Lamentations 3:16

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.

Lamentations 3:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes;
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust.
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 He ground my face into the gravel. He pounded me into the mud.
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he hath covered me with ashes.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 He has ground my teeth with gravel. He has trampled me into the dust.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 He ground my teeth on gravel and made me cower in the dust.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 He made me chew stones that broke my teeth. He has walked all over me in the dust.

Lamentations 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:16

He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones
With gritty bread, such as is made of corn ground with new millstones, the grit of which mixes with the flour; or with stony bread, as Seneca F14 calls a benefit troublesome to others; with bread that has little stones mixed with it, by eating of which the teeth are broken, as Jarchi observes: the phrase signifies afflictions and troubles, which are very grievous and disagreeable, like gravel in the mouth, as sin in its effects often proves, ( Proverbs 20:17 ) ; he hath covered me with ashes;
as mourners used to be; the word rendered "covered" is only used in this place. Aben Ezra renders it, "he hath defiled me"; and Jarchi and Ben Melech, from the Misnah, "he hath pressed me", without measure; see ( Luke 6:38 ) ; and so the Targum,

``he hath humbled me:''
but the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it, "he hath fed me with ashes"; which version is defended by Castel F15 and Noldius F16, and best agrees with the preceding clause; the sense is the same with ( Psalms 102:9 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F14 "Pane lapidoso", Seneca De Beneficiis, l. 7.
F15 Lexic. Polyglott, col. 1791.
F16 Concordant. Ebr. Part. p. 168. No. 763.

Lamentations 3:16 In-Context

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.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”

Cross References 2

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.