Lamentations 3:15

15 He filled me with bitterness, sated me with wormwood.^[a]

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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Lamentations 3:15 In-Context

13 He pierced my kidneys with His arrows.

14 I am a laughingstock to all my people, mocked by their songs all day long.

15 He filled me with bitterness, sated me with wormwood.

16 He ground my teeth on gravel and made me cower in the dust.

17 My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jr 9:15; 23:15