King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He has barred my way with blocks of stone, he has made my paths crooked.
Berean Standard Bible:
He has barred my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked.
American Standard Version:
He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He hath inclosed{H1443} my ways{H1870} with hewn stone{H1496}, he hath made my paths{H5410} crooked{H5753}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 63:17
- O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
Lamentations 3:11
- He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
Hosea 2:6
- ¶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
Isaiah 30:28
- And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and [there shall be] a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing [them] to err.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Lamentations 3:9
Lamentations 3:9 is part of a larger poem found in the book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. This verse is set within the context of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE, which led to the destruction of the city and the Temple, as well as the exile of many Jews to Babylon. The book of Lamentations expresses deep sorrow and mourning over this catastrophic event, with Jeremiah widely regarded as the weeping prophet who witnessed the fall of his nation.
In Lamentations 3:9, the poet uses vivid imagery to convey the depth of his despair and the sense of divine abandonment. The verse speaks of God as having "inclosed my ways with hewn stone" and having "made my paths crooked." This language suggests that the speaker feels trapped and obstructed in his life, as if the paths he might take are blocked by quarried stones and have become twisted and difficult to navigate. The "hewn stone" could also imply a sense of deliberate, divine action, indicating that the speaker believes God has directly intervened to close off his options.
The themes present in this verse include the suffering of the individual, the perception of divine punishment, and the struggle to understand God's role in human affliction. The historical context of the Babylonian exile infuses this verse with a national dimension of suffering, as the individual lament is reflective of the collective experience of the Jewish people during this period of crisis and displacement. The verse reflects the anguish of someone grappling with the seeming injustice and harshness of God's actions, a sentiment that resonates with those who have experienced hardship and seek to reconcile their faith with their lived experiences of adversity.
*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: H1443
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדַר
Transliteration: gâdar
Pronunciation: gaw-dar'
Description: a primitive root; to wall in or around; close up, fence up, hedge, inclose, make up (a wall), mason, repairer. - Strong's Number: H1870
There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
Transliteration: derek
Pronunciation: deh'-rek
Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H1496
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּזִית
Transliteration: gâzîyth
Pronunciation: gaw-zeeth'
Description: from גָּזָה; something cut, i.e. dressed stone; hewed, hewn stone, wrought. - Strong's Number: H5410
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתִיב
Transliteration: nâthîyb
Pronunciation: naw-theeb'
Description: or (feminine) נְתִיבָה; or נְתִבָה; (Jeremiah 6:16), from an unused root meaning to tramp; a (beaten) track; path(-way), [idiom] travel(-ler), way. - Strong's Number: H5753
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָוָה
Transliteration: ʻâvâh
Pronunciation: aw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; to crook, literally or figuratively; do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, [idiom] turn, do wickedly, do wrong.