King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
Complete Jewish Bible:
when someone is cheated of justice in court -does Adonai not take note of such things?
Berean Standard Bible:
to subvert a man in his lawsuit— of these the Lord does not approve.
American Standard Version:
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
To subvert{H5791} a man{H120} in his cause{H7379}, the Lord{H136} approveth{H7200} not.
Cross-References (KJV):
Habakkuk 1:13
- [Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he?
Isaiah 59:15
- Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.
Jeremiah 22:3
- Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
2 Samuel 11:27
- And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
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Commentary for Lamentations 3:36
Lamentations 3:36, "To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not," is part of the larger poetic book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. The book itself is a collection of laments for the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE by the Babylonians, a catastrophic event that led to the exile of the Judahites. The verses in Lamentations reflect the communal and individual grief, theological confusion, and deep repentance of the people in the face of this national disaster.
In the context of Lamentations 3, the verse is situated within a chapter that begins with the narrator's personal suffering and moves toward acknowledging God's enduring faithfulness amidst adversity. The theme of the chapter is one of hope and trust in God's justice, despite the immediate appearance of injustice and undeserved suffering.
Lamentations 3:36 specifically addresses the idea that God does not approve of unjustly undermining someone's legal rights or cause. This verse reflects the ancient Israelite understanding of God as a God of justice, who cares about righteousness and fairness in human affairs. It suggests that any attempt to pervert justice or to wrongfully manipulate the outcome of a person's legal case is contrary to God's will. This principle would have been particularly poignant in a time when the people of Judah were grappling with the consequences of their actions and the actions of their leaders, which had led to the fall of their nation.
Historically, this verse would have served as a moral and legal reminder to the exiled community to maintain justice and righteousness, even in the face of devastation and displacement. It also provided a theological foundation for the belief that God's justice would ultimately prevail, and that wrongs would be righted, either in this life or in the eschatological future. The verse underscores the importance of integrity and fairness in the eyes of God, a message that remains relevant across different cultures and times.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5791
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָוַת
Transliteration: ʻâvath
Pronunciation: aw-vath'
Description: a primitive root; to wrest; bow self, (make) crooked., falsifying, overthrow, deal perversely, pervert, subvert, turn upside down. - Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. - Strong's Number: H7379
There are 61 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִיב
Transliteration: rîyb
Pronunciation: reeb
Description: or רִב; from רִיב; a contest (personal or legal); [phrase] adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy, multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing), suit. - Strong's Number: H136
There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.