Bible Strands
Lamentations 3:32
Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the exiled community of Judah, clarifying that God's present infliction of grief operates within the bounds of His unending covenant commitment.
The words — The Hebrew הוֹגָה (ho.Gah, "he has caused grief") and רִחַם (ri.Cham, "he will have compassion") anchor the verse's movement from discipline to mercy.
The thread — This pattern of disciplined grief giving way to steadfast covenant loyalty recurs in Psalms 78:38, 30:5, and 103:11.
Why it lands — The text asserts that divine grief is neither final nor arbitrary, demanding readers measure present suffering against the fixed measure of God's covenant loyalty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
Cross-references
- Psalms 78:38 And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.
- Psalms 30:5 For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.
- Psalms 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
- Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
- Judges 10:16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.
- Psalms 106:43 Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
- Hosea 11:8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
- Jeremiah 31:20 Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.
- Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
- 2 Kings 13:23 But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.