Lamentations 3:28

י (Yod) Let a person ¹  sit alone in silence, when the Lord ²  is disciplining him. ³ 

biblegateway Lam 3:28

Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him.

biblegateway Lam 3:28

Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid it on him.

biblegateway Lam 3:28

Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD’s demands.

biblegateway Lam 3:28

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

SABDAweb Lam 3:28

Let him be seated by himself, saying nothing, because he has put it on him.

bibleoremus Lam 3:28

to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it,

biblegateway Lam 3:28

Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because God has laid it on him;

biblegateway Lam 3:28

י (Yod) Let a person ¹  sit alone in silence, when the Lord ²  is disciplining him. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “him.” The speaking voice in this chapter continues to be that of the גֶּבֶר (gever, “man”). The image of female Jerusalem in chs. 1-2 was fluid, being able to refer to the city or its inhabitants, both female and male. So too the “defeated soldier” or “everyman” (see note at 3:1 on “man”) is fluid and can represent any member of the Jewish community, male and female. This line especially has a proverbial character which can be extended to any person, hence the translation. But masculine pronouns are otherwise maintained reflecting the Hebrew grammatical system and the speaking voice of the poem.

² tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Heb “has laid it on him.” The verb נָטַל (natal) is used 4 times in Biblical Hebrew; the related noun refers to heaviness or a burden. The entry of BDB 642 s.v. is outdated while HALOT 694 s.v. נטל is acceptable for the Qal. See D. R. Hillers, Lamentations (AB), 57. Hillers’ suggestion of a stative meaning for the Qal is followed here, though based on 2 Sam 24:12 “impose” is also possible.