Lamentations 3:29

“He putteth his mouth in the dust, etc.] Of self-abhorrence; sensible of his own vileness and nothingness, his unworthiness, and the unprofitableness of all his duties; ascribing the whole of his salvation to the free grace of God, (<184206>Job 42:6); humbling himself under the mighty hand of God; not daring to open his mouth in a complaining way against him; but prostrating himself before him to the earth, as the manner of the eastern people in prayer was, to which the allusion is; licking as it were the dust of the earth, under a sense of the distance and disproportion between God and him, who is but dust and ashes; so the Targum adds, “and is prostrate before the Lord:” if so be there may…”

“(Job 42:6). The mouth in the dust is the attitude of suppliant and humble submission to God's dealings as righteous and loving in design (compare Ezr 9:6; Co1 14:25). if so be there may be hope--This does not express doubt as to whether GOD be willing to receive the penitent, but the penitent's doubt as to himself; he whispers to himself this consolation, "Perhaps there may be hope for me."”

“Translate: Let him sit alone and keep silence; For He (God) hath laid the yoke upon him. Let him place his mouth in the dust; Perchance there is hope. Let him offer his cheek to him that smiteth him; Let him be filled to the full with reproach. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth, but only if he bear it rightly. To attain this result, let him learn resignation, remembering who has laid the yoke upon him. This reverential silence is described Lamentations 3:29, as putting the mouth in the dust, and so lying prostrate before the Deity; while Lamentations 3:30 the harder task is imposed of bearing contumely with meekness (margin reference), and not shrinking from the last dregs…”

“In the dust - Both this and the former verses let us know the duty of persons under afflictions. Lamentations 3:33”

“3:29-30 In the ancient Near East, lying face down in the dust expressed submission (Gen 17:1-3; Lev 9:24; Josh 7:6; 1 Sam 5:4; 1 Kgs 18:39; 1 Chr 21:16; Matt 17:5-6). • To turn the other cheek also expresses submission. Jesus evidently had this verse in mind when he taught his disciples to submit to persecution (Matt 5:39). This response recognizes that God is sovereign even over our suffering.”

“putteth: Ch2 33:12; Job 40:4, Job 42:5, Job 42:6; Eze 16:63; Rom 3:19 if: Joe 2:14; Jon 3:9; Zep 2:3; Luk 15:18, Luk 15:19, Luk 18:13 Lamentations 3:30”