## Rashi on Lamentations Chapter 3

###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:1:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:1:1)

**אֲנִי הַגֶּבֶר רָאָה עֳנִי.** הָיָה מִתְאוֹנֵן יִרְמְיָה לוֹמַר: "אֲנִי הַגֶּבֶר רָאָה עֳנִי", אֲשֶׁר רָאָה עֹנִי מִכָּל הַנְּבִיאִים שֶׁנִּתְנַבְּאוּ עַל חֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת, שֶׁבִּימֵיהֶם לֹא נֶחֱרַב הַבַּיִת, כִּי אִם בְּיָמָי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I am the man who has seen torment.** Yirmiyahu lamented, saying, “I am the man who has seen torment,” [i.e.,] who has seen torment more than all the prophets who prophesied concerning the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh, for the Beis Hamikdosh was not destroyed in their days, but it was [destroyed] in my days .


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:1:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:1:2)

**בְּשֵׁבֶט עֶבְרָתוֹ.** שֶׁל רוֹדֶה וּמַכֶּה, הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**By the rod of His fury.** Of the One who chastises and smites, i.e., the Holy One, Blessed is He.¹

footnotes:
¹ Alternatively, the enemy’s rod, i.e., this phrase reverts to ‘my enemy has annihilated,’ and how, ‘by the rod of his fury.’ (Ibn Ezra)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:3:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:3:1)

**אַךְ בִּי יָשֻׁב.** אֲנִי לְבַדִּי לוֹקֶה תָמִיד, כִּי כָל תְּשׁוּבוֹת מַכּוֹתָיו עָלָי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**At me alone He repeatedly.** I alone am constantly smitten, for the entire repetition of His blows is upon me.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:4:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:4:1)

**בִּלָּה בְשָׂרִי.** כְּמוֹ "לְבוּל עֵץ". דָּבָר אַחֵר: "בִּלָּה בְשָׂרִי וְעוֹרִי". כְּמוֹ "וְהָאָרֶץ כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶה". כְּלוֹמַר, שָׁכְבוּ לָאָרֶץ חוּצוֹת נַעַר וְזָקֵן, וְלֹא הָיָה לָהֶם כַּר וְכֶסֶת וּבִלָּה בְשָׂרָם כְּשֶׁהֵם גּוֹלִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He rotted my flesh.** As in, “to rotten לְבוּל wood.”² Another explanation: ‘He has made my flesh and skin waste away,’ as in, “And the earth will wear away תִּבְלֶה like a garment,”³ i.e., both young and old lay outdoors on the ground with neither pillow nor cushion, and their flesh wore out, when they were going into exile.

footnotes:
² Yeshayahuu 44:19.
³ Ibid., 51:6.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:5:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:5:1)

**וַיַּקַּף.** הִקִּיפַנִי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Encircling.** He encompassed me.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:5:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:5:2)

**רֹאשׁ וּתְלָאָה.** כְּמוֹ "רֹאשׁ וְלַעֲנָה". וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: רֹאשׁ זֶה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר בְּגָלוּת יְהוֹיָכִין. וּתְלָאָה, נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן שֶׁגָּמַר הַמַּכָּה בִימֵי צִדְקִיָּהוּ וְהֶלְאַנִי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Gall and bitter plants.** As in, “gall and bitter fruit.”⁴ The Midrash Aggadah [states] that רֹאשׁ, refers to Nevuchadnetzar in the exile of Yehoyachin; and תְלָאָה [refers to] Nevuzaradan, who completed the blow in the days of Tzidkiyahu, and he wearied me.⁵

footnotes:
⁴ Devarim 29:17.
⁵ According to this Midrash, תלאה is an expression similar to Shemos 18:8, where it means travail, hardship. (Sifsei Chachomim)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:7:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:7:1)

**גָּדַר בַּעֲדִי.** עָשָׂה חוֹמָה לְנֶגְדִּי לִהְיוֹת כָּלוּא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He fenced me in.** He has made a wall opposite me [so that I] should be imprisoned.⁶

footnotes:
⁶ Symbolic of Nevuchadnetzar’s siege around Yerusholayim. (Lechem Dimah)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:7:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:7:2)

**וְלֹא אֵצֵא.** הוֹשִׁיב סְבִיבוֹתַי מַחֲנוֹת וּגְיָסוֹת שֶׁל אוֹרְבִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And I cannot go out.** He stationed around me camps and troops of soldiers lying in wait for me.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:7:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:7:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:7:3)

**הִכְבִּיד נְחָשְׁתִּי.** עָשָׂה לְרַגְלַי נְחֻשְׁתַּיִם כְּבֵדִים שֶׁלֹא אוּכַל לֵילֵךְ, פיריי"שׁ בְּלַעַ"ז:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He chained me heavily.** He made heavy fetters for my feet so that I would not be able to walk, *ferjes* in O.F.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:8:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:8:1)

**שָׂתַם תְּפִלָּתִי.** סָתַם חַלֹּנוֹת הָרָקִיעַ בְּפָנֶיהָ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He represses my prayer.** He shut the windows of the heavens before it.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:9:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:9:1)

**נְתִיבוֹתַי עִוָּה.** אִם בָּאתִי לָצֵאת, אֵינִי יוֹצְאָה בַדְּרָכִים הַסְּלוּלִים, בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה, מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹיְבִים, וְאֵצֵא דֶרֶךְ עֲקַלָּתוֹן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He has made my paths crooked.** If I wish to go out, I do not go out in the roads paved in a straight way, because of the enemies, but I go out on the crooked road.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:10:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:10:1)

**דֹּב אֹרֵב הוּא לִי.** הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נֶהְפַּךְ לִי לְדֹב אוֹרֵב:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He is a bear lying in wait for me.** The Holy One, Blessed Is He, turned into a bear in wait for me.⁷

footnotes:
⁷ Alternatively, bear refers to Nevuchadnetzar who lay in wait to attack the Bnei Yisroel who are symbolized by a lion. (Eichah Rabbah 3:4)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:11:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:11:1)

**דְּרָכַי סוֹרֵר.** לְשׁוֹן סִירִים, קוֹצִים. סוֹרֵר, קוֹוֵץ אוֹתָם, מְפַזֵּר קוֹצִים בִּדְרָכָי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He spread thorns across my roads.** An expression of thorns, [meaning that] He “has strewn” them with thorns, [i.e.,] He scattered thorns on my ways.⁸

footnotes:
⁸ Alternatively, ‘he forced me off my path.’ (Ibn Ezra)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:11:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:11:2)

**וַיְפַשְּׁחֵנִי.** לְשׁוֹן פִּסּוּק הָרַגְלַיִם שֶׁהָעוֹבֵר עַל הַדְּרָכִים שֶׁאֵין מֻפְנִים צָרִיךְ לְהַרְחִיב צְעָדָיו. וְיֵשׁ דֻּגְמָא בִלְשׁוֹן גְּמָרָא, "הַאי מַאן דְּפָשַׁח דִּיקְלָא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He made me hurdle them.** An expression of spreading the legs.⁹ One who passes on roads that are not cleared must widen his stride, and there is an example of this in the language of the Gemara:¹⁰ “The one who pruned דְּפָשַׁח¹¹ a date palm.”

footnotes:
⁹ Alternatively, ‘he wounded me.’ (Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez)
¹⁰ Maseches Mo’ed Katan 10b.
¹¹ I.e., he separated the branches from the tree trunk. Here too, he had to separate his legs, i.e., take large strides, in order to avoid the thorns.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:12:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:12:1)

**וַיַּצִּיבֵנִי כַּמַּטָּרָא.** הֶעֱמִידַנִי כְנֶגֶד חִצִּיו לִירוֹת בִּי כְּמַטָּרָא, אשנייל"א בְּלַעַ"ז:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[He] positioned me as a target.** He set me up opposite His arrows to shoot at me like a target,¹² *aseneil* in O.F.

footnotes:
¹² By having to hurdle over the thorns I was forced to slow down, thereby becoming an easy target for my enemy. (Lechem Dimah)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:13:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:13:1)

**בְּנֵי אַשְׁפָּתוֹ.** חִצִּים שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין בְּתוֹךְ אַשְׁפָּה שֶׁקּוֹרִין קויכר"א:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The arrows of His quiver.** Arrows that are put into the quiver, called *cuivre* [in O.F.].


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:16:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:16:1)

**וַיַּגְרֵס.** וַיְשַׁבֵּר, וְדֻגְמָתוֹ "גָּרְסָה נַפְשִׁי". וְכֵן, "גֶּרֶשׂ כַּרְמֶל":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He ground.** [Meaning] and He broke; and an example is, “My soul is crushed גָּרְסָה,”¹³ and similarly, “ground גֶּרֶשׂ when still fresh.”¹⁴

footnotes:
¹³ Tehilim 119:20.
¹⁴ Vayikra 2:14.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:16:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:16:2)

**בֶּחָצָץ.** אֲבָנִים דַּקִּים שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הֶעָפָר, שֶׁהָיוּ הַגּוֹלִים לָשִׁין עִסָּתָן בְּתוֹךְ הַגּוּמוֹת שֶׁחוֹפְרִים בַּקַּרְקַע, וְהֶחָצָץ נִכְנָס לְתוֹכָהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִיחֶזְקֵאל "עֲשֵׂה לְךָ כְּלֵי גוֹלָה" לִשְׁתּוֹת בּוֹ וְלָלוּשׁ בְּתוֹכוֹ חֲרָרָה קְטַנָּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמְדוּ הֵם וְיַעֲשׂוּ כֵן, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהָיָה יְחֶזְקֵאל לָכֶם לְמוֹפֵת". וְהֵם הָיוּ מְשַׂחֲקִים עָלָיו וְלֹא עָשׂוּ כֵן. לְסוֹף נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ שִׁנֵּיהֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Pebblestones.** Fine pebbles that are in the dust, for the exiles would knead their dough in the pits that they would dig in the ground, and the gravel would enter it, as the Holy One, Blessed Is He, said to Yechezkeil, “Make yourself implements for exile,”¹⁵ in which to drink and in which to knead a small cake, so that they should learn and do likewise, as it is stated, “And Yechezkeil will be to you for a sign.”¹⁶ But they ridiculed him and did not do so; at the end their teeth were broken.

footnotes:
¹⁵ Yechezkeil 12:3.
¹⁶ Ibid., 24:24.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:16:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:16:3)

**הִכְפִּישַׁנִי.** כָּפָה אוֹתִי בָאֵפֶר כִּכְלִי הַכָּפוּי עַל פִּיו, ארנטי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז, וְיֵשׁ דּוֹמֶה בַמִּשְׁנָה, "פִּישׁוֹן הַגָּמָּל בַּמִּדָּה הַכְּפוּשָׁה מָדַד":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He made me grovel.** He turned me over in ashes like a vessel inverted on its mouth, *adenter* in O.F. [to throw flat on one’s face]. There is a similar [word] in the Mishnah, “Pishon the camel driver measured with a reversible measure.”¹⁷

footnotes:
¹⁷ Maseches Yevamos 107b; he would invert the measure to his advantage, thereby shortchanging his customers.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:18:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:18:1)

**וָאֹמַר אָבַד נִצְחִי.** אָמַרְתִּי בְלִבִּי בְּרֹב צָרוֹתַי, "אָבַד עוֹלָמִי וְסִבְרִי":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I thought that my world was ruined.** I said to myself because of my many troubles, “My world and my hope are gone.”


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:19:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:19:1)

**וּמְרוּדִי.** אקימפלויינ"ט בְּלַעַ"ז:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And my lament.** *Conpleint* in O.F., [wailing].


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:20:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:20:1)

**זָכוֹר תִּזְכּוֹר.** נַפְשִׁי אֶת עָנְיִי וּמְרוּדִי וְתָשׁוֹחַ עָלַי. כַּךְ הוּא פְשׁוּטוֹ לְפִי עִנְיַן שִׁיטַת הַמִּקְרָא. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: "זָכוֹר תִּזְכּוֹר", יָדַעְתִּי שֶׁסּוֹפְךָ לִזְכּוֹר אֶת הֶעָשׂוּי לִי, אֲבָל תָּשׁוֹחַ עָלַי נַפְשִׁי לְהַמְתִּין עַד זְמַן הַזְּכִירָה, וּמִכַּאן יִסַּד הַפַּיָּט, "בְּזֹאת יָדַעְתִּי כִּי יֵשׁ לְךָ לִזְכּוֹר, אֲבָל תָּשׁוֹחַ עָלַי נַפְשִׁי עַד שֶׁתִּזְכּוֹר":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**When remembering.** My soul [remembers] my affliction and my misery and is bowed down within me. This is the simple meaning according to the context of the verse.¹⁸ But, the Midrash Aggadah explains זָכוֹר תִּזְכּוֹר, as, “I know that in the end You will remember what was done to me,¹⁹ but my soul is bowed down within me waiting for the time of remembrance.” On this [explanation] the liturgical author based, “With this I know that You have to remember, but my soul is bowed down within me until You remember.”

footnotes:
¹⁸ I.e., תזכור is in the ‘third person feminine,’ and refers to his soul.
¹⁹ I.e., תזכור is in the ‘second person masculine,’ and refers to God. In the Hebrew language, the ‘second person masculine’ and the ‘third person feminine’ are identical. (Sifsei Chachomim)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:21:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:21:1)

**זֹאת אָשִׁיב אֶל לִבִּי.** אַחַר שֶׁאָמַר לִי לִבִּי, "אָבְדָה תוֹחַלְתִּי מֵה'", אָשִׁיב זֹאת אֶל לִבִּי וְאוֹחִיל עוֹד. וּמָה הוּא זֹאת שֶׁאָשִׁיב אֶל לִבִּי?

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Still I take this to heart.** After my heart told me that my hope from God was gone, I will reply this to my heart, and I will continue to hope. What is it that I will reply to my heart?


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:22:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:22:1)

**חַסְדֵי ה' כִּי לֹא תָמְנוּ.** וְכָל הָעִנְיָן עַד "מַה יִתְאוֹנֵן וְגוֹ'":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**By the grace Adonoy we have not perished.** And the entire section until, “Why should [a living man] bemoan, etc.”²⁰

footnotes:
²⁰ Below, verse 39.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:22:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:22:2)

**כִּי לֹא תָמְנוּ.** כְּמוֹ כִּי לֹא תַמּוּ. וְיֵשׁ מְפָרְשִׁים "כִּי לֹא תָמְנוּ" כְּמוֹ "הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֹעַ". חַסְדֵי ה' הֵם אֲשֶׁר לֹא תָמְנוּ וְלֹא כָלִינוּ בַעֲוֹנֵינוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**We have not perished.** תָמְנוּ is] the same as תַמּוּ [ended].²¹ And some explain כִּי לֹא תָמְנוּ as in, “Will we ever stop תַּמְנוּ dying?”²² It is the kindnesses of God that we were not annihilated, that we have not perished because of our sins.

footnotes:
²¹ I.e., in ‘the third person’ meaning ‘they have not perished.’ But according to Rashi’s second explanation, תמנו is in the ‘second person’ meaning ‘we have not perished.’ (Sifsei Chachomim)
²² Bamidbar 17:28.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:23:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:23:1)

**חֲדָשִׁים לַבְּקָרִים.** מִתְחַדְּשִׁים הֵם חֲסָדֶיךָ מִיּוֹם אֶל יוֹם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Each morning refreshed.** Your kindnesses are renewed from day to day.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:23:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:23:2)

**רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ.** גְּדוֹלָה הִיא הַבְטָחָתְךָ, וְדָבָר גָּדוֹל הוּא לְהַאֲמִין בְּךָ שֶׁתְּקַיֵּם וְתִשְׁמֹר מַה שֶּׁהִבְטַחְתָּ לָּנוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Your faithfulness is immense.** Your promise is great, and it is a great thing to believe in You that You will fulfill and keep what You promised us.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:24:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:24:1)

**חֶלְקִי ה' אָמְרָה נַפְשִׁי.** ה' מְנָת חֶלְקִי, וְדִין הוּא שֶׁאוֹחִיל לוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**‘Adonoy is my portion,’ my soul declares.** God is my portion; therefore it is proper that I should hope in Him.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:26:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:26:1)

**טוֹב וְיָחִיל וְדוּמָם.** וָי"ו שֶׁל "וְיָחִיל" יְתֵרָה, כְּמוֹ וָי"ו שֶׁל "וְאַיָּה וַעֲנָה". טוֹב שֶׁיָּחִיל אָדָם וְיִדֹּם וִיצַפֶּה לִתְשׁוּעַת ה':

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**It is good to hope in stillness.** The *vav* of וְיָחִיל is superfluous just like the *vav* of “וְאַיָּה וַעֲנָה”²³ [is superfluous in וְאַיָּה. It is good for man to hope, and remain silent and wait for God’s salvation.

footnotes:
²³ Bereishis 36:24.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:28:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:28:1)

**יֵשֵׁב בָּדָד.** מִי שֶׁאֵרַע לוֹ אֵבֶל וְצָרָה, יֵשֵׁב גַּלְמוּד וִיצַפֶּה לְטוֹבָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Let him stay alone.** Whoever was befallen by mourning and trouble should sit alone and wait for good [to come].


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:28:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:28:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:28:2)

**וְיִדֹּם.** לְשׁוֹן הַמְתָּנָה, כְּמוֹ "אִם כֹּה יֹאמְרוּ אֵלֵינוּ דֹּמוּ" דִיהוֹנָתָן.

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And wait.** An expression of waiting, as in, “If they say thus to us, ‘Wait דֹּמוּ!’”²⁴ [in the incident dealing] with Yehonoson.

footnotes:
²⁴ I Shmuel 14:9.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:28:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:28:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:28:3)

**כִּי נָטַל עָלָיו.** כִּי בַעַל הַגְּזֵרוֹת נָשָׂא עָלָיו הַגְּזֵרָה זוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For He [God] has cast it upon him.** For the Master of Decrees has put this decree upon him.²⁵

footnotes:
²⁵ Alternatively, ‘until He removes it,’ i.e., until He removes the suffering from him. (Targum)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:31:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:31:1)

**כִּי לֹא יִזְנַח לְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי.** לָכֵן טוֹב לִדֹּם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For God does not forsake forever.** It is therefore good to wait.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:32:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:32:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:32:1)

**כִּי אִם הוֹגָה.** אִם הָאָדָם מֵבִיא עָלָיו יָגוֹן בִּשְׁבִיל עֲוֹנוֹ, וְאַחַר כַּךְ, וְרִחַם כְּרֹב חֲסָדָיו.

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Rather should he [man] cause grief.** If man brings grief upon himself because of his sin[s], afterwards, He will yet have compassion in accordance with His immense grace.²⁶

footnotes:
²⁶ Alternatively, ‘He first afflicts, then pities according to His abundant kindness.’ (Targum)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:32:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:32:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:32:2)

**הוֹגָה וַיַּגֶּה.** לְשׁוֹן תּוּגָה הֵם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Cause grief ... Cause grief.** [Both words] are expressions of grief.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:33:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:33:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:33:1)

**כִּי לֹא עִנָּה מִלִּבּוֹ. וַיַּגֶּה בְּנֵי אִישׁ.** מִלִּבּוֹ וּמֵרְצוֹנוֹ, כִּי הֶעָוֹן גּוֹרֵם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For He does not torment willfully nor cause men grief.** From His heart and from His will;²⁷ rather the sin causes [the grief].

footnotes:
²⁷ Alternatively, if man does not humble himself from haughtiness, God will cause him grief. (Targum)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:34:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:34:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:34:1)

**לְדַכֵּא תַּחַת רַגְלָיו.** מוּסָב עַל "כִּי לֹא עִנָּה מִלִּבּוֹ" לִהְיוֹת מְדַכֵּא תַּחַת רַגְלָיו וְגוֹ'. וְלֹא לְהַטּוֹת מִשְׁפַּט גָּבֶר וְגוֹ'. וְלֹא לְעַוֵּת אָדָם בְּרִיבוֹ, כָּל אֵלֶה ה' לֹא רָאָה. לֹא נִרְאָה לוֹ, וְלֹא עָלְתָה לְפָנָיו בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**By crushing underfoot.** This refers back to, “For He does not torment willfully by crushing underfoot, etc. nor through the miscarriage of one’s justice, etc. nor by aggrieving a man in his dispute.” All these, God did not condone. He did not approve of them, and it did not enter His thought to do so.²⁸

footnotes:
²⁸ Alternatively, ‘by crushing underfoot’ refers to Nevuchadnetzar. (Midrash Eichah 3:30)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:36:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:36:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:36:1)

**לֹא רָאָה.** לֹא הֻכְשַׁר בְּעֵינָיו שֶׁיְּעַוְּתוּ בֵית דִּין שֶׁל מַעְלָה אָדָם בְּרִיבוֹ, כְּמוֹ "מָה רָאִיתָ כִּי עָשִׂיתָ וְגוֹ'":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Does not condone.** He does not approve that the heavenly tribunal should distort a person’s dispute, as in, “What did you see רָאִיתָ that you did, etc.”²⁹

footnotes:
²⁹ Bereishis 20:10.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:37:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:37:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:37:1)

**מִי זֶה אָמַר וַתֶּהִי**, וְגוֹ':

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Whosoever issued a declaration that took effect, etc.**


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:38:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:38:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:38:1)

**מִפִּי עֶלְיוֹן וְגוֹ'.** וְאִם בָּאתִי לוֹמַר: "לֹא מִיָּדוֹ בָאָה אֵלַי הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת, מִקְרֶה הִיא שֶׁהָיָה לִי", אֵין זֹאת, כִּי אִם בֵּין רָעוֹת וּבֵין טוֹבוֹת, מִי זֹאת אָמַר וַתֶּהִי, אִם ה' לֹא צִוָּה, וּמִפִּיו לֹא תֵצֵא הֵן רָעָה הֵן טוֹבָה, אֲבָל מַה יֵּשׁ לְהִתְאוֹנֵן אָדָם חָי? "גֶּבֶר עַל חֲטָאָיו". כָּל אִישׁ וְאִישׁ יִתְאוֹנֵן עַל חֲטָאָיו, כִּי הֵם הַמְּבִיאִים עָלָיו הָרָעָה. ("מִפִּי עֶלְיוֹן לֹא תֵצֵא". אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִיּוֹם שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא "רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם אֶת הַחַיִּים וְאֶת הַטּוֹב וְגוֹ'", לֹא יָצָא רָעָה וְטוֹבָה מִפִּיו, אֶלָּא הָרָעָה בָאָה מֵאֵלֶיהָ לְעוֹשֶׂה רַע וְהַטּוֹב לְעוֹשֶׂה טוֹב.) לְפִיכָךְ, "מַה יִּתְאוֹנֵן"? לָמָּה יִתְרַעֵם הָאָדָם אִם לֹא עַל חֲטָאָיו:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**From the Almighty, etc.** And if you attempt to say that this evil did not come to me from His hand, that it is coincidence that has befallen me; this is not so. For both bad occurrences and good occurrences, who has commanded and they came to pass, unless God ordained? And He commands neither bad nor good [to come]. But what should a living man bemoan? “A man for his sins.” Every man should bemoan his sins, because they are what bring the evil upon him. (“They did not emanate from the Almighty,” Rabbi Yochonon said, “From the day that the Holy One, Blessed Is He, said, ‘See, I have placed before you today the life and the good, etc.,’³⁰ neither evil nor good has come from His command.” Rather the evil comes by itself to the one who commits evil, and the good to the one who does good.) Therefore, what should one bemoan? Why should a man be angry, if not about his sins?

footnotes:
³⁰ Devarim 30:15.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:41:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:41:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:41:1)

**נִשָּׂא לְבָבֵנוּ אֶל כַּפָּיִם.** כְּשֶׁאָנוּ נוֹשְׂאִים אֶת כַּפֵּינוּ אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם, נִשָּׂא אַף לְבָבֵנוּ עִמָּהֶם לָשׁוּב, לְהָשִׁיב לְבָבֵנוּ לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם בָּרוּךְ הוּא. דָּבָר אַחֵר: "אֶל כַּפָּיִם" אֶל הָעֲנָנִים, אֶל שָׁמַיִם, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר "וְהִנֵּה עָב קְטַנָּה כְּכַף אִישׁ עֹלָה", וְכֵן "עַל כַּפַּיִם כִּסָּה אוֹר". וּמִדְרַשׁ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ: נִשָּׂא לְבָבֵנוּ בֶאֱמֶת לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּאָדָם הָרוֹחֵץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּיו, שֶׁמַּשְׁלִיךְ מִיָּדָיו כָּל טִנּוּף, כִּי מוֹדֶה וְעוֹזֵב יְרֻחָם, וְהַמּוֹדֶה וְאֵינוֹ עוֹזֵב, כְּטוֹבֵל וְשֶׁרֶץ בְּיָדוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Let us uplift our hearts together with our hands.** When we lift up our hands to heaven let us also lift up our hearts with them to return, to bring back our hearts before the Omnipresent, Blessed is He. Another explanation: “With our hands.” אֶל כַּפָּיִם means] to the clouds, to heaven, as [Scripture] states, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s palm, rising.”³¹ And similarly, “Over the clouds He covers the rain.”³² But the Midrash of our Rabbis [states], “Let us uplift our hearts” sincerely to the Holy One, Blessed Is He, like a person who washes his hands to clean them, casts from his hands all contamination, for “he who confesses and abandons will obtain mercy,” but he who confesses but does not abandon [his sins] is like one who [is ritually impure who] immerses himself while holding a[n impure] creeping animal in his hand.³³

footnotes:
³¹ I Melochim 18:44.
³² Iyov 36:32.
³³ Until he casts it away he will not become ritually pure. See Rashi in Maseches Ta’anis 16a.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:42:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:42:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:42:1)

**נַחְנוּ פָשַׁעְנוּ וּמָרִינוּ.** זֶה דַרְכֵּנוּ עַל יְדֵי יֵצֶר הָרָע:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**We have transgressed and rebelled.** This is our way, because of the evil inclination.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:42:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:42:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:42:2)

**אַתָּה לֹא סָלָחְתָּ.** וּלְךָ הָיָה נָאֶה הַסְּלִיחָה, כִּי כֵן דַּרְכֶּךָ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And you have not forgiven.** And for You, forgiveness is fitting, for so is Your way.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:43:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:43:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:43:1)

**סַכּוֹתָה בָאַף.** חָצַצְתָּ אֶת הָאַף לִהְיוֹת מְחִיצָה בֵינְךָ וּבֵינֵינוּ, וַתִּרְדְּפֵנוּ בוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**You have covered Yourself in wrath.** You set up anger to be a barrier between You and us, and You pursued us with it.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:45:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:45:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:45:1)

**סְחִי וּמָאוֹס.** הוּא נִיעַ בִּלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה: "כִּיחוֹ וְנִיעוֹ", שֶׁנִּסָּח מִתּוֹךְ הָרֵיאָה וְיוֹצֵא דֶרֶךְ הַגָּרוֹן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Spittle, abominable.** This is mucus; in the language of the Mishnah, “his phlegm and his mucus,”³⁴ which is drawn out through the lungs and emitted through the throat.

footnotes:
³⁴ Maseches Bava Kama 3b.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:45:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:45:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:45:2)

**תְּשִׂימֵנוּ.** לְשׁוֹן הֹוֶה הוּא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**You made us.** This is in the present tense.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:47:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:47:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:47:1)

**פַּחַד וָפַחַת.** כְּשֶׁנַּסְנוּ מִפְּנֵי הַפַּחַד, נָפַלְנוּ אֶל הַפַּחַת, שׁוּחָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Terror then the pit.** When we fled because of the terror, we fell into the pit.³⁵

footnotes:
³⁵ See Yeshayahuu 24:17-18.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:47:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:47:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:47:2)

**הַשֵּׁאת.** לְשׁוֹן שְׁאִיָּה, כְּמוֹ הַשֵּׁאת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Ruin.** An expression of desolation, as in, “ruin.”³⁶

footnotes:
³⁶ The last three words “as in ‘ruin’” is omitted from Rashi’s text. (Sifsei Chachomim)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:49:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:49:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:49:1)

**מֵאֵין הֲפֻגוֹת.** מֵאֵין חֲלִיפִין וְהַעֲבָרָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[It will flow] without pause.** Without change or cessation.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:51:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:51:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:51:1)

**עֵינִי עוֹלְלָה לְנַפְשִׁי מִכֹּל בְּנוֹת עִירִי.** יִרְמְיָה מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת כֹּהֲנִים הָיָה, וְאָמַר: "עֵינִי" בְּדִמְעָה "עוֹלְלָה" וְנִוְּלָה פָנַי עֲלֵי נַפְשִׁי "מִכֹּל בְּנוֹת עִירִי".

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**My eye has made me ugly, sorrowing over my soul, more than all the inhabitants of my city.** Yirmiyahu was from a family of *kohanim*, and he said, “My eye, with its tears, sullied my face over my soul more than all the inhabitants of my city.”


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:51:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:51:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:51:2)

**עוֹלְלָה.** לְשׁוֹן נִוּוּל, כְּמוֹ "וְעֹלַלְתִּי בֶעָפָר קַרְנִי":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Made me ugly.** And expression of sullying, as in, “and sullied my radiance with dirt.”³⁷

footnotes:
³⁷ Iyov 16:15.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:51:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:51:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:51:3)

**מִכֹּל בְּנוֹת עִירִי.** מִשְׁפַּחְתִּי יֵשׁ לָהּ לִבְכּוֹת מִכֹּל מִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָעִיר, שֶׁהָיְתָה נִבְחֶרֶת לִקְדֻשָּׁה וְלַעֲבוֹדַת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**More than all the inhabitants of my city.** My family has more reason to cry than all the families of the city, for it was chosen for sanctity and for the service of the Holy One, Blessed Is He, over all Yisroel.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:53:1)

**צָמְתוּ בַבּוֹר חַיָּי.** בְּבֵית הַכֶּלֶא.

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**They bound my life to the dungeon.** In prison.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:53:2)

**צָמְתוּ.** אָסְרוּ, כְּמוֹ: "צוֹמֶת הַגִּידִין" "מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ" אירייסו"ר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**They bound.** They bound, as in, “the converging צוֹמֶת of the sinews;”³⁸ “from within your kerchief לְצַמָּתֵךְ,”³⁹ *estreinirent* in O.F.

footnotes:
³⁸ Maseches Chulin 76a.
³⁹ Shir Hashirim 4:1.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:53:3)

**וַיַּדּוּ אֶבֶן בִּי.** עַל פִּי הַבְּאֵר. כַּךְ עָשׂוּ לְדָנִיֵּאל, וְיִרְמְיָה רָאָה בְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And cast stones upon me.** On the mouth of the well [=dungeon]. That is what they did to Doniyeil;⁴⁰ and Yirmiyahu foresaw it with the Holy Spirit.

footnotes:
⁴⁰ See Donieil 6:18.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:4
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:53:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:53:4)

**צָמְתוּ בַבּוֹר חַיָּי.** וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁתָּמְתוּ בַבּוֹר חַיָּי, שֶׁאֵינִי יָכוֹל לַעֲלוֹת מִתּוֹכוֹ, לֹא שָׁתוּ לִבָּם גַּם לָזֹאת עַד שֶׁיַּדוּ אֶבֶן בִּי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**They bound my life to the dungeon.** And although they confined my life in the dungeon from which I cannot ascend, they did not take this to heart [i.e., they were not satisfied]


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:54:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:54:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:54:1)

**צָפוּ מַיִם וְגוֹ'.** שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁבָּא אָדָם בְּמַיִם עַד מָתְנָיו, עֲדַיִן יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה, אֲבָל אִם צָפוּ הַמַּיִם עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, אָז אוֹמֵר "אָבְדָה תִקְוָתִי". אֲבָל אֲנִי אֵינִי עוֹשֶׂה כֵן, אֶלָּא "קָרָאתִי וְגוֹ'":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The waters rose, etc.** When a person is in water up to his waist, there still is hope, but if the water rises over his head, he then says, “My hope is gone,” but I do not do this, rather “I called out, etc.”


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:54:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:54:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:54:2)

**צָפוּ מַיִם.** עַכּוּ"ם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The waters rose.** The nations of the world.⁴¹

footnotes:
⁴¹ I.e., ‘Water’ is an allegory referring to the nations of the world.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:57:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:57:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:57:1)

**קָרַבְתָּ בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָאֶךָ.** כַּךְ הָיִיתָ רָגִיל בַּיָּמִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, לִקְרַב אֵלַי בְּיוֹם קָרְאִי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**You came near on the day I called to You.** So were You accustomed in the earlier days to draw near to me on the days I called.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:58:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:58:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:58:1)

**רַבְתָּ ה' רִיבֵי נַפְשִׁי.** בַּיָּמִים שֶׁעָבְרוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**You fought, O God, the battles of my soul.** In the days past.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:59:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:59:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:59:1)

**רָאִיתָה ה' עַוָּתָתִי.** בַּצָּרָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁעִוְּתוּ בִי אוֹיְבַי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**You have seen, Adonoy, how aggrieved I am.** In this distress, that my enemies wronged me.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:59:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:59:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:59:2)

**שָׁפְטָה מִשְׁפָּטִי.** כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ כְבָר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Administer justice for me.** As You have already done.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:65:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:65:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:65:1)

**מְגִנַּת לֵב.** שֶׁבֶר לֵב, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר "אֲמַגֶּנְךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל", אֲשֶׁר מִגֵּן צָרֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר: "מְגִנַּת לֵב". אוֹטֶם הַלֵּב, צָרָה וַאֲנָחָה, אֲשֶׁר הִיא כְמָגֵן כְּנֶגֶד לִבָּם. וְהַמְפָרְשׁוֹ בִלְשׁוֹן תּוּגָה וְיָגוֹן טוֹעֶה, שֶׁאֵין נוּ"ן נוֹפֶלֶת בּוֹ, שֶׁהַנּוּ"ן בְּיָגוֹן אֵינָהּ שֹׁרֶשׁ אֶלָּא כְגוֹן נוּ"ן שֶׁל "הָמוֹן" מִגִּזְרַת "הָמוּ גוֹיִם" וּכְגוֹן נוּ"ן שֶׁל "קָלוֹן" מִגִּזְרַת "נִקְלֶה", וּכְנוּ"ן שֶׁל "צִיּוֹן" מִגִּזְרַת "צִיָּה", וְכֵן נוּ"ן שֶׁל "שִׁבְרוֹן" מִגִּזְרַת "שֶׁבֶר", (וּכְגוֹן נוּ"ן שֶׁל "שִׁמָּמוֹן", "שִׁגָּעוֹן" נִרְאֶה לִי שֶׁכֵּן צָרִיךְ לִקְרוֹא וְקַל לְהָבִין):

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Break their hearts.** A breaking of the heart, as [Scripture] says, “I will break you, O Yisroel,”⁴² [and as in,] “who broke your adversaries in your hand.”⁴³ Another explanation of מְגִנַּת לֵב is ‘stopping up of the heart,’ trouble and sighing, which are like a shield against their heart. But he who explains it as an expression of grief is wrong, because there is no *nun* in this word, for the *nun* in יָגוֹן is not a radical, but it is like the *nun* of הָמוֹן from the [same] root as הָמוּ גוֹיִם, and like the *nun* of קָלוֹן from the root of נִקְלֶה, and like the *nun* of צִיּוֹן from the root of צִיָּה, and similarly the *nun* of שִׁבְרוֹן from the root of שֶׁבֶר. (and like the *nun* of שִׁמָּמוֹן and שִׁגָּעוֹן. It appears to me that this is the correct reading, and this is easy to understand.)

footnotes:
⁴² Hosheia 11:8.
⁴³ Bereishis 14:20.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 3:65:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 3:65:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/3:65:2)

**תַּאֲלָתְךָ.** לְשׁוֹן "נוֹאֲלוּ שָׂרֵי צֹעַן":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[Turn them] into fools.** תַּאֲלָתְךָ is] an expression of [foolishness,⁴⁴ as in], “the princes of Tzo’an have become foolish נוֹאֲלוּ.”⁴⁵

footnotes:
⁴⁴ Alternatively, an expression of suffering, i.e., ‘turn Your suffering, as it were, to them [our enemies].’ Whenever the Bnei Yisroel suffer, God suffers, as it were, with them. Or תאלתך is an expression of a curse [אלה] i.e., ‘bring upon them the curses [written in the Torah].’
⁴⁵ Yeshayahuu 19:13.