What is the meaning of Lamentations 3:64? You will pay them back The verse begins with confident certainty that God Himself will act. Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations, is not wishing for blind fate to even the score; he is relying on the righteous Judge of all the earth. • Scripture consistently presents God as the One who personally executes justice (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35). • In a world that often appears unjust, this assurance anchors believers: the Lord is actively involved, not passive or distant (Psalm 94:1). what they deserve The phrase speaks to proportional justice—no more, no less. It is the biblical equivalent of “an eye for an eye,” ensuring that recompense matches wrongdoing. • God’s judgments are neither capricious nor excessive; they are exact (Jeremiah 17:10; Psalm 62:12). • This reminder guards our hearts from bitterness: we can entrust wrongs to the Lord, knowing He will balance the scales with perfect equity (Proverbs 24:12). O LORD By invoking the covenant name, Jeremiah appeals to God’s character—unchanging, holy, and faithful. • The very name “LORD” recalls His self-revelation as compassionate yet just (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 86:15). • In the flow of Lamentations 3, this address connects with earlier affirmations of God’s steadfast love and mercy that are “new every morning” (verses 22-23). The same faithful God who shows mercy also upholds justice. according to the work of their hands Accountability is tied to deeds. Human actions are not forgotten; they are recorded and weighed. • Scripture repeats this principle: we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8), each will receive “according to what he has done in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Final judgment in Revelation also hinges on “what they had done” (Revelation 20:12; Matthew 16:27). • The phrase underscores human responsibility: hands that build evil will face the consequences their own efforts produced (Jeremiah 25:14). summary Lamentations 3:64 affirms God’s personal, precise, and covenant-based justice. The Lord Himself will repay evildoers in exact proportion to their deeds, demonstrating both His faithfulness to His people and His unwavering commitment to righteousness. |
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