird.
53They dropped me alive into a pit and cast stones upon me. 54The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 35:19 | Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice. |
| 2 | Psalms 35:7 | For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 37:15–16 | The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 26:18–20 | And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” |
| 5 | Psalms 119:161 | Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word. |
| 6 | John 15:25 | But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ |
| 7 | Jeremiah 37:18 | Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison? |
| 8 | Psalms 109:3 | They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause. |
| 9 | 1 Samuel 25:28–29 | Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live. And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling. |
| 10 | Psalms 69:4 | Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay. |
Lamentations 3:52 Summary
[This verse means that the writer feels like they're being chased and attacked by their enemies for no good reason, just like a bird being hunted. This can be a really scary and overwhelming experience, but we can take comfort in knowing that God sees and cares about our struggles, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11. We can also remember that Jesus faced similar opposition and persecution, and He is our example of how to trust and obey God even in difficult times, as seen in Hebrews 12:2-3.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be hunted like a bird without cause?
This phrase suggests a ruthless and relentless pursuit by enemies without any justifiable reason, much like the innocent bird being hunted, as seen in Psalm 11:1-2 where the righteous are like birds being hunted by the wicked.
How can I relate to the experience of being hunted by enemies?
Many believers throughout history, including the apostle Paul, have experienced persecution and pursuit by enemies, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:26, and this verse reminds us that God is aware of our struggles and will bring justice, as promised in Deuteronomy 32:4.
Is it normal to feel like I'm being targeted by enemies for no reason?
Yes, as followers of Christ, we can expect to face opposition and persecution, as Jesus warned in John 15:20, but we can take comfort in knowing that God is our refuge and strength, as stated in Psalm 46:1-3.
How can I trust God when it feels like my enemies are winning?
We can trust God because He is sovereign and just, and He will ultimately vindicate His people, as promised in Psalm 37:5-7, and we can cast our cares upon Him, as instructed in 1 Peter 5:7.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever felt like you were being pursued by enemies without cause, and how did you respond to the situation?
- How does this verse remind you of God's presence and care in the midst of persecution or difficulty?
- In what ways can you identify with the feeling of being hunted like a bird, and how can you apply the truths of this verse to your life?
- What are some ways you can trust God and find comfort in His presence when faced with opposition or hardship?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:52
Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird,.... That is weak and helpless, fearful and timorous; that flees from place to place when pursued; so it was with the prophet, or rather with the people of the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:52
Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird - which is destitute of counsel and strength. The allusion seems to be to Proverbs 1:17 (Calvin).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
As boys beat a bird from bush to bush, suffering it to rest no where, so mine enemies, to whom I gave no cause, pursued me.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
Lamentations 3:52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.Ver. 52. Mine enemies chased me sore.] In a most eager and extreme manner, with utmost cruelty and craft. As a bird.] Beaten from bush to bush. Without cause.] Jeremiah and the godly party might say so; but not Zedekiah and other perfidious ones.
Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
(52) Without cause . . .—The words connect themselves in the Hebrew with “mine enemies” (comp. Psalms 35:7; Psalms 35:19; Psalms 69:4), and it has been inferred from this that Jeremiah speaks not of the Chaldeans as enemies of his nation, but of those who were individually his persecutors. The hypothesis receives some confirmation from the apparent reference in the “dungeon” and the “waters” to the narrative of Jeremiah 38. It has been urged, on the other hand, that those expressions may be figurative here, as they are in Psalms 42:7; Psalms 88:7; Psalms 124:4.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
Verse 52. Mine enemies chased me] From this to the end of the chapter the prophet speaks of his own personal sufferings, and especially of those which he endured in the dungeon. See Jeremiah 38:6, &c.
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:52
52–66. See intr. note.
Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:52
Or, “They who without cause are mine enemies have hunted me sore like a bird.” Probably the prophet is speaking of his personal sorrows.
Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:52
52. Without cause — The order of the words in this verse should be, to express the precise sense of the original, “without cause mine enemies chased me.”
Sermons on Lamentations 3:52
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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God's School of Faith by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on a sentence from the book of Joshua that states, "His thoughts are not our thoughts." The speaker suggests that this sentence holds the key to |
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(Genesis) Genesis 37:13-19 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher draws a comparison between the biblical story of Joseph and the Lord Jesus. He highlights the miraculous births of both Joseph and Jesus, as well as th |
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Seven Words From the Cross - Obedience by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the last words of Jesus on the cross, specifically focusing on the statement "I thirst." He emphasizes that even though it may seem like a |
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(Exodus) Exodus 2:25 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God's love and grace are the reasons for our salvation. He explains that God didn't save us because of our attractiveness or goodness, |
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Christ in You by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the witness of the Spirit in the lives of believers. He references several scriptures, including Romans 8:15-17, Galatians |
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Christ in You, the Hope of Glory by Paris Reidhead | Paris Reidhead emphasizes the profound truth of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory,' as revealed in Colossians 1:27. He explains that this mystery, once hidden, signifies that both |
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Christ’s Ministry: His Two Hard Hitting Church Protests by Ian Paisley | Ian Paisley preaches on the great first miracle of our Lord, emphasizing the significance of Christ's actions in purging the Temple, revealing His righteous zeal and the importance |