Lamentations 3:13

13 He pierced my kidneys with His arrows.

Lamentations 3:13 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:13

He hath caused the arrows of his quiver
Or, "the sons of his quiver" ^F9; an usual Hebraism; the quiver is compared, as Aben Ezra observes, to a pregnant woman; and Horace has a like expression, "venenatis gravidam sagittis pharetram" ^F11; the judgments of God are often signified by this metaphor, even his four sore ones, sword, famine, pestilence, and noisome beast, ( Deuteronomy 32:23 Deuteronomy 32:42 ) ( Ezekiel 5:16 ) ( 14:21 ) ; these, says the prophet, he caused to enter into my reins;
that is, into the midst of his land and people, or into the city of Jerusalem; or these affected his mind and heart as if so many arrows had stuck in him, the poison of which drank up his spirits, ( Job 6:4 ) ( Psalms 38:2 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (wtpva ynb) "filios pharetrae suae", Montanus, Munster, Cocceius, Michaelis.
F11 L. 1. Ode 22.

Lamentations 3:13 In-Context

11 He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces; He left me without help.

12 He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow.

13 He pierced my kidneys with His arrows.

14 I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long.

15 He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood.