The Meaning of Lamentations 3:1 Explained

Lamentations 3:1

KJV: I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

YLT: I am the man who hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.

Darby: I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

ASV: I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I [am] the man  [that] hath seen  affliction  by the rod  of his wrath. 

What does Lamentations 3:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jeremiah claimed to have seen much affliction because Yahweh had struck Jerusalem in His anger (cf. Job 9:34; Job 21:9; Psalm 89:32; Isaiah 10:5).
"The two preceding poems ended with sorrowful complaint. This third poem begins with the complaint of a man over grievous personal suffering." [1]

Chapter Summary: Lamentations 3

1  The prophet bewails his own calamities
22  By the mercies of God, he nourishes his hope
37  He acknowledges God's justice
55  He prays for deliverance
64  And vengeance on his enemies

What do the individual words in Lamentations 3:1 mean?

I [am] the man [who] has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath
אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ

אֲנִ֤י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּבֶר  
Sense: man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight).
רָאָ֣ה  [who]  has  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
עֳנִ֔י  affliction 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֳנִי  
Sense: affliction, poverty, misery.
בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט  by  the  rod 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
עֶבְרָתֽוֹ  of  His  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבְרָה  
Sense: outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, arrogance.