Lamentations 3:47

KJV

Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

KJV (with Strong's)

Fear {H6343} and a snare {H6354} is come upon us, desolation {H7612} and destruction {H7667}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Panic and pitfall have come upon us, desolation and destruction.

Berean Standard Bible

Panic and pitfall have come upon us— devastation and destruction.

American Standard Version

Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:47 encapsulates the profound and overwhelming suffering experienced by the people of Judah, personified by the lamenter, in the wake of Jerusalem's catastrophic fall. This verse vividly portrays the sudden onset of terror and the feeling of being inextricably trapped, alongside the stark reality of widespread ruin and utter devastation that has engulfed the nation. It serves as a poignant cry of despair, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the judgment that has befallen them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:47 is situated within the deeply personal lament of an individual, traditionally identified as the prophet Jeremiah, who speaks on behalf of the suffering nation. The preceding verses (Lamentations 3:1-46) detail the relentless and intense nature of God's judgment, describing the physical and emotional torment inflicted upon the lamenter, which mirrors the national catastrophe. The individual's experience of being "driven and brought into darkness" (Lamentations 3:2) and feeling "enclosed with walls" (Lamentations 3:7) sets the stage for the specific expressions of "fear and a snare" in verse 47. This verse functions as a summation of the dire consequences of divine wrath, immediately preceding the remarkable shift in tone to hope and God's faithfulness that begins with the pivotal declaration in [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21-23 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - The Lord's Steadfast Love and Mercies").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Lamentations is a direct response to the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC, an event meticulously documented in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile"). This cataclysmic event marked the end of the Davidic monarchy, the cessation of temple worship, and the exile of a significant portion of the Judean population. For ancient Israel, the Temple was the dwelling place of God, and its destruction, along with the city, signified an unparalleled national and spiritual trauma. The "fear and a snare" reflects the terror of the siege, the brutality of the conquest, and the subsequent enslavement or displacement. "Desolation and destruction" vividly describes the physical ruin of the once-glorious city, its walls breached, buildings burned, and inhabitants scattered, fulfilling the prophetic warnings found throughout books like [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "The Book of Jeremiah - Prophecies of Judgment and Restoration").
* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 3:47 contributes to several overarching themes within the book. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment**, portraying the severe consequences of Judah's persistent disobedience to God's covenant, as outlined in passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses of the Covenant"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Profound Suffering and Despair**, capturing the raw anguish of a people overwhelmed by calamity, feeling trapped and utterly helpless. This despair is a recurring motif throughout the entire book, particularly evident in the opening chapters lamenting Jerusalem's solitary state in [Lamentations 1:1](/lamentations/1-1 "Lamentations 1:1 - Jerusalem's Desolation and Solitude"). Finally, while bleak, this verse serves to deepen the contrast with the subsequent theme of **Hope in God's Faithfulness**, which emerges powerfully later in the chapter, demonstrating that even from the depths of devastation, faith can find solace in God's enduring character, as seen in [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21-23 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - The Lord's Steadfast Love and Mercies").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fear (Hebrew, _pachad'_):** From H6343, this term denotes a sudden alarm, dread, or terror. It refers not merely to a feeling of apprehension but to an overwhelming, visceral fright, often associated with the object that inspires such fear. In this context, it signifies the paralyzing terror that gripped the people of Judah as their world collapsed around them, a fear born of imminent danger and the horrific reality of conquest.
* **Snare (Hebrew, _pachath'_):** From H6354, this word refers to a pit, especially one dug for catching animals, or a trap. The imagery conveys a sense of being unexpectedly caught and utterly unable to escape. It powerfully illustrates the feeling of being cornered and helpless, with no way out of the calamitous circumstances that have befallen them, emphasizing the inescapable nature of their plight.
* **Desolation (Hebrew, _shêʼth'_):** From H7612, this term means devastation or ruin. It points to the physical and spiritual emptiness left in the wake of destruction. It speaks to a state of utter waste and barrenness, reflecting the destruction of the city, the loss of life, and the shattering of national identity and religious life.
* **Destruction (Hebrew, _sheber'_):** From H7667, this word signifies a fracture, a breaking, or ruin. It implies a complete collapse or shattering of what once stood firm. This term emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the calamity, where everything that was once stable and whole has been utterly broken and laid waste, encompassing both physical ruin and the breaking of the people's spirit.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Fear and a snare is come upon us":** This clause vividly describes the overwhelming and sudden onset of terror and the feeling of being trapped. The use of "is come upon us" highlights the inescapable and pervasive nature of this calamity; it was not something they could avoid or flee from. The combination of "fear" (a psychological state) and "snare" (a physical trap) underscores both the internal dread and the external reality of their helpless situation.
* **"desolation and destruction":** This second clause details the tangible, devastating results of the calamity. "Desolation" speaks to the emptiness and ruin of what was once vibrant, while "destruction" emphasizes the complete breaking and shattering of the city, its infrastructure, and the social fabric. Together, these terms paint a grim picture of total ruin, encompassing the physical landscape and the very fabric of their existence.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:47 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of profound suffering. **Parallelism** is evident in the two balanced clauses: "Fear and a snare is come upon us" and "desolation and destruction." This structure emphasizes the dual nature of their suffering—both the psychological terror and the physical ruin—and intensifies the overall impact. The phrase "a snare" functions as a potent **metaphor**, likening the inescapable nature of their predicament to an animal caught in a trap, highlighting their utter helplessness and lack of escape. The accumulation of terms like "fear," "snare," "desolation," and "destruction" creates a sense of **intensification** or **hyperbole**, underscoring the comprehensive and overwhelming nature of the calamity. The phrase "is come upon us" can be seen as a subtle form of **personification**, giving the abstract concepts of fear and ruin an active agency, as if they are invading forces that have descended upon the people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:47 starkly portrays the consequences of covenant disobedience and the reality of divine judgment. The overwhelming fear and inescapable destruction reflect God's righteous wrath against persistent sin, yet within the broader context of Lamentations, this despair ultimately serves to magnify the subsequent revelation of God's enduring mercy and faithfulness. It reminds us that even in the deepest valleys of human suffering, where hope seems lost, God's character remains steadfast, providing a foundation for future restoration. The lamenter's ability to articulate such profound suffering is itself an act of faith, acknowledging God's sovereignty even in judgment.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Jeremiah 4:20](/jeremiah/4-20 "Jeremiah 4:20 - Repeated Destruction")
* [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22-23 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - The Lord's Great Mercies and Faithfulness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:47, though rooted in a specific historical tragedy, resonates deeply with universal human experiences of overwhelming fear, feeling trapped, and enduring profound loss. It reminds us that life can bring moments of intense suffering where circumstances feel inescapable and everything seems to be crumbling. For the people of Judah, this was a direct consequence of their corporate sin and rebellion against God, serving as a sobering reminder that actions have consequences, especially when they involve persistent turning away from divine truth. In our own lives, while not always a direct result of specific sin, we can encounter "fear and a snare" through various forms of personal or collective trauma, illness, economic hardship, or societal upheaval. This verse calls us to acknowledge the raw reality of such pain, to lament honestly before God, and to cultivate empathy for those who find themselves in similar states of desolation and destruction. It implicitly points to the human need for a source of hope and deliverance beyond our own capabilities, preparing the heart to receive the profound message of God's enduring mercies that follow in the chapter.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you respond when you feel "fear and a snare" has come upon you in your personal life?**
* **What are some modern-day "desolations and destructions" that cause widespread suffering, and how can we respond with compassion?**
* **How does acknowledging the depth of despair in verses like Lamentations 3:47 prepare us to appreciate the hope found in God's character?**

### FAQ
**What was the "snare" that came upon the people of Judah?**

Answer: The "snare" (Hebrew: _pachath_) refers metaphorically to the inescapable trap of the Babylonian invasion and its aftermath. It symbolizes the feeling of being utterly caught and helpless, with no means of escape from the siege, the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem, the slaughter, and the exile. It represents the complete loss of freedom and agency, as the people were cornered by their circumstances and the judgment of God, fulfilling prophecies found in books like [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/25 "Jeremiah 25 - Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity").

**Does this verse imply that all suffering is a direct result of sin?**

Answer: While Lamentations 3:47 and the broader context of the book clearly link Judah's suffering to their corporate sin and disobedience to God's covenant, it is important to note that not all individual suffering in life is a direct punitive consequence of specific sin. The Bible presents a complex view of suffering, which can also arise from living in a fallen world, the actions of others, or even for God's glory (as seen in [John 9:1-3](/john/9-1-3 "John 9:1-3 - Healing the Man Born Blind and the Nature of Suffering")). However, for ancient Israel, the destruction of Jerusalem was understood as a direct fulfillment of covenant curses for generations of idolatry and injustice, as detailed in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Covenant Curses for Disobedience").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 3:47, with its stark portrayal of fear, snare, desolation, and destruction, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a parallel experience of judgment for His own sin, but in Jesus' radical identification with humanity's fallen state and His victory over the very forces that bring such ruin. Humanity, trapped in the "snare" of sin and facing the "desolation and destruction" of God's just wrath, found no escape. Yet, Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly entered into this human condition. He experienced profound "fear" and anguish in Gethsemane ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")), taking upon Himself the ultimate "snare" of sin and death on the cross. Through His sacrifice, He transformed the "desolation and destruction" that awaited humanity into an opportunity for reconciliation and new life. His resurrection from the grave ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried and Raised with Christ")) is the definitive answer to the despair of Lamentations 3:47, demonstrating that even from the depths of utter ruin, God brings forth life, hope, and ultimate victory over all that seeks to trap and destroy. In Christ, believers are delivered from the "snare" of sin and the "destruction" of eternal judgment, finding true peace and an imperishable inheritance ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope and Imperishable Inheritance")).

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

Isaiah 51:19

These two [things] are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

Isaiah 24:17

Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

Isaiah 24:18

And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

Jeremiah 48:43

Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [shall be] upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 48:44

He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, [even] upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

Lamentations 1:4

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness.

Lamentations 1:13

From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day.