Lamentations 3:47
New International Version
We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.”

New Living Translation
We are filled with fear, for we are trapped, devastated, and ruined.”

English Standard Version
panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction;

Berean Standard Bible
Panic and pitfall have come upon us—devastation and destruction.

Berean Literal Bible
terror and pitfall have come upon us, desolation and destruction!

King James Bible
Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

New King James Version
Fear and a snare have come upon us, Desolation and destruction.

New American Standard Bible
Panic and pitfall have come upon us, Devastation and destruction;

NASB 1995
Panic and pitfall have befallen us, Devastation and destruction;

NASB 1977
Panic and pitfall have befallen us, Devastation and destruction;

Legacy Standard Bible
Panic and pitfall have befallen us, Devastation and destruction;

Amplified Bible
Panic and pitfall (traps, danger) have come on us, Devastation and destruction.

Berean Annotated Bible
Panic and pitfall have come upon us—devastation and destruction.

Christian Standard Bible
We have experienced panic and pitfall, devastation and destruction.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We have experienced panic and pitfall, devastation and destruction.

American Standard Version
Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction.

Contemporary English Version
We are terrified and trapped, caught and crushed."

English Revised Version
Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Panic and pitfalls have found us, so have devastation and destruction.

Good News Translation
We have been through disaster and ruin; we live in danger and fear.

International Standard Version
Panic and pitfalls beset us, along with devastation and ruin.

NET Bible
Panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction.

New Heart English Bible
Fear and the pit have come on us, devastation and destruction.

Webster's Bible Translation
Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Panic and pitfall have come upon us—devastation and destruction.

World English Bible
Terror and the pit have come on us, devastation and destruction.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Fear and a snare has been for us, "" Desolation and destruction.

Berean Literal Bible
terror and pitfall have come upon us, desolation and destruction!

Young's Literal Translation
Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.

Smith's Literal Translation
Fear and a snare were to us, desolation and breaking.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Phe. Prophecy is become to us a fear, and a snare, and destruction.

Catholic Public Domain Version
PHE. Prediction has become for us a dread, and a snare, and a grief.

New American Bible
Panic and the pit have been our lot, desolation and destruction;

New Revised Standard Version
panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Till the LORD look down and behold from heaven.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Until LORD JEHOVAH will gaze and will see from Heaven
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Terror and the pit are come upon us, Desolation and destruction.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Fear and wrath are come upon us, suspense and destruction.

Additional Translations ...



Context
God's Justice
46All our enemies open their mouths against us. 47Panic and pitfall have come upon us— devastation and destruction. 48Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people.…

Cross References
Panic and pitfall

Isaiah 24:17-18
Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth. / Whoever flees the sound of panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Jeremiah 48:43-44
Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD. / “Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.
have come upon us—

Daniel 9:12-13
You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. / Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth.

Nehemiah 9:32-33
So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God who keeps His gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. / You are just in all that has befallen us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.

Jeremiah 44:23
Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”
devastation and destruction.

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Isaiah 51:19
These pairs have befallen you: devastation and destruction, famine and sword. Who will grieve for you? Who can comfort you?

Jeremiah 4:20
Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment.
Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

Ezekiel 7:26
Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.

Deuteronomy 32:23-25
I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them. / They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust. / Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.

Psalm 18:4-5
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 116:3
The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

Isaiah 8:22
Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Matthew 24:7-8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. / All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


Treasury of Scripture

Fear and a snare is come on us, desolation and destruction.

fear

Isaiah 24:17,18
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth…

Isaiah 51:19
These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

Jeremiah 48:43,44
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD…

desolation

Lamentations 1:4,13
The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness…

Lamentations 2:1-9
How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! …

Jump to Previous
Befallen Deep Desolation Destruction Devastation Fear Panic Pit Pitfall Pitfalls Ruin Snare Suffered Terror Wasting Waters
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Befallen Deep Desolation Destruction Devastation Fear Panic Pit Pitfall Pitfalls Ruin Snare Suffered Terror Wasting Waters
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












Panic and pitfall

Jerusalem’s fall brought terror within the city and danger on every side as Babylon’s siege tightened. Hunger, disease, violence, and betrayal left the people without safety or certainty.

Isa 24:17-18 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth.…
Jer 48:43-44 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab…

have come upon us—

The suffering had arrived as the judgment long warned by the prophets. Judah’s continued rebellion against the Lord led to the consequences of the covenant curses.

Dan 9:12-13 For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done…
Neh 9:32-33 So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God…
Jer 44:23 Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD…

devastation and destruction.

The city, its homes, its walls, and the temple were ruined when Babylon captured Jerusalem in 586 BC. The devastation testified to the seriousness of sin, yet the judgment did not cancel God’s promises of future restoration for His people.

Isa 59:7 Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood…
Isa 51:19 These pairs have befallen you: devastation and destruction…
Jer 4:20 Disaster after disaster is proclaimed…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
Traditionally considered the author of Lamentations, Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet." He lamented the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people.

2. Jerusalem
The city that faced devastation and destruction at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 B.C. This event is central to the context of Lamentations.

3. Babylonian Siege
The military campaign led by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, resulting in the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish people.

4. The Exile
The period following the destruction of Jerusalem when many Jews were taken captive to Babylon, marking a significant moment of crisis and reflection for the Jewish people.

5. The Remnant
The small group of Jews who remained in the land or returned after the exile, representing hope and the continuation of God's covenant people.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Judgment
Lamentations 3:47 reminds us of the seriousness of God's judgment. It serves as a sobering reminder that sin has real consequences, both individually and collectively.

The Depth of Human Suffering
The verse captures the profound suffering experienced by the people of Jerusalem. It encourages us to empathize with those who suffer and to seek God's comfort and restoration.

The Call to Repentance
The devastation described in Lamentations is a call to repentance. It challenges us to examine our own lives and turn back to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.

Hope Amidst Despair
While the verse speaks of destruction, the broader context of Lamentations includes hope in God's faithfulness. We are reminded that even in our darkest moments, God is present and His mercies are new every morning.

Community and Intercession
The communal nature of the suffering in Lamentations encourages us to stand with others in their trials, offering support and intercession in prayer.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Lamentations 3:47?

2. How does Lamentations 3:47 reflect God's judgment and mercy in our lives?

3. What lessons can we learn from "panic and pitfall" in our trials?

4. How does Lamentations 3:47 connect to God's promises in Romans 8:28?

5. In what ways can we seek God's guidance during times of "devastation and destruction"?

6. How can Lamentations 3:47 inspire us to trust God amidst life's challenges?

7. What historical events might Lamentations 3:47 be referencing with "panic and pitfall"?

8. How does Lamentations 3:47 reflect the overall theme of suffering in the book?

9. What theological implications arise from the calamities described in Lamentations 3:47?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Lamentations 3?


(47) Fear and a snare.--A quotation from Jeremiah 48:43, and Isaiah 24:17.

Desolation.--Better, devastation. The Hebrew noun is not found elsewhere, but the cognate verb in Isaiah 37:26 is rendered "to lay waste."

Verse 47. - Fear and a snare. An alliteration in the Hebrew, borrowed from Jeremiah 48:43 (comp. Isaiah 24:17).

Each word in Lamentations 3:47 traces a downward spiral. Panic grips the heart, pitfall ensnares the path, devastation sweeps the land, and destruction seals the fate. The verse stands as proof that God means what He says in His covenant promises and warnings. Sin brings real, measurable ruin—but even in the rubble, His mercy keeps a doorway open for repentant hearts to find restoration.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Panic
פַּ֧חַד (pa·ḥaḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6343: A, alarm

and pitfall
וָפַ֛חַת (wā·p̄a·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6354: A pit, for, catching animals

have come upon us—
הָ֥יָה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

devastation
הַשֵּׁ֥את (haš·šêṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7612: Perhaps devastation

and destruction.
וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃ (wə·haš·šā·ḇer)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7667: A breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash


Additonal Resources
Lamentations 3:47 Blue Letter Bible
Lamentations 3:47 Bible Gateway
Lamentations 3:47 Bible.com

Lamentations 3:47 NIV
Lamentations 3:47 NLT
Lamentations 3:47 ESV
Lamentations 3:47 NASB
Lamentations 3:47 KJV

Lamentations 3:47 Study Bible
Lamentations 3:47 Biblia Paralela
Lamentations 3:47 Chinese Bible
Lamentations 3:47 French Bible
Lamentations 3:47 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:47 Fear and the pit are come (Lam. La Lm)

Lamentations 3:46
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