Lamentations 3:15

15 He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood.

Lamentations 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:15

He hath filled me with bitterness
Or "with bitternesses" {m}; instead of food, bitter herbs; the allusion perhaps is to the bitter herbs eaten at the passover, and signify bitter afflictions, sore calamities, of which the prophet and his people had their fill. The Targum is,

``with the gall of serpents;''
see ( Job 20:14 ) ; he hath made me drunken with wormwood;
with wormwood drink; but this herb being a wholesome one, though bitter, some think that henbane, or wolfsbane, is rather meant, which is of a poisonous and intoxicating nature; it is no unusual thing for persons to be represented as drunk with affliction, ( Isaiah 51:17 Isaiah 51:21 ) ( Jeremiah 25:27 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Myrwrmb) "amaritudinibus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Michaelis, "amaroribus", Cocceius.

Lamentations 3:15 In-Context

13 He has caused the arrows of His quiver To pierce my loins.
14 I have become the ridicule of all my people-- Their taunting song all the day.
15 He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood.
16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel, And covered me with ashes.
17 You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.