New King James Version
Lamentations 3:37
37Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?
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 Living Translation (NLT)Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission?
Context of Lamentations 3:37
35To turn aside the justice due a man Before the face of the Most High, 36Or subvert a man in his cause— The Lord does not approve. Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it? 38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed? 39Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins?
Read all of Lamentations 3Lamentations 3:37 word by word
מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Lamentations 3:37
- Psalms 33:9For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
- Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
- Proverbs 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.
- Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
- Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
- Romans 9:15For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
- Ephesians 1:11In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
- James 4:13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, 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
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries