Lamentations 3:30

30 He shall give the cheek to a man that smiteth him; he shall be filled with shames. (He shall give his cheek to the one who striketh him; he shall be laden with abuse.)

Lamentations 3:30 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:30

He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him
Either to God that afflicts him, and patiently bears it; see ( Isaiah 9:13 ) ; or rather to men. To be smitten on the cheek is always reckoned a very great affront; to turn the cheek to an injurious man is to give him an opportunity and leave to smite, and signifies the taking of it patiently, and agrees both with our Lord's advice and example, ( Matthew 5:39 ) ( Isaiah 50:6 ) ; he is filled full with reproach;
has many reproaches, and the reproaches of many upon him; as such must expect, that take Christ's yoke upon them; see ( Psalms 123:3 Psalms 123:4 ) ; and yet revile not again, but esteem reproaches for Christ's sake great riches, and wear them as crowns, and bind them about their necks as chains of gold; esteeming it an honour and a happiness to suffer shame for his name.

Lamentations 3:30 In-Context

28 He shall sit alone, and he shall be still; for he raised himself above himself. (He shall sit alone, and he shall be silent/and he shall be patient; and he shall carry it by himself.)
29 He shall set his mouth in (the) dust, if peradventure hope is. (He shall put his face upon the ground, for perhaps there may still be hope.)
30 He shall give the cheek to a man that smiteth him; he shall be filled with shames. (He shall give his cheek to the one who striketh him; he shall be laden with abuse.)
31 For the Lord shall not put away [into] without end. (For the Lord shall not cast us away forever.)
32 For if he casted away, and he shall do mercy after the multitude of his mercies. (For even if he hath cast us away, he shall still do mercy after the multitude of his mercies.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.