Lamentations 3:16
He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס
He hath also broken
H1638
וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס
He hath also broken
Strong's:
H1638
Word #:
1 of 5
to crush; also (intransitively and figuratively) to dissolve
בֶּֽחָצָץ֙
with gravel stones
H2687
בֶּֽחָצָץ֙
with gravel stones
Strong's:
H2687
Word #:
2 of 5
properly, something cutting; hence, gravel (as grit); an arrow
שִׁנָּ֔י
my teeth
H8127
שִׁנָּ֔י
my teeth
Strong's:
H8127
Word #:
3 of 5
a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff
Cross References
Proverbs 20:17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.Jeremiah 6:26O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.Psalms 3:7Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.Psalms 58:6Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
Historical Context
Exile meant loss of dignity, status, identity. Forced to eat unclean food, live in pagan land.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean to be covered with ashes, and how does Christ give beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3)?
- What does eating gravel symbolize about the humiliation and degradation of judgment?
- How might this extreme imagery help us grasp the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Teeth broken on gravel, trampled in ashes. Humiliation and degradation imagery. From prince to prisoner, beauty to ashes.