Lamentations 3:36
New International Version
to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?

New Living Translation
if they twist justice in the courts— doesn’t the Lord see all these things?

English Standard Version
to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.

Berean Standard Bible
to subvert a man in his lawsuit—of these the Lord does not approve.

King James Bible
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

New King James Version
Or subvert a man in his cause— The Lord does not approve.

New American Standard Bible
To defraud someone in his lawsuit— Of these things the Lord does not approve.

NASB 1995
To defraud a man in his lawsuit— Of these things the Lord does not approve.

NASB 1977
To defraud a man in his lawsuit— Of these things the Lord does not approve.

Legacy Standard Bible
To defraud a man in his legal case— These things the Lord does not see with approval.

Amplified Bible
To defraud a man in his lawsuit— The Lord does not approve of these things.

Christian Standard Bible
or subverting a person in his lawsuit — the Lord does not approve of these things.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
or suppressing a person’s lawsuit— the Lord does not approve of these things.

American Standard Version
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

Contemporary English Version
and he knows when you refuse to give someone a fair trial.

English Revised Version
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
or deprive people of justice in court. The Lord isn't happy to see [these things].

Good News Translation
When justice is perverted in court, he knows.

International Standard Version
When a man is thwarted in his appeal, does the Lord condone it?

Majority Standard Bible
to subvert a man in his lawsuit—of these the Lord does not approve.

NET Bible
to defraud a person in a lawsuit--the Lord does not approve of such things!

New Heart English Bible
to subvert a man in his cause, the LORD does not approve.

Webster's Bible Translation
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

World English Bible
to subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn’t approve.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord has not approved.

Young's Literal Translation
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.

Smith's Literal Translation
To pervert a man in his contention Jehovah saw not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lamed. To destroy a man wrongfully in his judgment, the Lord hath not approved.

Catholic Public Domain Version
LAMED. as if to pervert a man in his judgment: the Lord does not do this.

New American Bible
Or subverts a person’s lawsuit— does the Lord not see?

New Revised Standard Version
when one’s case is subverted —does the Lord not see it?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD does not approve.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH does not countenance condemning a son of man in his cause
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
To subvert a man in his cause, The Lord approveth not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
to condemn a man unjustly in his judgment, the Lord has not given commandment.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah's Hope
35to deny a man justice before the Most High, 36to subvert a man in his lawsuit— of these the Lord does not approve.

Cross References
Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

Exodus 23:7
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Deuteronomy 16:19
Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.

Psalm 82:2-4
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah / Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Micah 3:9
Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right,

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 18:7-8
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? / I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Romans 2:5-6
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. / God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

Romans 3:5-6
But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. / Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?


Treasury of Scripture

To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approves not.

the Lord

2 Samuel 11:27
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

Isaiah 59:15
Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Habakkuk 1:13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

approveth.

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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














to subvert
The Hebrew root for "to subvert" is "עָוַת" (avat), which means to bend, twist, or pervert. This word conveys a sense of injustice or corruption, where something is being turned away from its rightful or intended path. In the context of Lamentations, this reflects the broader theme of suffering and injustice experienced by the people of Judah. The prophet Jeremiah laments the perversion of justice, which is a common theme throughout the Bible, highlighting God's desire for righteousness and fairness. The act of subversion here is not just a legal or social injustice but a moral and spiritual deviation from God's will.

a man
The term "a man" in this context refers to an individual, emphasizing the personal nature of the injustice. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "גֶּבֶר" (gever), which often denotes a strong or mighty man, but here it underscores the vulnerability of even the strong when faced with systemic injustice. This highlights the biblical principle that every person, regardless of their strength or status, is deserving of justice and fair treatment. It serves as a reminder of the inherent dignity and worth of each individual, created in the image of God.

in his cause
The phrase "in his cause" refers to a person's legal rights or just claims. The Hebrew word "דִּין" (din) is used, which can mean judgment, justice, or legal case. This suggests a formal setting where a person's rights are being considered or adjudicated. The Bible consistently upholds the importance of justice and righteousness, and this phrase underscores the expectation that each person's cause should be handled with integrity and fairness. It reflects the biblical mandate for judges and leaders to act justly and without partiality.

the Lord
"The Lord" here is "יְהוָה" (Yahweh), the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal and relational nature. This name is often used in contexts where God's character and His covenantal faithfulness are in view. In Lamentations, the use of Yahweh underscores His sovereignty and His ultimate authority over matters of justice. It reminds the reader that God is not indifferent to human suffering and injustice; rather, He is deeply concerned and involved in the affairs of His people.

does not approve
The phrase "does not approve" is derived from the Hebrew "לֹא רָאָה" (lo ra'ah), meaning He does not see or regard with favor. This indicates God's disapproval and rejection of injustice. In the biblical narrative, God's disapproval is significant because it aligns with His holy and righteous character. The Lord's disapproval of subverting justice serves as a warning and a call to repentance for those who perpetrate injustice. It reassures the faithful that God is just and will ultimately vindicate those who are wronged.

Verse 36. - Approveth not. The sense is an excellent one, but it is very doubtful whether it can be obtained without altering one of the letters of the word in the text (reading racah for ra'ah). The text reading is, "the Lord seeth not." This may be explained either as "the Lord regardeth not (such thing)," or as a question, "Doth not the Lord regard (this)?"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to subvert
לְעַוֵּ֤ת (lə·‘aw·wêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5791: To be bent or crooked

a man
אָדָם֙ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

in his lawsuit—
בְּרִיב֔וֹ (bə·rî·ḇōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute

of these the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֖י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

does not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

approve.
רָאָֽה׃ (rā·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see


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OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:36 To subvert a man in his cause (Lam. La Lm)
Lamentations 3:35
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