Lamentations 3:32

KJV

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

KJV (with Strong's)

But though he cause grief {H3013}, yet will he have compassion {H7355} according to the multitude {H7230} of his mercies {H2617}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He may cause grief, but he will take pity, in keeping with the greatness of his grace.

Berean Standard Bible

Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.

American Standard Version

For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:32 stands as a profound declaration of divine character amidst the deep anguish chronicled in the book. It reveals that while God may sovereignly permit or even orchestrate periods of suffering and discipline, His ultimate and enduring nature is defined by boundless compassion and an inexhaustible supply of mercy. This verse serves as a powerful theological anchor, assuring the reader that divine judgment is never God's final word for His people, but rather a purposeful pathway that ultimately leads back to the demonstration of His unfailing love and restorative grace.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:32 is situated in the pivotal third chapter of the book, which marks a significant shift from communal lament to the prophet Jeremiah's personal reflection on suffering. While the preceding chapters vividly portray the devastation of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people, chapter 3, often considered the theological heart of Lamentations, moves beyond mere despair. It begins with Jeremiah's intense personal affliction (verses 1-18) but then remarkably transitions to a profound declaration of hope and trust in God's unchanging character (verses 19-39). Verses 22-24 are particularly foundational, asserting the Lord's unfailing mercies and faithfulness as the reason for Israel's continued existence. Lamentations 3:32 builds directly on this theological bedrock, explaining that even when God "causes grief," His compassion is ever-present and overwhelming, underscoring the redemptive purpose behind His discipline.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Lamentations is a poetic response to one of the most catastrophic events in ancient Israelite history: the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants. This event was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological crisis. Jerusalem, the city of David and the site of the Temple, was considered inviolable, and its destruction challenged the very understanding of God's covenant faithfulness. The people experienced immense physical hardship, starvation, and the psychological trauma of displacement. Culturally, this period marked the end of an era, forcing the Israelites to grapple with concepts of divine judgment, corporate sin, and the nature of God's promises in the face of apparent abandonment. The prophet's words reflect the deep despair of a people who believed their God had forsaken them, yet simultaneously wrestle with the enduring truth of His character.
* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 3:32 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book and broader biblical theology. The phrase "though he cause grief" speaks to **Divine Sovereignty and Purposeful Discipline**, acknowledging God's ultimate control over all circumstances, including periods of national or personal suffering. This grief is often understood as disciplinary, intended to bring about repentance and a turning back to God, rather than being purely punitive. It highlights that God uses even hardship for His sovereign purposes, as seen in the broader narrative of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. This is immediately contrasted with the theme of **Unfailing Compassion**, which asserts that despite the severity of judgment, God's fundamental nature is compassionate. His compassion is not earned but flows from His very being, assuring that His heart is not distant or uncaring during trials. Finally, the "multitude of his mercies" emphasizes the theme of **Abundant Mercy**, highlighting the vastness and inexhaustibility of God's grace and kindness. His mercies are not scarce or limited; they are plentiful and always available to those who turn to Him. This provides a powerful counterpoint to the depth of human suffering, assuring believers that God's goodness will prevail, a truth foundational to the hope declared in [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - The Lord's Unfailing Mercies").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Grief (Hebrew, _yâgâh'_):** This primitive root signifies to grieve, afflict, or cause sorrow. In this context, it directly attributes the experience of grief or affliction to God's action or permission. It is not a passive observation of suffering but an active acknowledgment of divine involvement, often in a disciplinary or corrective capacity, as seen throughout the Old Testament's portrayal of God's dealings with Israel.
* **Compassion (Hebrew, _râcham'_):** This primitive root means to fondle, love, or especially to compassionate. It conveys a deep, visceral empathy, often likened to the tender affection a parent has for a child, stemming from the Hebrew word for "womb." This word emphasizes a profound, gut-level pity and tenderness that God possesses, even when He is the one who has caused or allowed grief.
* **Mercies (Hebrew, _chêçêd'_):** Derived from the root "chasad," this term is a cornerstone of Old Testament theology. It denotes steadfast love, covenant loyalty, kindness, and faithfulness. When used in the plural ("mercies"), it emphasizes the manifold and abundant expressions of God's loyal and unwavering love, which persists even in judgment and discipline. It underscores God's commitment to His covenant people despite their failings.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But though he cause grief":** This opening clause acknowledges God's sovereign hand in the experience of suffering. The Hebrew verb implies an active role, indicating that the grief endured by the people is not random or accidental but is permitted or even brought about by God. This aligns with the prophetic understanding that God uses hardship, often as a consequence of sin, to bring His people to repentance and back into right relationship with Him. It sets up a powerful tension with the subsequent declaration.
* **"yet will he have compassion":** This phrase introduces a profound theological paradox and a stark contrast to the preceding clause. Despite His role in causing grief, God's fundamental nature is one of deep, tender compassion. The Hebrew word for compassion (from _râcham_) suggests a profound, heartfelt empathy, a deep emotional response to suffering. This demonstrates that God's discipline is not born of malice or indifference, but from a place of profound love and concern for His people's ultimate well-being.
* **"according to the multitude of his mercies":** This concluding phrase quantifies and amplifies the extent of God's compassion. It is not a meager or limited compassion but one that is vast, abundant, and inexhaustible. The "multitude" (from _rôb_) emphasizes the overflowing nature of His _chêçêd_—His covenant faithfulness, steadfast love, and loving-kindness. This assures the reader that God's grace and loyal love are so immense that they will always prevail over the severity of His discipline, ensuring restoration and hope.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:32 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. The most prominent is **Contrast**, as the verse sharply juxtaposes "grief" with "compassion" and "mercies." This antithetical structure highlights the paradoxical nature of God's dealings with His people, emphasizing that even in judgment, His character remains rooted in love and faithfulness. This creates a tension that is ultimately resolved by the overwhelming nature of His grace. Furthermore, the phrase "multitude of his mercies" utilizes **Hyperbole** to convey the immeasurable and overflowing nature of God's loving-kindness. It assures the reader that God's grace is not merely sufficient but superabundant, far exceeding the depth of any suffering. Finally, **Anthropomorphism** is present as God is described with human-like actions and emotions – "cause grief" and "have compassion." This device makes the divine character relatable and understandable, portraying God as intimately involved in the human experience of suffering and comfort, rather than a distant, impassive deity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:32 encapsulates a core biblical truth about God's character: His sovereignty over suffering is always tempered and ultimately defined by His boundless compassion and mercy. This verse assures us that even when God's hand brings discipline or allows hardship, His ultimate intention is not destruction but restoration, rooted in His covenant faithfulness. It challenges the common human assumption that suffering implies divine abandonment, instead revealing a God who remains intimately involved and deeply empathetic, even in the midst of pain. This theological principle provides a foundation for hope, reminding us that God's love is steadfast and His mercies are new every morning, even when our circumstances suggest otherwise.

* [Psalm 103:8](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The Lord's Compassion and Grace")
* [Isaiah 54:7-8](/isaiah/54-7 "Isaiah 54:7-8 - God's Everlasting Compassion")
* [Hebrews 12:5-6](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:32 offers profound comfort and guidance for believers navigating periods of grief, hardship, or consequences for their actions. It reminds us that our suffering is not a sign that God has abandoned us, but rather an invitation to turn to Him and experience His restorative grace. This verse encourages us to trust in God's unchanging nature; His love and mercy are not conditional on our performance but flow from who He is. This understanding allows us to approach Him with confidence even when we feel undeserving or overwhelmed by our circumstances. When facing difficulties that might feel like divine discipline, this verse provides the perspective that God's ultimate goal is not to crush but to refine and restore, highlighting His loving-kindness even in correction. It calls us to look beyond immediate pain to the enduring character of God, finding hope in His unfailing compassion and abundant mercies.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's "causing grief" alongside His "compassion" change your perspective on personal suffering or collective hardship?**
* **In what ways have you experienced the "multitude of his mercies" in your own life, particularly during difficult times?**
* **How can the truth of Lamentations 3:32 help you to trust God more deeply when His actions or permissions are difficult to comprehend?**
* **What practical steps can you take to lean into God's compassion and mercy when you are experiencing grief or discipline?**

### FAQ
**How can God cause grief and still be compassionate?**

Answer: This is a profound theological paradox. The biblical understanding is that God's "causing grief" is not arbitrary cruelty but often a form of divine discipline or judgment, intended to bring about repentance and restoration. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child for their good, God, in His infinite wisdom, allows or brings about hardship to correct, purify, or draw His people closer to Himself. His compassion (Hebrew _râcham_, a deep, motherly tenderness) and mercies (Hebrew _chêçêd_, steadfast love and covenant loyalty) are His underlying nature. So, even in the act of discipline, His heart is filled with pity and a desire for His people's ultimate well-being, ensuring that the grief is purposeful and ultimately leads back to His abundant grace. This tension is a hallmark of God's character, demonstrating His justice and His love simultaneously, as seen in [Hebrews 12:5-6](/hebrews/12-5 "The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves").

**Is God's mercy truly limitless, as implied by "multitude of his mercies"?**

Answer: Yes, the phrase "multitude of his mercies" (Hebrew _rôb_ for multitude, _chêçêd_ for mercies) strongly implies that God's mercy is not merely sufficient but overflowing, vast, and inexhaustible. It signifies an abundance that far surpasses human comprehension or limitation. While humanity's capacity for sin is great, God's capacity for mercy is infinitely greater. This concept is foundational to the biblical narrative of redemption, assuring believers that no sin is too great for His forgiveness and no suffering too deep for His comfort. His mercies are renewed every morning ([Lamentations 3:23](/lamentations/3-23 "New Mercies Every Morning")), indicating a continuous, unfailing supply that transcends all circumstances and human failings.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 3:32 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament prophet grappled with God's paradoxical nature—causing grief yet showing compassion—Jesus perfectly embodies this truth. He is the ultimate demonstration of God's compassion, not only sympathizing with our weaknesses as our [high priest](/hebrews/4-15 "Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest") but also bearing the ultimate grief of humanity's sin upon Himself. On the cross, God "caused grief" to His own Son, allowing Him to suffer the full weight of divine judgment for sin, yet it was precisely through this ultimate act of suffering that the "multitude of his mercies" was poured out for all humanity. The cross, therefore, is the supreme revelation of God's simultaneous justice and boundless love, where His righteous anger against sin was satisfied, and His infinite compassion was unleashed. In Christ, we see a God who does not merely have compassion *according to* His mercies, but who *is* the very embodiment of mercy and grace, making a way for reconciliation and eternal life ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God's Love Demonstrated")). Jesus, the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh"), experienced the depths of human sorrow and became the source of all comfort, perfectly fulfilling the promise that even in the midst of our deepest grief, God's compassion will prevail ([2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2_corinthians/1-3 "God of All Comfort")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 78:38

But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psalms 30:5

For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.

Psalms 103:11

For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Hosea 11:8

¶ How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

Judges 10:16

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Exodus 3:7

¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

Psalms 106:43

Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked [him] with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.