Lamentations 3:6
Lamentations 3:6 in Multiple Translations
He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.
He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
He has kept me in dark places, like those who have been long dead.
He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.
He hath set me in darke places, as they that be dead for euer.
In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.
He has made me dwell in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
He hath set me in dark places, as they that are dead of old.
Beth. He hath set me in dark places as those that are dead for ever.
It is as though he has buried me in a dark place like [SIM] the graves of those who have been dead for a long time.
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 3:6
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 3:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים
הוֹשִׁיבַ֖/נִי
כְּ/מֵתֵ֥י
עוֹלָֽם
בְּ/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים
machshâk
H4285
darkness
Prep | N-mp
הוֹשִׁיבַ֖/נִי
yâshab
H3427
to dwell
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff
כְּ/מֵתֵ֥י
mûwth
H4191
to die
Prep | V-Qal
עוֹלָֽם
ʻôwlâm
H5769
forever
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 3:6
בְּ/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים
machshâk
H4285
"darkness"
Prep | N-mp
This word means darkness, either literal or figurative, and can refer to a physical place or a state of being. It appears in several places in the Bible, including Psalm 23:4 and Isaiah 9:2, where it is used to describe a lack of light or understanding.
Definition: 1) darkness, dark place, secrecy 1a) hiding-place 1b) dark region 1c) grave Aramaic equivalent: cha.shokh (חֲשׁוֹךְ "darkness" H2816)
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: dark(-ness, place). See also: Psalms 74:20; Psalms 143:3; Psalms 88:7.
הוֹשִׁיבַ֖/נִי
yâshab
H3427
"to dwell"
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
כְּ/מֵתֵ֥י
mûwth
H4191
"to die"
Prep | V-Qal
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Definition: 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely
Usage: Occurs in 695 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. See also: Genesis 2:17; Exodus 21:18; Numbers 35:21.
עוֹלָֽם
ʻôwlâm
H5769
"forever"
N-ms
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Definition: : old/ancient 1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world 1a) ancient time, long time (of past) 1b) (of future) 1b1) for ever, always 1b2) continuous existence, perpetual 1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
Usage: Occurs in 413 OT verses. KJV: alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare H5331 (נֶצַח), H5703 (עַד). See also: Genesis 3:22; 1 Kings 8:13; Psalms 5:12.
Study Notes — Lamentations 3:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 3:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:6
- Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
- Sermons on Lamentations 3:6
Context — The Prophet’s Afflictions
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. 8Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 88:5–6 | I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. |
| 2 | Psalms 143:3 | For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. |
| 3 | Psalms 143:7 | Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit. |
Lamentations 3:6 Summary
This verse means that the author feels like they are living in a state of darkness and separation from God, similar to being dead. It's a feeling of being cut off from God's presence and guidance, and it can be a very scary and hopeless place to be, as described in Psalm 23:4. However, even in the midst of this darkness, God is still present and working, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28, and we can trust in His goodness and love for us. By trusting in God's presence and promises, we can find hope and comfort, even in the darkest of times, as seen in Isaiah 41:10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to dwell in darkness like those dead for ages?
This phrase suggests a state of spiritual and emotional darkness, where one feels cut off from God's presence and guidance, much like the feeling of being separated from God after death, as described in Psalm 88:3-5 and Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Is God responsible for the darkness and hardships described in this verse?
According to the Bible, God is sovereign over all things, including darkness and light, as seen in Isaiah 45:7, but this does not mean He causes evil or suffering, as stated in James 1:13-14.
How can I apply this verse to my life when I'm going through a difficult time?
This verse can serve as a reminder that even in the midst of darkness and hardship, God is still present and working, as promised in Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11, and we can trust in His goodness and love for us.
What is the relationship between this verse and the surrounding verses?
The surrounding verses, such as Lamentations 3:4-5 and Lamentations 3:7-8, describe the physical and emotional suffering of the author, and this verse serves as a culmination of those feelings, emphasizing the spiritual darkness that can accompany such suffering, as seen in Job 23:8-9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like I was dwelling in darkness, and how did I respond to those feelings?
- How can I trust in God's presence and guidance when I feel like I'm in a dark and hopeless place, like the author of this verse?
- What are some ways that I can cultivate a sense of hope and faith in the midst of difficulties, as encouraged in Hebrews 11:1 and 1 Peter 1:3-9?
- How can I use this verse to minister to others who may be going through a similar experience of darkness and hardship?
- What does this verse teach me about the nature of God and His relationship with His people, particularly in times of suffering?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:6
He hath set me in dark places,.... In the dark house of the prison, as the Targum; in the dark dungeon where the prophet was put; or the captivity in which the Jews were, and which was like the dark
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:6
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 3:6
The prophet compareth their state in Babylon to the state of bodies in the graves, or in some charnel-house, which are places of darkness, full of rottenness and dead men’ s bones. Such was the state of the Jews in Jerusalem during the time of the siege before the city was taken, when Jerusalem was a most miserable place by reason of the multitudes slain by the enemy, or by the famine: such was their state in Babylon, where the company of heathens made their state as the state of the living amongst the dead.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
Lamentations 3:6 He hath set me in dark places, as [they that be] dead of old.Ver. 6. He hath set me in dark places.] Dungeons haply, which are a kind of graves, and where poor prisoners lie as forgotten. The Persians called their prisons ëçèáò, oblivions. And Ezekiel saith that Babylon was to the Jews as a grave, where they lay for dead till those dead bones lived again. As they that be dead of old.] Free among the dead and forgotten. It may be said of a saint, in some cases, that “ Vivit, et est vitae nescius ipse sum. ”
Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
(6) He hath set me in dark places.—A verbal reproduction of Psa 143:3. The “dark places” are those of hell or Hades. For dead of old read dead eternally or dead for ever, the adverb looking forward rather than back.
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:6
6. Identical with the last part of Psa 143:3. See intr. note. dark places] in the gloom of Sheol. long dead] or, for ever dead, permanently forgotten, never able to return into the light of God’s favour.
Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:6
Or, “He hath” made me to dwell “in darkness,” i. e. in Sheol or Hades, “as those” forever “dead.”
Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:6
6. Dark places — Literally, in darkness; that is, in sheol. Dead of old — Literally, dead of eternity; namely, those who shall never return to life.
Sermons on Lamentations 3:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Prayer for Guidance by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith reflects on the vastness of God and the insignificance of human beings in comparison. He describes sitting on the beach, contemplating the sun, t |
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Whatever Is Not From Faith Is Sin by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Psalm 143 as an example of how to approach God with our arguments. The psalmist, David, fills his mouth with arguments, listing his requests |
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How to Argue With God by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Psalm 143 as an example of how to approach God with our arguments. The psalmist, David, fills his mouth with arguments, listing his requests |
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Psalm 143 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches on the power of prayer, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's faithfulness and righteousness in times of supplication. He highlights the contrast between t |
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Letter 56 by James Bourne | James Bourne encourages M. A. H. to find comfort in God during times of affliction, sharing the testimony of Mrs. O. who found peace and assurance in the Lord's presence as she fac |