Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. New Living Translation You have hidden yourself in a cloud so our prayers cannot reach you. English Standard Version you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through. Berean Standard Bible You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through. King James Bible Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. New King James Version You have covered Yourself with a cloud, That prayer should not pass through. New American Standard Bible You have veiled Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. NASB 1995 You have covered Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. NASB 1977 Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. Legacy Standard Bible You have covered Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. Amplified Bible You have covered Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. Christian Standard Bible You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. Holman Christian Standard Bible You have covered Yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through. American Standard Version Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through. Contemporary English Version You are behind a wall of clouds that blocks out our prayers. English Revised Version Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. GOD'S WORD® Translation You covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer could get through it. Good News Translation By a cloud of fury too thick for our prayers to get through. International Standard Version You covered yourself with a cloud that prayer cannot pierce. NET Bible You shrouded yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. New Heart English Bible You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through. Webster's Bible Translation Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through. World English Bible You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou have covered Yourself with a cloud, "" So that prayer does not pass through. Young's Literal Translation Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through. Smith's Literal Translation Thou didst cover over thyself with a cloud from a prayer passing through. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSamech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may not pass through. Catholic Public Domain Version SAMECH. You have set a cloud opposite you, lest our prayer pass through. New American Bible You wrapped yourself in a cloud, which no prayer could pierce. New Revised Standard Version you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThou hast covered thyself with thy cloud; thou hast let our prayer pass by. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You covered yourself up with your cloud and you put away our prayer OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that no prayer can pass through. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou hast veiled thyself with a cloud because of prayer, that I might be blind, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God's Justice…43You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us; You have killed without pity. 44You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through. 45You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.… Cross References Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Ezekiel 8:18 Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.” Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Jeremiah 7:16 As for you, do not pray for these people, do not offer a plea or petition on their behalf, and do not beg Me, for I will not listen to you. Micah 3:4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done. Proverbs 1:28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me. Job 27:9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him? Jeremiah 11:14 As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me in their time of disaster. Jeremiah 14:12 Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.” Isaiah 58:4 You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. James 4:3 And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ Treasury of Scripture You have covered yourself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. covered Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. that Lamentations 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. Psalm 80:4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Jeremiah 14:11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. Jump to Previous Cloud Covered Covering Prayer Thyself WrappedJump to Next Cloud Covered Covering Prayer Thyself WrappedLamentations 3 1. The prophet bewails his own calamities22. 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 You have covered Yourself with a cloud This phrase suggests a divine action where God has chosen to obscure His presence. In biblical literature, clouds often symbolize God's presence and majesty, as seen in Exodus 13:21, where God leads the Israelites by a pillar of cloud. However, here the cloud signifies separation and judgment. The imagery of God covering Himself with a cloud indicates a barrier between God and His people, reflecting the consequences of sin and disobedience. This separation is reminiscent of the veil in the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the distance between a holy God and sinful humanity. that no prayer can pass through. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jeremiah- Traditionally attributed as the author of Lamentations, Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet." He laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people. 2. Jerusalem - The city that has been destroyed by the Babylonians, serving as the backdrop for the book of Lamentations. It represents the center of Jewish worship and identity. 3. Babylonian Exile - The event during which the Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Teaching Points The Reality of Divine SilenceThere are times when God may seem silent or distant, often due to our own actions or sin. This silence is not abandonment but a call to introspection and repentance. The Consequences of Sin Sin can create a barrier between us and God, much like the cloud described in Lamentations. Recognizing and confessing sin is crucial for restoring our relationship with Him. The Importance of Persistent Prayer Even when it feels like prayers are not being heard, persistence in prayer is vital. God’s silence is not necessarily a denial but can be a test of faith and perseverance. Hope in God's Faithfulness Despite the apparent silence, Lamentations 3 also speaks of God's steadfast love and mercy. Trust in His faithfulness, even when circumstances seem bleak. Reflecting on God's Presence The cloud, while a barrier in this context, is also a reminder of God's presence. Reflect on how God has been present in your life, even in difficult times. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Lamentations 3:44?2. How does Lamentations 3:44 illustrate God's response to persistent sin and rebellion? 3. What actions can we take when God "covers Himself with a cloud"? 4. How does Lamentations 3:44 connect with Isaiah 59:2 about sin's consequences? 5. In what ways can we seek restoration when God seems distant? 6. How can we ensure our prayers are heard, according to Lamentations 3:44? 7. Why does Lamentations 3:44 suggest God hides from prayers? 8. How does Lamentations 3:44 reflect God's relationship with humanity? 9. What historical context influenced the message of Lamentations 3:44? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Lamentations 3? 11. If Psalm 102 is truly messianic, why are there apparent inconsistencies with New Testament interpretations of the Messiah's mission? 12. What are the Psalms of Lament? 13. Jeremiah 7:16: Why would God forbid prayer for the people here, contradicting other scriptures urging intercession? 14. Why does God seem silent when people pray? What Does Lamentations 3:44 Mean You have covered Yourself- Jeremiah speaks of God’s deliberate action; He is not hidden by chance but has chosen to veil Himself. - This recalls God’s response to persistent sin (Isaiah 59:2: “your iniquities have separated you from your God”). - The picture echoes moments when the Lord withdraws His felt presence—such as Saul’s experience in 1 Samuel 28:6, where “the LORD did not answer him.” - It emphasizes both God’s holiness and His right to discipline His covenant people (Hebrews 12:6). with a cloud - Clouds in Scripture often symbolize divine majesty and mystery—think of the cloud on Sinai (Exodus 19:16) or the cloud that filled Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10–11). - Here, however, the cloud is not a shelter but a barrier. The God who once guided Israel by a pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21) now uses that same imagery to convey distance. - The shift from guidance to obstruction underlines the seriousness of unrepented sin (Psalm 99:7 speaks of God answering His people “in a pillar of cloud,” but now He withholds that gracious answer). that no prayer can pass through - The verse paints the sober reality that unconfessed sin can hinder prayer (Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”). - This is not a denial of God’s omniscience; He hears everything (Psalm 139:4). Rather, it describes relational estrangement—God chooses not to respond favorably (Proverbs 1:28–29). - Hope still exists: just four verses later Jeremiah affirms, “You heard my plea” (Lamentations 3:56). Repentance reopens the heavens (2 Chronicles 7:14). - The veiled heavens echo Jesus’ cry on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Christ experienced ultimate separation so that believers might never be finally shut out (Hebrews 10:19-22). summary Lamentations 3:44 underscores the sobering truth that persistent sin can cause God to withdraw His responsive presence, symbolized by a cloud that blocks prayer. Yet even this severe picture serves a merciful purpose: to drive hearts back to repentance and renewed fellowship, confident that the God who once covered Himself is ready to remove the cloud when His people humbly seek Him. Verse 44. - That our prayer should not pass through. So Isaiah 58:4, "Ye do not so fast at this time as to make your voice to be heard on high;" Psalm 55:1, "Hide not. thyself from my supplication."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You have covered Yourselfסַכּ֤וֹתָה (sak·kō·w·ṯāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5526: To entwine as a, screen, to fence in, cover over, protect with a cloud בֶֽעָנָן֙ (ḇe·‘ā·nān) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud that no prayer תְּפִלָּֽה׃ (tə·p̄il·lāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn can pass through. מֵעֲב֖וֹר (mê·‘ă·ḇō·wr) Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on Links Lamentations 3:44 NIVLamentations 3:44 NLT Lamentations 3:44 ESV Lamentations 3:44 NASB Lamentations 3:44 KJV Lamentations 3:44 BibleApps.com Lamentations 3:44 Biblia Paralela Lamentations 3:44 Chinese Bible Lamentations 3:44 French Bible Lamentations 3:44 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:44 You have covered yourself with a cloud (Lam. La Lm) |
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