Lamentations 3:22-23
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While often read as a simple statement of God's love, the verse's ancient phrasing highlights that God's mercies are not just ongoing, but are new every morning. This isn't just a feeling of steadfastness; it's a powerful declaration that even in the deepest despair, a fresh wellspring of divine compassion awaits discovery each day.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah, speaking for a devastated people, has just detailed their suffering and his personal anguish, feeling abandoned by God. This verse marks a pivotal turn in the chapter, shifting from lament to a profound affirmation of God's enduring faithfulness. It’s in the deepest valley of despair that Jeremiah begins to recall God's unchanging character, setting the stage for finding hope amidst ruin.
The book of Lamentations is filled with deep sorrow and the cries of a broken people. Yet, right in the heart of this despair, the prophet proclaims something astonishing about God's character.
Mercy When We Expect Judgment
Lamentations 3:22 is spoken from a place of immense suffering. The people of Judah had experienced devastating judgment from God due to their sin. The prophet Jeremiah, writing this, is recounting these hardships. However, he doesn't dwell solely on the destruction. Instead, he pulls back and looks at God's actions through a different lens. He recognizes that even in judgment, God's steadfast love and mercy are what have kept them from total annihilation. It's a profound shift from focusing on the why of the punishment to the grace that limits it.
This isn't about God being weak or ignoring sin. Far from it. It's about understanding that God's mercy is His dominant attribute, the wellspring from which all His actions flow, even His discipline. It means that the measure of punishment is always held in check by His everlasting love.
The verse speaks of God's mercies as if they are always present. But is this a one-time declaration, or something we can expect every day?
Fresh Mercies Every Morning
The language used here is incredibly rich. The original Hebrew speaks of 'steadfast love' (hesed) and 'mercies' (rakhamim). 'Hesed' is a covenantal, loyal love that’s unbreakable. 'Rakhamim' carries the warmth and tenderness of a mother's compassion for her child.
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These aren't just abstract qualities. The context suggests that these are active, present realities. The commentators note that the prophet, even in his darkest hour, is recalling these truths. The idea is that God's compassion isn't finite; it doesn't run out. It’s not like a savings account that can be depleted. Instead, imagine it like the sunrise – every single morning, there’s a new outpouring of His kindness and pity, tailored to the needs of that specific day. Even when we feel we’ve exhausted His patience, His mercies are ready to meet us anew.
Understand the original words
chesed · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, this refers to God’s covenant-keeping loyalty, love, and kindness. It is a persistent, faithful love that exceeds mere emotion, rooted in God's commitment to His people.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
A common name for God in the Old Testament, reflecting His covenant identity with Israel. It represents the self-existent, eternal, and personal Creator who reveals Himself through His redemptive actions.
rachamim · Hebrew Noun
Deep compassion or pity, often associated with a parent's love for a child. It denotes an emotional and active expression of grace toward those who are in distress or need.
emunah · Hebrew Noun
The attribute of God being reliable, true, and constant. It affirms that God is trustworthy and that His promises will never fail, even in the midst of human unfaithfulness.
These words of steadfast love and unfailing mercy come from the depths of despair, spoken by those living in the ruins of Jerusalem and in Babylonian exile after the devastating destruction of their city and Temple. The lament acknowledges the catastrophe but finds hope in God's enduring faithfulness, a stark contrast to their dire circumstances.
597 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and many elite citizens, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline and exile.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the heart of Israel's worship and national identity. Most remaining inhabitants are exiled to Babylon.
c. 586-538 BC
Babylonian Exile
The people of Judah live in exile in Babylon, far from their homeland. This period is marked by profound grief, loss, and questioning of God's faithfulness, as reflected in the book of Lamentations.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, and the Persian Empire rises to power. This shift eventually leads to the possibility of Jewish return.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
This passage directly echoes Lamentations 3:22, stating 'I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.' It highlights the unchanging nature of God, assuring His people that despite their struggles, His steadfastness prevents their utter destruction.
Psalm 103:8This verse beautifully captures the essence of Lamentations 3:22 by declaring, 'The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.' It reinforces the idea that God's very nature is one of enduring mercy, which is why His people are not consumed by their failings.
Romans 9:15-16Paul quotes Exodus 33:19 to show God's sovereign choice, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' This parallels the lamenter's realization that their survival is entirely due to God's unmerited, unfailing compassion, not their own merit.
Ephesians 2:4-5Here we see God's immense love and mercy in action: 'But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.' This passage shows that God's boundless mercy extends even to saving us from spiritual death, proving it never ceases.
barnesLamentations 3:22: "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
Verses 22-42 are the center of the present poem, as it also holds the central place in the whole series of the Lamentations. In them the riches of God's grace and mercy are set forth in the brightest colors, but no sooner are they ended than the prophet resumes the language of woe. That we - He is speaking as the representative of all sufferers.
pulpitLamentations 3:22: "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
Verses 22-36. - RESIGNATION AND HOPEFULNESS. Verse 22. - It is of the Lord's mercies, etc.; literally, The Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. But the "we" is difficult, especially considering that in ver. 23 (which is clearly parallel) the subject of the sentence is, not "we," but "the Lord's mercies." Hence it is probable that the reading of the Targum and the Peshite (adopted by…
While often read as a simple statement of God's love, the verse's ancient phrasing highlights that God's mercies are not just ongoing, but are new every morning. This isn't just a feeling of steadfastness; it's a powerful declaration that even in the deepest despair, a fresh wellspring of divine compassion awaits discovery each day.
The prophet Jeremiah, speaking for a devastated people, has just detailed their suffering and his personal anguish, feeling abandoned by God. This verse marks a pivotal turn in the chapter, shifting from lament to a profound affirmation of God's enduring faithfulness. It’s in the deepest valley of despair that Jeremiah begins to recall God's unchanging character, setting the stage for finding hope amidst ruin.
The prophet Jeremiah, speaking for a devastated people, has just detailed their suffering and his personal anguish, feeling abandoned by God. This verse marks a pivotal turn in the chapter, shifting from lament to a profound affirmation of God's enduring faithfulness. It’s in the deepest valley of despair that Jeremiah begins to recall God's unchanging character, setting the stage for finding hope amidst ruin.
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." — While often read as a simple statement of God's love, the verse's ancient phrasing highlights that God's mercies are not just ongoing, but are new every morning. This isn't just a feeling of steadf…
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Last reviewed October 2026
