Lamentations 3:33-35

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Lamentations 3:33 tn Heb “he does not afflict from his heart.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) preceded by the preposition מִן (min) most often describes one’s initiative or motivation, e.g. “of one’s own accord” (Num 16:28; 24:13; Deut 4:9; 1 Kings 12:33; Neh 6:8; Job 8:10; Isa 59:13; Ezek 13:2, 17). It is not God’s internal motivation to bring calamity and trouble upon people.
2. Lamentations 3:33 tn Heb “sons of men.”
3. Lamentations 3:34 tn Heb “prisoners of earth/land.” The term אֶרֶץ (ʾerets) may refer to (1) the earth, (2) a country, or (3) the promised land in particular (as well as other referents). “Earth” is chosen here since the context presents God’s general principles in dealing with humanity. Given the historical circumstances, however, prisoners from the land of Israel are certainly in the background.
4. Lamentations 3:35 tn The speaking voice is still that of the גֶּבֶר (gever, “man”), but the context and line are more universal in character.
5. Lamentations 3:35 tn Heb “to turn away a man’s justice,” that is, the justice or equitable judgment he would receive. See the previous note regarding the “man.”