Lamentations 3:22-23 – His Kindness

The Book of Lamentations is mostly a prophecy of destruction and grief. But Jeremiah expresses hope and faith in Lamentations 3:22-39.

In this article I will examine Jeremiah’s introduction to his message of hope and faith.

The above translation of Lamentations 3:22 is accepted by most of the commentators I’ve seen.

But, some commentators make a strong argument for an alternate translation. It all hinges on the letter “nun.” Let me explain.

Lamentations 3:22 – A Bit of Grammar

As Ibn Ezra and others explain, the word “tamnu” (highlighted above in orange) can be understood in two different ways.

Everyone agrees that the 3-letter root is tav-mem-mem. Among the various translations of this root are: be completed, cease, be consumed, destroyed.

Let’s look at the suffix “nu” [nun-vav].

Approach #1

The straightforward explanation is that “nu” is the normal suffix for a first person, plural, past tense verb.

Then the translation could be “we are destroyed.”

Approach #2

The second suggestion is a bit more involved.

The nun-vav ending is not the suffix. Rather, the suffix is just the vav which is the normal suffix for a third person, plural, past tense verb.

Then the translation could be “they are destroyed.”

In that case, what is the nun doing? The nun is in place of the second mem that should have been in the word: tav-mem-mem-vav.

These two approaches to the suffix lead to very different translations and understandings of the verse.

Lamentations 3:22 – Approach #1

The Steinsaltz Tanach adopts the first explanation. Here is his translation of the verse:

22. It is due to the Lord’s kindnesses that we have not ceased, for His mercies have not ended.

In this approach, the word “tamnu” refers to the Jewish people. They are speaking about themselves that they have not been destroyed.

R. Steinsaltz explains the verse this way: “Thanks to the Lord’s mercies we have not been utterly consumed; we still exist, despite all the troubles, for His mercies have not ended. This faith was expressed by the Jewish people in all of their exiles.”

Rashi writes that due to the kindnesses of God we were not destroyed and we did not perish due to our sins.

Rabbi Yosef Kara [France 1065 – 1135] expands on this idea. What is “the Lord’s kindnesses”? It is that we have not been destroyed by the nations of the world. In every generation they arose against us to destroy us.

He gives this partial list of destroyers from the Bible:

• Pharaoh and Egypt – Exodus 1:22
• Sennacherib and Assyria – Isaiah 10:7
• Nebuchadnezzar – 2 Kings 25:1
• Haman – Esther 3:13

(Of course, we know from history that many more would be destroyers could be added to his list.)

And how was it we were not destroyed? From the end of the verse: for His mercies have not ended.

Rabbi Kara concludes: God granted us His mercies in the past. During the Babylonian exile we were not destroyed. I trust Him that He will not cease his mercies and kindnesses in this current exile.

Lamentations 3:22 – Approach #2

This approach is adopted by most of the commentators and Jewish translations that I’ve seen.

22. The kindnesses of the Lord have not ceased, and His mercies do not fail.

In this approach, the word “tamnu” refers to God’s acts of kindness toward the Jewish people.

Ibn Ezra explains that “not ceased” means there is no limit to the kindnesses of God.

What is the concept of “the kindnesses of the Lord”?

Daat Mikra offers 3 explanations:

• God’s beneficial acts
• Here “kindnesses” is the same principle as “mercies”
• In many places in the Bible, “kindness” means faithful to the covenant.

Daat Mikra develops the third explanation in more detail.

“Kindnesses” means even in these circumstances of destruction and exile, God is faithful to His covenant with the Jewish people. Understood this way, “mercies” means “love.” That is to say, God’s love for the Jewish people.

Lamentations 3:23 Meaning

23. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

The explanations of this verse do not depend on the approach adopted for the previous verse.

They are new every morning

Rashi explains the kindnesses mentioned in verse 22 are renewed every day.

Daat Mikra accepts Rashi’s explanation of daily renewal.

He also offers an alternative explanation that every morning in the morning we recognize anew that God’s faithfulness is great.

Based on this explanation, it’s up to us every day to be on the lookout to perceive God’s goodness.

great is Your faithfulness – it is a great thing to believe in You that You will establish and keep what You promised us [Rashi].

Rabbi Yosef Kara writes that this is what God promised the Jewish people in Leviticus:

Leviticus 26 is known as the Tochachah or Admonition. In the Tochachah God tells the Jewish people what calamities will befall them if they fail to observe the Torah. Near the end of the chapter, God promises that He will not let the Jewish people be completely destroyed.

Kindness and Mercy Together

The concepts of kindness and mercy appear together in many places in the Bible.

Kindness and mercy have their source in the 13 Attributes of Mercy:

To look at one more place, the prophet Hosea writes about the unfaithfulness of the Jewish people toward God. Then he writes about their restoration:

The prophet Micah teaches that kindness is one of God’s attributes that we can and should emulate.

We are called upon “to love kindness.” It is our job to deal with other people with the traits of kindness and mercy, treating them better than they perhaps deserve.

Further Reading

This article is part of a series on Lamentations:

Lamentations 1 – None Comfort Her

Lamentations 2 – Day of His Anger