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

35deny people their rights in the presence of the Most High God, 36or deprive people of justice in court. The Lord isn’t happy to see ⌞these things⌟. Who was it who spoke and it came into being? It was the Lord who gave the order. 38Both good and bad come from the mouth of the Most High God. 39“Why should any living mortal (any person) complain about being punished for sin?

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 33:9He spoke, and it came into being. He gave the order, and there it stood.
• Proverbs 16:9A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps.
• Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the Lord will endure.
• Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice ⌞can stand up⌟ against the Lord.
• Isaiah 46:10From the beginning I revealed the end. From long ago I told you things that had not yet happened, saying, “My plan will stand, and I’ll do everything I intended to do.”
• Daniel 4:35Everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to him. He does whatever he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth. There is no one who can oppose him or ask him, “What are you doing?”
• Romans 9:15For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.”
• Ephesians 1:11God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends.
• James 4:13Pay attention to this! You’re saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go into some city, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.”

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