א(Alef) The Prophet Speaks: I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath.
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He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light.
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He repeatedly attacks me, he turns his hand against me all day long.
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ב(Bet) He has made my mortal skin waste away; he has broken my bones.
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He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship.
Lamentations 3:2 — Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
What does Lamentations 3:2 say?
Lamentations 3:2 in the NET Bible reads: “He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light.”
Where is Lamentations 3:2 in the Bible?
Lamentations 3:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Lamentations, chapter 3, verse 2.
Who wrote Lamentations?
Lamentations is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah (traditional). It was written c. 586–575 BC.
What is the book of Lamentations about?
Lamentations is a series of five funeral poems over the fallen Jerusalem — raw grief, honest confession, and at the very center, an astonishing confession of hope: "his compassions fail not… they are new every morning."
What are the major themes of Lamentations?
Lamentations explores themes including Grief, Judgment, Mercy, Hope, Repentance. These themes shape the meaning and context of Lamentations 3:2.
What translation should I read Lamentations 3:2 in?
Lamentations 3:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Lamentations 3:2?
Lamentations 3:2 reads (NET): “He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.