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Lamentations 3:5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Lamentations 3:5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/25_Lam_03_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Lamentations 3:5 - Jeremiah's Afflictions" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/lamentations/3-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/lamentations/3-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/lamentations/">Lamentations</a> > <a href="/lamentations/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/lamentations/3-4.htm" title="Lamentations 3:4">&#9668;</a> Lamentations 3:5 <a href="/lamentations/3-6.htm" title="Lamentations 3:6">&#9658;</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible">&nbsp;Audio&nbsp;</a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References">&nbsp;Crossref&nbsp;</a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary">&nbsp;Comm&nbsp;</a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon">&nbsp;Hebrew&nbsp;</a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/lamentations/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">&nbsp; (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/lamentations/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/lamentations/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/lamentations/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />he has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/lamentations/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />He hath builded against me, and compassed <i>me</i> with gall and travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/lamentations/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He has besieged me And surrounded <i>me</i> with bitterness and woe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/lamentations/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He has besieged and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/lamentations/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He has besieged and encompassed me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/lamentations/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />He has besieged and encompassed me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/lamentations/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He has besieged and encompassed me with gall and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/lamentations/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He has besieged and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/lamentations/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He has laid siege against me, encircling me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/lamentations/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He has laid siege against me, encircling me with bitterness and hardship. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/lamentations/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/lamentations/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />He attacked and surrounded me with hardships and trouble; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/lamentations/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/lamentations/3.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />He has attacked me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/lamentations/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He has shut me in a prison of misery and anguish. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/lamentations/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He laid siege against me, surrounding me with bitterness and suffering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/lamentations/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/lamentations/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/lamentations/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He has built against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/lamentations/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He hath built against me, and compassed me with gall and labor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/lamentations/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He has built against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/lamentations/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />He has built up against me, "" And sets around poverty and weariness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/lamentations/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/lamentations/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He built against me, and he will surround with poison and distress.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/lamentations/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with gall and labour. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/lamentations/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />BETH. He has built all around me, and he has encircled me with gall and hardship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/lamentations/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He has besieged me all around with poverty and hardship; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/lamentations/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />he has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/lamentations/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He has built ramparts against me, and compassed me with bitterness and travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/lamentations/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He has built up against me and bitterness and desolation surrounded me*<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/lamentations/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />He hath builded against me, and compassed me With gall and travail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/lamentations/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />BETH. He has built against me, and compassed my head, and brought travail <i>upon me</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/lamentations/3-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKrWuOkEqzQ?start=719" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/lamentations/3.htm">Jeremiah's Afflictions</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">4</span>He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones. <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: b&#257;&#183;n&#257;h (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">He has besieged</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: &#8216;&#257;&#183;lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">me</a> <a href="/hebrew/5362.htm" title="5362: way&#183;yaq&#183;qap&#772; (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to strike with more or less violence; by implication to knock together, i.e. Surround or circulate.">and surrounded me</a> <a href="/hebrew/7219.htm" title="7219: r&#333;&#353; (N-ms) -- (bitter and poisonous herb) venom. Or rowsh; apparently the same as ro'sh; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy; generally poison.">with bitterness</a> <a href="/hebrew/8513.htm" title="8513: &#363;&#183;&#7791;&#601;&#183;l&#257;&#183;&#8217;&#257;h (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- Weariness, hardship. From la'ah; distress.">and hardship.</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/88-6.htm">Psalm 88:6-7</a></span><br />You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. / Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/19-12.htm">Job 19:12</a></span><br />His troops advance together; they construct a ramp against me and encamp around my tent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-10.htm">Isaiah 63:10</a></span><br />But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-6.htm">Jeremiah 6:6</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: &#8220;Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/69-1.htm">Psalm 69:1-3</a></span><br />For the choirmaster. To the tune of &#8220;Lilies.&#8221; Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. / I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me. / I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-5.htm">Isaiah 5:5</a></span><br />Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/13-10.htm">Ezekiel 13:10-15</a></span><br />Because they have led My people astray, saying, &#8216;Peace,&#8217; when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, / tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. / Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, &#8216;Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?&#8217; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/31-9.htm">Psalm 31:9-10</a></span><br />Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-7.htm">Jeremiah 4:7</a></span><br />A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-5.htm">Isaiah 10:5-6</a></span><br />Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-8.htm">2 Corinthians 4:8-9</a></span><br />We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; / persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-35.htm">Romans 8:35-37</a></span><br />Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: &#8220;For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.&#8221; / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/1-8.htm">2 Corinthians 1:8-9</a></span><br />We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-6.htm">Hebrews 12:6-11</a></span><br />For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.&#8221; / Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? / If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-12.htm">1 Peter 4:12-13</a></span><br />Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He has built against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.</p><p class="hdg">builded</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/3-7.htm">Lamentations 3:7-9</a></b></br> He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy&#8230; </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/19-8.htm">Job 19:8</a></b></br> He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.</p><p class="hdg">gall</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/3-19.htm">Lamentations 3:19</a></b></br> Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/69-21.htm">Psalm 69:21</a></b></br> They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14</a></b></br> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/52-5.htm">Besieged</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-4.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-4.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/jeremiah/42-10.htm">Builded</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-4.htm">Built</a> <a href="/psalms/118-12.htm">Compassed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-21.htm">Encompassed</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-25.htm">Enveloped</a> <a href="/jeremiah/23-15.htm">Gall</a> <a href="/psalms/60-3.htm">Hardship</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-3.htm">Labor</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-14.htm">Poverty</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-22.htm">Round</a> <a href="/jeremiah/39-1.htm">Shutting</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-18.htm">Sorrow</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-14.htm">Surrounded</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-58.htm">Toil</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-43.htm">Travail</a> <a href="/job/36-15.htm">Tribulation</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-18.htm">Wall</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-64.htm">Weariness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/4-3.htm">Besieged</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-15.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-15.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-10.htm">Builded</a> <a href="/ezekiel/13-5.htm">Built</a> <a href="/hosea/7-2.htm">Compassed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/41-7.htm">Encompassed</a> <a href="/nahum/2-3.htm">Enveloped</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-15.htm">Gall</a> <a href="/romans/8-35.htm">Hardship</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-29.htm">Labor</a> <a href="/mark/12-44.htm">Poverty</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-7.htm">Round</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-2.htm">Shutting</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-65.htm">Sorrow</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-4.htm">Surrounded</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-13.htm">Toil</a> <a href="/micah/4-9.htm">Travail</a> <a href="/matthew/13-21.htm">Tribulation</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-7.htm">Wall</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-5.htm">Weariness</a><div class="vheading2">Lamentations 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/3-1.htm">The prophet bewails his own calamities</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/3-22.htm">By the mercies of God, he nourishes his hope</a></span><br><span class="reftext">37. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/3-37.htm">He acknowledges God's justice</a></span><br><span class="reftext">55. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/3-55.htm">He prays for deliverance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">64. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/lamentations/3-64.htm">And vengeance on his enemies</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3753401421161123"; /* 200 x 200 Parallel Bible */ google_ad_slot = "7676643937"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 200; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/lamentations/3.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>He has besieged me</b><br />The phrase "He has besieged me" evokes the imagery of a city under siege, a common occurrence in ancient times, particularly in the context of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. The Hebrew root word for "besieged" is "tsur," which means to bind, confine, or lay siege. This reflects the overwhelming sense of entrapment and pressure that the author, traditionally believed to be Jeremiah, feels. Historically, sieges were brutal and relentless, often leading to famine and despair. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the soul's struggle when it feels surrounded by trials and tribulations, emphasizing the need for reliance on God's deliverance.<p><b>and surrounded me</b><br />The word "surrounded" further intensifies the feeling of entrapment. The Hebrew word "naqaph" suggests being encircled or encompassed, leaving no room for escape. This reflects the totality of the suffering experienced by the people of Jerusalem. In a spiritual sense, it can represent the believer's experience of feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges. Yet, it also serves as a reminder that God is sovereign over all circumstances, and His presence can be a source of comfort even when we feel hemmed in by difficulties.<p><b>with bitterness</b><br />"Bitterness" in Hebrew is "marah," which conveys a sense of deep sorrow and grief. This term is often associated with the taste of something unpleasant, symbolizing the emotional and spiritual anguish that accompanies suffering. In the context of Lamentations, it reflects the profound mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of God's favor. For the believer, bitterness can be a natural response to hardship, but it also calls for a turning towards God, who can transform bitterness into hope through His grace and mercy.<p><b>and hardship</b><br />The word "hardship" is translated from the Hebrew "amal," which denotes toil, labor, and trouble. It signifies the physical and emotional strain that comes with enduring severe trials. Historically, the people of Jerusalem faced immense hardship during the siege, including starvation and violence. In a broader spiritual context, hardship is a part of the human condition, but it also serves as a crucible for faith, refining and strengthening the believer's reliance on God. The verse as a whole, while expressing deep lament, also implicitly invites the reader to seek God's presence and strength amidst life's adversities.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/lamentations/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">He hath builded.</span>--The attack of sorrow is presented under the figure of a siege. In the next clause the figure is dropped. "Gall" stands, as in <a href="/jeremiah/8-14.htm" title="Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defended cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.">Jeremiah 8:14</a>, for bitterest sorrow. "Travel" is the old English form of "travail," the two forms, originally identical, being now used with different meanings.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/lamentations/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He hath builded against me, and compassed</span> me. A figure from the siege of a town. <span class="cmt_word">Gall</span>. For the true meaning of the word, see on Jeremiah 8:14. We need not trouble ourselves about it here, for the word is evidently used as a kind of "ideograph" for bitterness. <span class="cmt_word">Travel</span>; literally, <span class="accented">weariness.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/lamentations/3-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He has besieged</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1489;&#1468;&#1464;&#1504;&#1464;&#1445;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(b&#257;&#183;n&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1506;&#1464;&#1500;&#1463;&#1435;&#1497;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8216;&#257;&#183;lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition &#124; first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and surrounded me</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1463;&#1497;&#1468;&#1463;&#1511;&#1468;&#1463;&#1430;&#1507;</span> <span class="translit">(way&#183;yaq&#183;qap&#772;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5362.htm">Strong's 5362: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike, to knock together, surround, circulate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with bitterness</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1512;&#1465;&#1445;&#1488;&#1513;&#1473;</span> <span class="translit">(r&#333;&#353;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7219.htm">Strong's 7219: </a> </span><span class="str2">A poisonous plant, the poppy, poison</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and hardship.</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1468;&#1514;&#1456;&#1500;&#1464;&#1488;&#1464;&#1469;&#1492;&#1475;</span> <span class="translit">(&#363;&#183;&#7791;&#601;&#183;l&#257;&#183;&#8217;&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8513.htm">Strong's 8513: </a> </span><span class="str2">Weariness, hardship</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/lamentations/3-5.htm">Lamentations 3:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/lamentations/3-5.htm">OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:5 He has built against me and surrounded (Lam. La Lm) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/lamentations/3-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lamentations 3:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lamentations 3:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/lamentations/3-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lamentations 3:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lamentations 3:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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