Lamentations 3:1

“I [am] the man [that] hath seen affliction, etc.] Had a much experience of it, especially ever since he had been a prophet; being reproached and ill used by his own people, and suffering with them in their calamities; particularly, as Jarchi observes, his affliction was greater than the other prophets, who indeed prophesied of the destruction of the city and temple, but did not see it; whereas he lived to see it: he was not indeed the only man that endured affliction, but he was remarkable for his afflictions; he had a large share of them, and was herein a type of Christ, who was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs: by the rod of his wrath; that is, by the rod of the wrath of God,…”

“(Lam. 3:1-66) seen affliction--his own in the dungeon of Malchiah (Jer 38:6); that of his countrymen also in the siege. Both were types of that of Christ.”

“That hath seen affliction - i. e. hath experienced, suffered it. return to 'Top of Page'”

“I am the man - It seems, this is spoken in the name of the people, who were before set out under the notion of a woman. Lamentations 3:4”

“3:1-66 In this chapter, the author laments what has happened (3:1-20, 48-54), remembers the faithful love of the Lord (3:21-25), describes how God’s people should respond (3:26-47), and calls upon the Lord in prayer (3:55-66). 3:1-24 The author speaks of the suffering of Judah and Jerusalem as his own.”

“the man: Lam 1:12-14; Job 19:21; Psa 71:20, Psa 88:7, Psa 88:15, Psa 88:16; Isa 53:3; Jer 15:17, Jer 15:18; Jer 20:14-18, Jer 38:6 his wrath: That is, the wrath of God. Lamentations 3:2”

“Lamentation over grievous sufferings. The author of these sufferings is not, indeed, expressly named in the whole section, but it is unmistakeably signified that God is meant; moreover, at the end of Lam 3:18 the name יהוה is mentioned. The view thus given of the sufferings shows, not merely that he who utters the complaint perceives in these sufferings a chastisement by God, but also that this chastisement has become for him a soul-struggle, in which he may not take the name of God into his mouth; and only after he has given vent in lamentations to the deep sorrow of his soul, does his spirit get peace to mention the name of the Lord, and make complaint to Him of his need. Nothing certain…”