New International Version
Lamentations 3:29
29Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.
Lamentations 3:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
- English Standard Version (ESV)let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope;
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let him put his mouth in the dust— There may yet be hope.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last.
Context of Lamentations 3:29
27It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. 28Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope. 30Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. 31For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.
Read all of Lamentations 3Lamentations 3:29 word by word
יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Lamentations 3:29
- 2 Chronicles 33:12In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.
- Job 40:4“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
- Job 42:5My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
- Ezekiel 16:63Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
- Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Joel 2:14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
- Jonah 3:9Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
- Zephaniah 2:3Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
- Luke 15:18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
- Luke 18:13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Commentaries on Lamentations 3:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29He putteth his mouth in the dust - Lives in a state of deep humility. If so be there may be hope - Because there is room for hope.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28-30Verses 28-30 Translate: Let him sit alone and keep silence; For He (God) hath laid the yoke upon him. Let him place his mouth in the dust; Perchance there is hope. Let him offer his cheek to him that smiteth him; Let him be filled to the full with reproach. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth, but only if he bear it rightly. To attain this result, let him learn resignation, remembering who has laid the yoke upon him. This reverential…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-36Verses 21-36 Having stated his distress and temptation, the prophet shows how he was raised above it. Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. We should observe what makes for us, as well as what is against us. God's compassions fail not; of this we have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is a portion for ever. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-30In the ancient Near East, lying face down in the dust showed submission (Genesis 17:1–3; Leviticus 9:24; Joshua 7:6; 1 Samuel 5:4; 1 Kings 18:39; 1 Chronicles 21:16; Matthew 17:5–6). To turn the other cheek shows a willingness to submit rather than fight back. Jesus likely had this verse in mind when he taught his disciples to accept persecution (Matthew 5:39). This response shows trust that God rules over all things, even over suffering.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3028-30. The fruit of true docility and patience. He does not fight against the yoke (Jr 31:18; Ac 9:5), but accommodates himself to it. alone--The heathen applauded magnanimity, but they looked to display and the praise of men. The child of God, in the absence of any witness, "alone," silently submits to the will of God. borne it upon him--that is, because he is used to bearing it on him. Rather, "because He (the Lord, La 3:26) hath laid it on him"…Read the comment
Topics related to Lamentations 3:29
In the dictionaries
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries