Lamentations 3:37

Lamentations 3:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
• New International Version (NIV)Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?

Context of Lamentations 3:37

35denying justice to a man in the presence of the Most High, 36or subverting a person in his lawsuit — the Lord does not approve of these things. Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it? 38Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? 39Why should any living person complain, any man, because of the punishment for his sins?

Lamentations 3:37 word by word

מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• commandethצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680

Cross-references for Lamentations 3:37

• Psalms 33:9For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence.
• Proverbs 16:9A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.
• Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
• Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.
• Isaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
• Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
• Romans 9:15For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
• Ephesians 1:11In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
• James 4:13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

Commentaries on Lamentations 3:37

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37-39Verses 37-39 Why then does a loving God, who disapproves of suffering when inflicted by man upon man, Himself send sorrow and misery? “Because of sins.” Lamentations 3:37 Literally, “Who is this that spake and it was done, though אדני 'ădonāy commanded it not?” Lamentations 3:39 So long as God spares a man‘s life, why does he complain? The chastisement is really for his good; only let him use it aright, and he will be thankful for it in the end. A man…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 37-41Verses 37-41 While there is life there is hope; and instead of complaining that things are bad, we should encourage ourselves with the hope they will be better. We are sinful men, and what we complain of, is far less than our sins deserve. We should complain to God, and not of him. We are apt, in times of calamity, to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them; but our duty is to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from evil to God. Our…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-39Some disasters have natural causes (Luke 13:1–5). Bad things happen to both good and bad people (Matthew 5:45). No matter what happens, we should give thanks and not complain (1 Thessalonians 5:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 37-3937-39. Who is it that can (as God, Psa 33:9) effect by a word anything, without the will of God?Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Chain
• Derision
• Grieve
• Imagination
• Offscouring
• Poetry
• Acrostic
• Alphabet
• Lamentations, Book of
• Poetry, Hebrew

Commentaries on Lamentations 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings