Lamentations 3:57

Authorized King James Version

Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙
Thou drewest near
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
#2
בְּי֣וֹם
in the day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#3
אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ
that I called
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
#4
אָמַ֖רְתָּ
upon thee thou saidst
to say (used with great latitude)
#5
אַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#6
תִּירָֽא׃
Fear
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection