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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Lamentations 3:15 In-Context

13 He has shot the arrows from his quiver into my heart.

14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people. All day long [they make fun of me] with their songs.

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

16 He has ground my teeth with gravel. He has trampled me into the dust.

17 "My soul has been kept from enjoying peace. I have forgotten what happiness is.