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

35To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High, 36To defraud a man in his lawsuit-- Of these things the Lord does not approve. Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? 38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth? 39Why should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins?

Lamentations 3:37 word by word

מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
• thereזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• who speaksאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• comesהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• Unlessלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• has commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680

Cross-references for Lamentations 3:37

• Psalms 33:9For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
• Proverbs 16:9The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
• Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
• Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.
• Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
• Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
• Romans 9:15For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
• Ephesians 1:11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
• James 4:13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in 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