Bible Strands
Lamentations 3:46
All our enemies open their mouths against us.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker, addressing God, describes the nation's current state of humiliation and impending disaster. This declaration occurs between verses detailing Israel's disgrace as refuse and the arrival of panic and devastation.
The words — The Hebrew פָּצוּ (paṭsu) means "they have opened," coupled with פִּי־הֶם (pî-hem, "their mouths") to depict a hostile posture. This phrasing literally records adversaries parting their lips in open aggression or mockery against the people.
The thread — This imagery of enemies opening their mouths appears in Lamentations 2:16 and parallels the scorn detailed in Psalms 22:6. It stands in direct contrast to the protective silence promised in Exodus 11:7 where not even a dog would snarl.
Why it lands — The text records the literal opening of enemy mouths as a factual marker of uncontained hostility. It requires the reader to acknowledge that national judgment has reached a point where opposition is fully exposed and unmitigated.
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
All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
Cross-references
- Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
- Lamentations 2:16 All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see it!”
- Exodus 11:7 But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
- Job 30:9 And now they mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.
- Psalms 44:13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us.
- Psalms 79:4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.
- Psalms 79:10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
- Matthew 27:38 Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.