Lamentations 3:15

15 He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink.

Lamentations 3:15 in Other Translations

KJV
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
ESV
15 He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood.
NLT
15 He has filled me with bitterness and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink.
MSG
15 He forced rotten, stinking food down my throat, bloated me with vile drinks.
CSB
15 He filled me with bitterness, sated me with 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 pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

Cross References 1

  • 1. ver 19; Jeremiah 9:15
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