Lamentations 3:38

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Out of the mouth {H6310} of the most High {H5945} proceedeth {H3318} not evil {H7451} and good {H2896}?

Don't both bad things and good proceed from the mouth of the Most High?

Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?

Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?

Commentary

Lamentations 3:38 is a profound rhetorical question posed amidst a chapter of deep lament and reflection on God's justice and sovereignty during the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophet, widely believed to be Jeremiah, moves from despair to an acknowledgment of God's ultimate control over all circumstances.

Context

The Book of Lamentations grieves the devastating fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC, the destruction of the Temple, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. Chapter 3, in particular, is a personal lament, yet it pivots from profound suffering to a confession of God's steadfast love and mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). Within this context, verse 38 serves as a theological anchor, asserting that nothing, whether good or seemingly "evil" (calamity), occurs outside of God's ultimate will or permission. It confronts the natural human tendency to question God's involvement in suffering.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: This verse underscores the absolute control of God over all events in creation. It asserts that nothing happens by chance or outside of His decree, whether it brings blessing or hardship.
  • God's Role in Calamity: The rhetorical question implies that even adversity, disaster, or judgment ("evil" in this context) ultimately proceeds from God's mouth, meaning His command or allowance. This is not to say God is the author of moral evil or sin, but rather that He orchestrates or permits all circumstances, including those that bring affliction.
  • Ultimate Authority: The phrase "the most High" emphasizes God's supreme position and power, from whom all things originate and to whom all things are subject. This understanding can bring comfort in God's control, even when circumstances are dire.

Linguistic Insights

The key to understanding this verse lies in the Hebrew word translated "evil" (Χ¨ΦΈΧ’ - ra'). While ra' can indeed mean moral wickedness, in many Old Testament contexts, especially when associated with God's actions, it refers to disaster, calamity, adversity, or affliction. For instance, Isaiah 45:7 states, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." Here, "evil" clearly means calamity or adversity, not moral sin. Thus, Lamentations 3:38 highlights God's comprehensive sovereignty over both prosperity ("good") and adversity ("evil" or calamity).

Practical Application

For believers today, Lamentations 3:38 serves as a powerful reminder of God's overarching providence. Even in times of personal hardship, national crisis, or global turmoil, this verse calls us to remember that God is not absent or powerless. While we may not understand the reasons for suffering, this verse encourages us to look beyond immediate circumstances to the one who is ultimately in control. It prompts us to trust in His wisdom and purpose, knowing that even difficult experiences are part of His sovereign plan, and that He can work all things together for good for those who love Him.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 45:7 (24 votes)

    I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].

  • Amos 3:6 (23 votes)

    Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?

  • Job 2:10 (19 votes)

    But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

  • Jeremiah 32:42 (19 votes)

    For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

  • Psalms 75:7 (14 votes)

    But God [is] the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

  • Proverbs 29:26 (9 votes)

    ΒΆ Many seek the ruler's favour; but [every] man's judgment [cometh] from the LORD.