Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 3:30
He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
30. Let him give his cheek ] Cp. Job 16:10; Isa 50:6; Mat 5:39.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 30. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth] He has that love that is not provoked. He is not quarrelsome, nor apt to resent injuries; he suffers long and is kind. Or, it may be rendered, “let him give his cheek.”
He is filled full with reproach.] Though all this take place, yet let his “trust be in God, who will not cast off for ever.” God will take his part, and bring him safely through all hardships.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
According to our Saviours precept, Mat 5:39, he doth not take any private revenge; he is reproached and reviled, but when he is so he revileth not again, 1Pe 2:23; he is filled with reproach from others, but his mouth is not filled with the reproachings of others.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
30. Messiah, the Antitype,fulfilled this; His practice agreeing with His precept (Isa 50:6;Mat 5:39). Many take patientlyafflictions from God, but when man wrongs them, they take itimpatiently. The godly bear resignedly the latter, like the former,as sent by God (Ps 17:13).
Caph.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him,…. Either to God that afflicts him, and patiently bears it; see Isa 9:13; or rather to men. To be smitten on the cheek is always reckoned a very great affront; to turn the cheek to an injurious man is to give him an opportunity and leave to smite, and signifies the taking of it patiently, and agrees both with our Lord’s advice and example, Mt 5:39;
he is filled full with reproach; has many reproaches, and the reproaches of many upon him; as such must expect, that take Christ’s yoke upon them; see Ps 123:3; and yet revile not again, but esteem reproaches for Christ’s sake great riches, and wear them as crowns, and bind them about their necks as chains of gold; esteeming it an honour and a happiness to suffer shame for his name.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here he mentions another fruit of patience, that the faithful, even when injuries are done to them by the wicked, would yet be calm and resigned. For there are many who submit to God when they perceive his hand; as, for instance, when any one is afflicted with a disease, he knows that it is a chastisement that proceeds from God; when pestilence happens, or famine, from the inclemency of the weather, the hand of God appears to them; and many then conduct themselves in a suitable manner: but when an enemy meets one, and when injured, he instantly says, “I have now nothing to do with God, but that wicked enemy treats me disgracefully.”
It is then for this reason that the Prophet shews that the patience of the godly ought to extend to injuries of this kind; and hence he says, He will give the cheek to the smiter, and will be filled with reproaches (188) There are two kinds of injuries; for the wicked either treat us with violence, or assail us with reproaches; and reproach is the bitterest of all things, and inflicts a most grievous wound on all ingenuous minds. The Prophet, then, here declares that the children of God ought meekly to suffer when they are violently assailed, and not only so, but when they are dealt with reproachfully by the wicked. This, then, he says of patience. Now follows another confirmation, —
(188) That is, he will suffer himself to be filled with reproaches; he will submit to all reproaches. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(30) He giveth his cheek . . .The submission enjoined reaches its highest pointa patience like that of Job. 16:10; we may add, like that of the Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5:39.) It was harder to accept the Divine chastisement when it came through human agents. Not so had Jeremiah once taught and acted (Jer. 20:1-6; Jer. 28:15). (Comp. Isa. 1:6.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Lam 3:30. He giveth his cheek, &c. He not only humbles himself in the sight of his Maker, but also bears with patience the ill-treatment of men. See Mat 26:62. Mar 14:65.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Lam 3:30 He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Ver. 30. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him. ] Humility, the product of affliction sanctified, is still at her lesson, or rather practising what she hath learned. David, having suffered by Absalom, can well enough bear with Shimei’s tongue smitings; and the apostles, after they had been in prison, departed from the council, rejoicing that they were so far graced as to be disgraced for the name of Jesus. Act 5:41
He is filled full of reproach.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
giveth his cheek. Compare Isa 50:6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
his: Job 16:10, Isa 50:6, Mic 5:1, Mat 5:39, Mat 26:67, Luk 6:29, 2Co 11:20
filled: Psa 69:9, Psa 69:20, Psa 123:3
Reciprocal: 1Ki 22:24 – smote Micaiah 2Ch 18:23 – Zedekiah Psa 3:7 – thou Psa 22:6 – a reproach Lam 3:61 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lam 3:30. The spirit of resignation to an unavoidable lot is the lesson here.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The afflicted do well to yield to the antagonism of others and to allow others to heap reproach on them, rather than retaliating (cf. Mat 26:67; Luk 22:64; Joh 18:22; Joh 19:3).
"Many take patiently afflictions from God, but when man wrongs them, they take it impatiently. The godly bear resignedly the latter, like the former, as sent by God (Psa 17:13)." [Note: Jamieson, et al., p. 664.]