Lamentations 3:12

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃

Transliteration

dārak qaštô wayyaṣṣîbēnî like the maṭṭārāʾ for ḥēṣ

Grammar Details

*dārak*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - bent/tread
*qaštô*: noun, feminine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his bow
*wayyaṣṣîbēnî*: verb, hiphil imperfect consecutive, 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - and he set me up
*maṭṭārāʾ*: noun, feminine singular with definite article - the target
*ḥēṣ*: noun, masculine singular - arrow

Word Meanings

*dārak*: bent/tread/strung [a bow]
*wayyaṣṣîbēnî*: and he set me up/and he positioned me/and he fixed me
*maṭṭārāʾ*: target/mark
*ḥēṣ*: arrow/shaft

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Job 7:20 : 20 If I have sinned, what I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?
Ps 38:2 : 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.
Lam 2:4 : 4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire.
Job 6:4 : 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
Ps 7:12-13 : 12 If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts].
Job 16:12-13 : 12 I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark. 13 His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Lam 3:13-16
4 verses
88%
13He hath caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood.
16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he hath covered me with ashes.
Lam 3:9-11
3 verses
84%
9He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.
10He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.
11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.
Job 16:11-14
4 verses
82%
11God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.
13His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
Ps 7:12-13
2 verses
79%
12If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts].
Ps 38:2
79%
2For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.
Ps 11:2
78%
2For, lo, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart;
Isa 49:2
77%
2and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close:
Job 6:4
77%
4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
Lam 1:13
76%
13From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
Lam 3:2-7
6 verses
76%
2He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.
3Surely against me he turneth his hand again and again all the day.
4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
7He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy.
Job 19:11
75%
11He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as [one of] his adversaries.
Lam 2:4
75%
4He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire.
Ps 64:7
75%
7But God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.
Ps 21:12
75%
12For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.
Job 33:10-11
2 verses
75%
10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.
2 Sam 22:35
75%
35He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
Ps 57:6
74%
6They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me; They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. {H5542}
Job 41:28
74%
28The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.
Ps 37:14
74%
14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way.
Deut 32:23
74%
23I will heap evils upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them:
1 Sam 20:20
74%
20And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
Ps 120:4
73%
4Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.
Ps 18:34
73%
34He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
Ps 45:5
73%
5Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under thee; [They are] in the heart of the king's enemies.
Ps 143:3
73%
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
Ps 64:3
73%
3Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,
Jer 12:3
72%
3But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Ps 140:5
72%
5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. {H5542}
Job 30:11
72%
11For he hath loosed his cord, and afflicted me; And they have cast off the bridle before me.
Job 20:24
72%
24He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.
Ps 58:7
72%
7Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.
Ezek 39:3
72%
3and I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
Ps 22:16
72%
16For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.
Job 19:9
71%
9He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.
Gen 49:23
71%
23The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him: