Lamentations 3:43

KJV

Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou hast covered {H5526} with anger {H639}, and persecuted {H7291} us: thou hast slain {H2026}, thou hast not pitied {H2550}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"You have covered us with anger, pursued and slaughtered us without pity.

Berean Standard Bible

You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us; You have killed without pity.

American Standard Version

Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:43 is a profound lament from the prophet, expressing the overwhelming sense of divine judgment and abandonment felt by the people of Judah in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian exile. It portrays God's actions as a direct, unyielding outpouring of wrath, where He has "covered" them with anger, "persecuted" and "slain" them, seemingly without compassion or "pity." This verse captures the raw despair of a nation grappling with the severe consequences of its unfaithfulness, perceiving God's hand in their suffering as relentless and devoid of mercy in that moment of intense affliction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:43 is situated within the third chapter of Lamentations, which stands as the emotional and theological heart of the book. Unlike the preceding chapters that describe the devastation of Jerusalem from a more detached, albeit sorrowful, perspective, Chapter 3 shifts to a deeply personal lament, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. The "man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath" (Lamentations 3:1) speaks on behalf of the suffering nation, articulating their profound anguish. While this chapter famously contains verses of hope and God's enduring mercies (e.g., [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Steadfast Love and Mercies")), the verses immediately surrounding 3:43, from [Lamentations 3:37](/lamentations/3-37 "Lamentations 3:37 - God's Sovereign Will") onward, revert to a stark depiction of God's active judgment. The prophet acknowledges God's sovereignty over their suffering, even as he expresses the crushing weight of that judgment, leading to the desperate cry of this verse.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Lamentations is a direct response to the catastrophic events of 586 BC, specifically the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire, the razing of Solomon's Temple, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. This was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological crisis. For centuries, Jerusalem and the Temple had been seen as symbols of God's presence and covenant faithfulness. Their destruction challenged the people's understanding of God's promises and His character. The prevailing cultural understanding of the time often linked national calamity directly to divine displeasure, particularly in a covenantal relationship like that between Yahweh and Israel. The intense suffering—famine, disease, violence, and displacement—was interpreted as God's righteous judgment for generations of idolatry, injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness, as prophesied by figures like Jeremiah (e.g., [Jeremiah 25:8-11](/jeremiah/25-8 "Jeremiah 25:8-11 - Seventy Years of Exile")). The lament in 3:43 reflects this worldview, where God is not merely permitting suffering but actively orchestrating it as a just consequence.

* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 3:43 powerfully contributes to several key themes pervasive throughout the book and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Wrath**, portraying God as the active agent behind Judah's suffering, a direct consequence of their persistent sin and rebellion against His covenant (cf. [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Profound Human Suffering and Despair**, capturing the raw, unvarnished pain and sense of abandonment experienced by the people. The language used ("covered with anger," "persecuted," "slain," "not pitied") conveys the extremity of their affliction. Thirdly, it touches upon the **Consequences of Sin**, serving as a stark reminder that sustained disobedience to a holy God leads to severe repercussions, even for His chosen people. Finally, while seemingly contradictory to the hope found elsewhere in Chapter 3, this verse also implicitly sets the stage for the theme of **Repentance and Restoration**. The acknowledgment of God's just judgment, even in its severity, is a necessary precursor to genuine repentance and the eventual hope for divine mercy and restoration, as seen in the broader narrative arc of Lamentations and other prophetic books like [Isaiah](/isaiah/1 "The Book of Isaiah") and [Ezekiel](/ezekiel/1 "The Book of Ezekiel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **covered (Hebrew, _çâkak'_):** This word, H5526, means "to entwine as a screen," "to fence in," "cover over," or "protect." In Lamentations 3:43, the Hiphil participle suggests God has actively "screened" or "covered" them *with* anger. This implies an overwhelming, enveloping presence of divine wrath, leaving no escape or shelter from its intensity. It's not just that anger is present, but that it has become a complete covering, obscuring everything else, including any potential for mercy.
* **anger (Hebrew, _ʼaph'_):** H639, properly refers to "the nose or nostril," and by extension, "the face," or "ire" due to the rapid breathing associated with passion. Here, it denotes intense, fiery displeasure or wrath. The combination of "covered" and "anger" vividly paints a picture of God's face, as it were, being entirely consumed by wrath, or the people being completely hidden and overwhelmed by the force of His indignation.
* **pitied (Hebrew, _châmal'_):** H2550, means "to commiserate," "to spare," or "to have compassion." The negation "thou hast not pitied" (לֹא חָמַלְתָּ _lo' châmaltâ_) is a powerful declaration of the people's perception that God withheld all mercy and compassion in their moment of extreme suffering. It implies a complete and utter lack of divine leniency, underscoring the severity and totality of the judgment they experienced, feeling as though God's usual character of compassion was entirely absent.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou hast covered with anger":** This clause vividly portrays God's wrath as an overwhelming, enveloping force. It's not merely that God is angry, but that His anger has become a complete covering, a shroud that obscures any possibility of mercy or relief. This imagery suggests an inescapable presence of divine displeasure, leaving the people feeling utterly exposed and consumed by it.
* **"and persecuted us":** The word "persecuted" (רָדַפְתָּנוּ _râdaphtâ_nû) signifies an active, relentless pursuit, usually with hostile intent. Here, it attributes to God the action of pursuing and harassing His people, implying that their suffering was not accidental or merely a consequence of external forces, but a direct, intentional act of divine judgment. This highlights the feeling of being hunted down by God's justice.
* **"thou hast slain":** This stark declaration underscores the extreme devastation and loss of life experienced during the siege and exile. "Slain" (הָרַגְתָּ _hâragtâ_) implies a deadly intent, attributing to God the direct responsibility for the widespread death that occurred. It reflects the prophet's raw perception that God Himself was the executioner of His people, a horrifying reality for those who had once known Him as their protector.
* **"thou hast not pitied":** This final phrase is perhaps the most poignant, expressing the complete absence of divine compassion from the perspective of the suffering. It signifies that God, in their eyes, showed no mercy, no sparing hand, no commiseration for their plight. This feeling of being utterly without pity from their Creator intensifies the sense of abandonment and the perceived totality of God's righteous judgment against their sin.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:43 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of profound despair and divine judgment. **Anthropomorphism** is evident as God is depicted with human-like actions and emotions: He "covers with anger," "persecutes," "slays," and "does not pity." This allows the human experience of divine judgment to be more relatable and impactful. **Hyperbole** is used to emphasize the severity of the suffering; while not every individual was literally "slain," the phrase conveys the overwhelming death and destruction that swept through the nation. The idea of being "covered with anger" is a form of **Metaphor** or **Personification**, where anger is given the ability to act as a physical covering, enveloping the people. This creates a vivid image of inescapable wrath. The repetition of "thou hast" (implied through the verb conjugations) creates a sense of direct accusation and underscores God's active role in their suffering, contributing to the lament's powerful, accusatory tone.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:43 grapples with the difficult truth of divine judgment, a necessary aspect of God's holy character. While the immediate experience is one of overwhelming wrath and a perceived absence of pity, this verse must be understood within the broader biblical narrative that affirms God's justice alongside His mercy. It highlights that sin has grave consequences, and God, in His righteousness, will not tolerate unrepentant rebellion indefinitely. Yet, even in the midst of such severe judgment, the purpose is ultimately redemptive—to bring about repentance and restoration, demonstrating that God's discipline, though painful, is rooted in His covenant faithfulness. The prophet's honest lament serves as a model for expressing profound pain to God, even when His ways are incomprehensible.

* [Psalm 103:8](/psalm/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - God's Compassion and Steadfast Love")
* [Hebrews 12:5-6](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-6 - God Disciplines Those He Loves")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin and Gift of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:43, though a cry of deep despair from a specific historical context, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It confronts us with the sobering reality of God's holiness and justice, reminding us that sin is not trivial and carries real consequences. While we live under the New Covenant of grace, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of rebellion against God and the necessity of repentance. It also validates the human experience of lament, demonstrating that it is permissible, even biblical, to express raw pain, confusion, and perceived abandonment to God. In moments of intense suffering or when facing the consequences of our own or societal sin, we can bring our unfiltered emotions to God, trusting that He hears, even when His actions seem inscrutable. This verse calls us to a deeper understanding of God's multifaceted character, acknowledging His capacity for righteous judgment while holding fast to the broader revelation of His enduring love and mercy, which often emerges through the crucible of discipline.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Lamentations 3:43 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's character?**
* **In what ways might a "covering of anger" manifest in personal or collective experiences today?**
* **How can we reconcile the raw despair of this verse with the hope found elsewhere in Lamentations 3, particularly [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Steadfast Love and Mercies")?**
* **When have you felt a sense of God's discipline or perceived lack of pity, and how did you respond?**

### FAQ
**Was God truly without pity for His people, as the verse states?**
Answer: From the perspective of the suffering prophet and the people of Judah, in that moment of intense judgment, it certainly felt as though God had no pity. The phrase "thou hast not pitied" reflects their raw, honest perception of the overwhelming severity of their punishment for generations of unfaithfulness. Theologically, however, God's actions, even in judgment, are always rooted in His perfect justice and ultimately His covenant faithfulness. His discipline is not arbitrary but designed to bring about repentance and restoration. While devastating, the judgment was a necessary consequence of their persistent rebellion, and even within Lamentations, the prophet acknowledges God's enduring mercies (e.g., [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Steadfast Love and Mercies")). So, it's less about God *lacking* pity entirely and more about the *experience* of His righteous wrath being so complete that it felt devoid of mercy in that specific, agonizing period.

**How does this verse relate to God's love and compassion as portrayed elsewhere in the Bible?**
Answer: Lamentations 3:43 presents a stark picture of God's judgment, which can seem contradictory to His love and compassion often highlighted in Scripture (e.g., [Psalm 145:8](/psalm/145-8 "Psalm 145:8 - The Lord is Gracious and Merciful")). However, the Bible teaches that God's love is not sentimental but holy and just. His compassion does not negate His righteousness or His need to address sin. This verse demonstrates that God's character includes both profound love and righteous wrath. His judgment on Judah was a consequence of their persistent breaking of the covenant, a form of divine discipline intended to lead them back to Him. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child, God's judgment, though painful, is ultimately for the good of His people, to purify them and restore their relationship with Him (cf. [Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-11 - God's Discipline for Our Good")). Thus, this verse, while difficult, underscores the comprehensive nature of God's character, where justice and mercy coexist.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 3:43 vividly portrays the crushing weight of divine judgment against sin, a judgment that fell upon ancient Judah. In the Christ-centered narrative of Scripture, this profound sense of being "covered with anger" and "slain" without "pity" finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Judah experienced the consequences of their own sin, Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), voluntarily bore the full weight of God's righteous wrath against the sins of humanity. On the cross, Jesus was truly "covered with anger" as the Father turned His face away, experiencing the ultimate separation and lack of pity on behalf of those He came to save (cf. [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). He was "slain" not for His own transgressions, but as the perfect, atoning sacrifice for our unrighteousness (cf. [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions")). Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Christ absorbed the divine judgment that humanity deserved, thereby opening the way for us to receive God's boundless mercy and compassion, rather than the judgment described in Lamentations. The perceived "absence of pity" in Lamentations 3:43 is transformed into an overflowing abundance of grace and forgiveness for all who believe in the one who was "persecuted" and "slain" in our place, ensuring that those in Christ will never again face the full, unmitigated wrath of God (cf. [Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus") and [Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Justified by His Blood")).

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

Lamentations 2:17

The LORD hath done [that] which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused [thine] enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

Lamentations 2:21

The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain [them] in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, [and] not pitied.

Psalms 83:15

So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

Lamentations 3:66

Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

Lamentations 2:1

¶ How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, [and] cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!

Lamentations 2:2

The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought [them] down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.

Ezekiel 8:18

Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, [yet] will I not hear them.