Lamentations 3:30 — Word Study
WLCיִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס
BSALet him offernâthan▸ [turn, give, or present] his cheeklᵉchîy [jaw, or the side of the face] to the one who would strike himnâkâh [hit, smite, or slap] let him be filledsâbaʻ▸ [satisfied, or have enough of] with reproachcherpâh [shame, scorn, or disgrace]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִתֵּ֧ן | let him give | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ | to [the] [one who] strikes him | Preposition, verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular common, suffix |
| לֶ֖חִי | a cheek | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| יִשְׂבַּ֥ע | let him be sated | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס | with reproach | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach. |
| KJV | He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. |
| ASV | Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach. |
| YLT | He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach. |
| WEB | Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach. |
| BBE | Let his face be turned to him who gives him blows; let him be full of shame. |
Where they part company is חֶרְפָּה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main verb followed by a prepositional phrase and a second main clause, emphasizing the actions and their consequences.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Lamentations 3:30
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Reflections on Sufferinggenerated
Lamentations 3:30 is a part of a lament that expresses deep sorrow and contemplation on suffering. The speaker encourages a posture of humility in the face of aggression, suggesting that one should not retaliate but rather accept the reproach that comes from others. This reflects a broader theme in the book of Lamentations, where the pain of loss and the hope for restoration are intertwined.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 16:10 | They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me. |
| 2 | Isaiah 50:6 | I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle. |
| 3 | Micah 5:1 | Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel. |
| 4 | Matthew 5:39 | But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; |
| 5 | Matthew 26:67 | Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יִתֵּ֧ן, yi.Tengenerated
The verb נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and covers a wide range of applications, including placing, setting, or presenting something. In this verse, it emphasizes the act of offering one's cheek, indicating a willingness to endure pain without resistance.
The parsing tells us this is an imperfect form, indicating an ongoing action or a habitual response. This suggests a continual attitude of submission rather than a one-time act.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יִתֵּ֧ן (yi.Ten) governs the main action of the verse, with two clauses following it. The first clause describes the action of offering the cheek, while the second clause expresses the result of being filled with reproach.
The structure emphasizes the act of giving oneself to another in a context of suffering, highlighting the relationship between the action and its consequence.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יִתֵּ֧ן as δώσει (dōsei), meaning 'he will give'. This choice reflects a direct correlation to the Hebrew meaning of offering oneself.
For חֶרְפָּה, the LXX uses ὀνειδισμῶν (oneidismōn), which carries the connotation of reproach or insult, aligning closely with the Hebrew intent of enduring shame.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Lamentations 3:30 encourages a person to respond to someone who strikes them by offering their cheek and accepting the resulting reproach. This reflects a theme of humility and endurance in the face of suffering.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Offering one's cheek symbolizes a willingness to endure suffering and humiliation without retaliation.
This verse encapsulates the idea of accepting pain and shame as part of the human experience, reflecting a deeper understanding of humility.
To be filled with reproach means to experience shame or scorn, often as a result of one's actions or circumstances.
This verse can be applied by choosing humility and patience in difficult situations, rather than responding with anger or retaliation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I been called to respond with humility instead of anger?
- How can I practice accepting reproach in my own life?
- What does it mean to me to offer my cheek to someone who strikes me?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of strength and weakness?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Lamentations 3:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him,.... Either to God that afflicts him, and patiently bears it; see Isaiah 9:13; or rather to men.
Read John Gill on Lamentations 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He ... keepeth silence - the fruit of true docility and patience.
Read Robert Jamieson on Lamentations 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAccording to our Saviour’ s precept, , he doth not take any private revenge; he is reproached and reviled, but when he is so he revileth not again, ; he is filled with reproach from others, but his mouth is not filled with the reproachings of others.
Read Matthew Poole on Lamentations 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLamentations 3:30 He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.Ver. 30. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him.] Humility, the product of affliction sanctified, is still at her lesson, or rather practising what she hath learned. David, having suffered by Absalom, can well enough bear with Shimei’ s tongue smitings; and the apostles, after they had been in prison, departed from the council, rejoicing that they were so far graced as to be disgraced for the name of Jesus. He is filled full of reproach.] He can bravely bear all contumelies and contempts for his conscience, taking them as crowns and confirmations of his conformity to Christ.
Read John Trapp on Lamentations 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(30) He giveth his cheek . . .—The submission enjoined reaches its highest point—a patience like that of Job 16:10; we may add, like that of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:39.) It was harder to accept the Divine chastisement when it came through human agents. Not so had Jeremiah once taught and acted (Jeremiah 20:1-6; Jeremiah 28:15). (Comp. Isaiah 1:6.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Lamentations 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 30. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth] He has that love that is not provoked. He is not quarrelsome, nor apt to resent injuries; he suffers long and is kind. Or, it may be rendered, "let him give his cheek." He is filled full with reproach.] Though all this take place, yet let his "trust be in God, who will not cast off for ever." God will take his part, and bring him safely through all hardships.
Read AdamClarke on Lamentations 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. Let him give his cheek] Cp. Job 16:10; Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 5:39.
Read Cambridge on Lamentations 3 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible28-30. He sitteth — The verbs commencing these verses are apocopated futures, and should be rendered with a passive sense, as: Let him sit alone and keep silence; Let him put his mouth in the dust; Let him give his cheek, etc.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Lamentations 3 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.
Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach.
Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.
Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him; let him have his fill of insults.
Tyndale line
He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.
Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.
He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproches.
Strictly literal
he giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him; he is filled full with reproach.
He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.
He gives to his striker the cheek, || He is filled with reproach.
That he offer his cheek to him that smiteth him; that he be satisfied with reproach.
Let him offer his cheek to the one who strikes him, and let him be filled to the full with reproach.
From the Latin
Jod. He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall be filled with reproaches.
Simplified
They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.
Let his face be turned to him who gives him blows; let him be full of shame.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these traditions.
יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Lamentations 3:30
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…
נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)
Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
Pu. both be smitten down by the hail
Hiph.
lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
smite repeatedly, beat a man
and they clapped hands (in applause)
give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
smite, of sun
Smite fatally
Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
Of God
smite with a plague, disease, etc.
smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
of God’s destroying palaces
Hoph. be smitten
base
H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
. both be smitten down by the hail
. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
. smite repeatedly, beat a man
. and they clapped hands (in applause)
. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
. smite, of sun
. Smite fatally
. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.
. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
. of God’s destroying palaces
. be smitten
5221 nakah naw-kaw'
a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally
or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X
go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,
punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,
be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.
נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.
1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill
1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten
1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust
1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)
1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage
1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy
1d) (Hophal) to be smitten
1d1) to receive a blow
1d2) to be wounded
1d3) to be beaten
1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain
1d5) to be attacked and captured
1d6) to be smitten (with disease)
1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Prep | V-Hiphil | Suff — Preposition · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular common · suffixHR/Vhrmsc/Sp3ms
לְחִי (lechi) refers to the jaw or cheek, derived from a root meaning to be soft, highlighting its fleshy nature. It encompasses both the jawbone of animals and the cheek of humans. The entries also note its connection to the name Lehi, which shares the same root.
לְחִי n.m. jaw, cheek
jaw, jawbone, of animal
cheek, of man
base
H3895 לְחִי jaw, cheek
3895 lchiy lekh-ee'
from an unused root meaning to be soft; the cheek (from its
fleshiness); hence, the jaw-bone:--cheek (bone), jaw (bone).
לְחִי (le.chi) — Lehi.
This name means jaw, cheek
Another name of le.chi (לֶחִי "Lehi" H3896)
לְחִי (le.chi) — jaw.
1) jaw, cheek
1a) jaw, jawbone (of animal)
1b) cheek (of man)
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Cheek
Smiting on the cheek was accounted a grievous injury and insult (Job 16:10; Lam. 3:30; Micah 5:1). The admonition (Luke 6:29), “Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other,” means simply, “Resist not evil” (Matt. 5:39; 1 Pet. 2:19-23). Ps. 3:7 = that God had deprived his enemies of the power of doing him injury.
שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.
[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited
Qal 79
be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
have in excess, be surfeited with
Niph. Pt. sated
Pi. satisfy
Hiph.
satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.
י׳ subj.
י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
enrich
sate, glut (with the undesired)
base
H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
. have in excess, be surfeited with
. Pt. sated
. satisfy
. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
. enrich
. sate, glut (with the undesired)
7646 saba` saw-bah'
or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill
to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,
fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty
of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.
1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be sated (with food)
1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)
1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with
1a3a) to be weary of (fig)
1b) (Piel) to satisfy
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to satisfy
1c2) to enrich
1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)
V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) means reproach or taunt, often associated with shame or disgrace. It can refer to the condition of being reproached or the object of reproach itself. The word is derived from חָרַף (charaf), which relates to scorn or rebuke.
חֶרְפָּה n.f. reproach
taunt of enemy
reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace
a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached
base
H2781 חֶרְפָּה reproach . taunt of enemy
. reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace
. a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached
2781 cherpah kher-paw'
from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda:--rebuke,
reproach(-fully), shame.
see HEBREW for 02778
חֶרְפָּה (cher.pah) — reproach.
1) reproach, scorn
1a) taunt, scorn (upon enemy)
1b) reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace)
1c) a reproach (an object)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa