Put a veil of anguish over their hearts;This phrase reflects a plea for divine retribution against those who have caused suffering. In the context of Lamentations, the author, traditionally believed to be Jeremiah, is lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people. The "veil of anguish" suggests a deep, overwhelming sorrow or confusion that obscures understanding or peace. This imagery of a "veil" can be connected to
2 Corinthians 3:14-16, where Paul speaks of a veil over the hearts of those who do not understand the new covenant in Christ. The request for anguish indicates a desire for the oppressors to experience the same turmoil they have inflicted, a common theme in imprecatory prayers found in the Psalms (e.g.,
Psalm 69:22-28).
may Your curse be upon them!
The invocation of a curse is a call for divine justice. In the Old Testament, curses were serious pronouncements that invoked God's judgment (Deuteronomy 27-28). The historical context of Lamentations is the Babylonian exile, a period of intense suffering for the Israelites, seen as a result of breaking the covenant with God. The curse here is not just a wish for misfortune but a call for God to act in accordance with His justice. This reflects the covenantal relationship where blessings and curses were part of the agreement between God and Israel (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). Theologically, this can be seen as a precursor to the ultimate justice and redemption found in Christ, who bore the curse of sin on the cross (Galatians 3:13), offering a path to reconciliation and blessing.
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, leading to the lament and mourning expressed in the book.
3.
The People of Judah- The recipients of God's judgment due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry, leading to their exile.
4.
Babylonians- The instrument of God's judgment against Judah, responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem.
5.
God- The ultimate judge who allows the consequences of sin to unfold, yet remains sovereign and just.
Teaching Points
Understanding Divine JudgmentGod's hardening of hearts is a form of judgment that reflects the seriousness of persistent sin and rebellion. It serves as a warning to remain sensitive to God's voice and responsive to His correction.
The Consequences of SinThe hardening of hearts is a consequence of continued disobedience. It is crucial to examine our lives and repent of any sin that may lead to spiritual insensitivity.
The Sovereignty of GodEven in judgment, God is sovereign and just. His actions are purposeful, aiming to bring about repentance and restoration.
The Call to IntercessionAs believers, we are called to intercede for those whose hearts are hardened, praying for God's mercy and the softening of their hearts.
Hope in God's MercyDespite the severity of judgment, Lamentations also speaks of God's unfailing love and mercy. We can trust in His compassion and seek His forgiveness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Lamentations 3:65?
2.How does Lamentations 3:65 reflect God's justice towards unrepentant hearts?
3.What does "harden their hearts" teach about consequences of rejecting God?
4.How can we guard our hearts against spiritual hardening like in Lamentations 3:65?
5.Compare Lamentations 3:65 with Pharaoh's hardened heart in Exodus. What similarities exist?
6.How can believers pray for those with hardened hearts, based on Lamentations 3:65?
7.What does Lamentations 3:65 mean by "harden their hearts" in a spiritual context?
8.How does Lamentations 3:65 reflect God's justice and mercy?
9.What historical events might have influenced the writing of Lamentations 3:65?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Lamentations 3?
11.Why would Job 3 present a poetic lament that appears contradictory to a worldview promoting divine compassion, and how has this been reconciled historically?
12.How can Job 3:3 imply that a specific calendar day could be 'cursed,' and what would that logically accomplish?
13.Does the despair expressed in Job 3 contradict later biblical accounts (e.g., James 5:11) that describe Job as patient and steadfast?
14.Did Job's words contain any sin?What Does Lamentations 3:65 Mean
Put a veil of anguish over their hearts“Put a veil of anguish over their hearts” (Lamentations 3:65) pictures God allowing a spiritual shroud to settle on the oppressors so they can no longer ignore the pain they have caused.
• Throughout Scripture, hardness of heart is both a consequence and a punishment for persistent sin (Exodus 9:12;Romans 1:24–28).
• A “veil” suggests obscured understanding—echoingIsaiah 6:9–10, where the people “keep on hearing, but do not understand” until judgment awakens them.
• The anguish here is not arbitrary cruelty; it is justice that mirrors what they inflicted on Jerusalem (Jeremiah 17:18).
• God’s people trust that His righteous character means He will answer oppression, as seen inPsalm 69:22–24, where David prays, “May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see.”
In context, Jeremiah is not lashing out in personal revenge; he is appealing to the covenant God who promised to vindicate His name (Deuteronomy 32:35-36). The veil serves both as retribution and as a potential catalyst for repentance, should they recognize their plight.
may Your curse be upon them!The second line intensifies the first: “may Your curse be upon them!”
• A “curse” invokes the covenant sanctions spelled out inDeuteronomy 27–30; those who violate God’s ways invite His disciplined wrath (Deuteronomy 28:15-20).
• Jeremiah trusts the Lord to apply that covenant framework to Babylonian and allied oppressors (Jeremiah 50:29-31).
• This plea lines up with other imprecatory passages where God’s servants hand ultimate judgment over to Him rather than taking vengeance themselves (Psalm 109:17-20;Romans 12:19).
• Calling for God’s curse underscores that evil will not have the last word; righteousness and justice must be upheld (Isaiah 10:12).
Far from contradicting New Testament mercy, such prayers highlight our dependence on God to right wrongs. InRevelation 6:10 the martyrs cry, “How long, O Lord… until You avenge our blood?”—showing the same longing for holy justice.
summaryLamentations 3:65 conveys a two-fold appeal: first, that God would place a conscience-piercing anguish on hardened hearts, and second, that He would enact the covenant curse against unrepentant evil. The prophet entrusts judgment to God, confident that the Lord who allowed suffering for a season will also uphold justice. For believers today, the verse affirms both God’s unwavering righteousness and our call to leave vengeance in His hands while longing for His perfect justice to prevail.
(65)
Sorrow of heart--Literally,
covering,with a sense like that of the "veil upon the heart" of
2Corinthians 3:15, and so signifying the blindness of obstinacy. The imperatives in both
Lamentations 3:65-66 are better rendered as futures--
Thou shalt give; Thou shalt persecute.Verse 65. -
Sorrow of heart; rather,
a covering of the heart; spiritual blindness, like the "veil upon the heart" in
2 Corinthians 3:15.
Thy curse unto them. This should rather form a separate interjectional clause, "Thy curse upon them!"
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
You will giveתִּתֵּ֤ן(tit·tên)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setthemלָהֶם֙(lā·hem)Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992:Theyhardnessמְגִנַּת־(mə·ḡin·naṯ-)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4044:A covering, blindness, obduracyof heart;לֵ֔ב(lêḇ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820:The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centremay Your curse beתַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖(ta·’ă·lā·ṯə·ḵā)Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8381:An imprecationupon them!לָהֶֽם׃(lā·hem)Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992:They
Links
Lamentations 3:65 NIVLamentations 3:65 NLTLamentations 3:65 ESVLamentations 3:65 NASBLamentations 3:65 KJV
Lamentations 3:65 BibleApps.comLamentations 3:65 Biblia ParalelaLamentations 3:65 Chinese BibleLamentations 3:65 French BibleLamentations 3:65 Catholic Bible
OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:65 You will give them hardness of heart (Lam. La Lm) 
