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    Hope & God's Faithfulness

    Lamentations 3:23 Commentary

    In-depth meaning, historical context, and practical application

    Written by Bible Sundays Editorial TeamChecked by Bible Sundays Scripture DeskLast reviewed August 1, 2026Our editorial standards
    "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
    — Lamentations 3:23 (KJV)
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    Introduction to Lamentations 3:23

    If verse 22 says mercies do not fail, verse 23 explains how: they are NEW every morning. God's grace is not a one-time deposit we draw down; it is a fresh delivery every sunrise. The verse closes with one of Scripture's most beloved confessions: 'Great is thy faithfulness.'

    Historical and Cultural Context

    After Jerusalem's destruction, mornings were brutal. Each sunrise revealed ruined walls, empty homes, and the absence of loved ones taken into exile. In that context Jeremiah dares to say morning brings NEW mercies. He is not denying the rubble — he is locating hope above it. The morning manna of Exodus 16 lies behind the image: daily provision for a wilderness people.

    Original Language Insights

    'New' (chadashim) — fresh, never used before. 'Every morning' (labbeqarim) — literally 'to the mornings,' an idiom of regular, ongoing succession. 'Great' (rabbah) — abundant, vast. 'Faithfulness' (emunatekha) — reliability, trustworthiness, the steady character on which everything else rests. The famous hymn 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' draws its title and theology directly from this phrase.

    Theological Significance

    God's character is not seasonal. His mercies are not rationed. The renewal of mercy every morning teaches us that grace is not a finite resource to be hoarded but an infinite supply continually distributed. God's faithfulness — His unchanging reliability to His word and people — undergirds every fresh mercy. The believer who lives by this verse stops dragging yesterday's failures into today and stops borrowing tomorrow's worry. Today has its own provision.

    Practical Application for Today

    Start the day with this verse. Before email, before news, before the demands of the day, declare: 'Your mercies are new this morning. Great is Your faithfulness.' Let the truth shape your waking thoughts. When yesterday's failure haunts you, remember today's mercy is FRESH — God is not still tallying yesterday's debt. When tomorrow's anxiety presses in, remember that tomorrow's mercies will be there when tomorrow arrives. Today's grace is enough for today.

    Cross-References & Related Scriptures

    Lamentations 3:22

    "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed."

    The preceding verse — the inexhaustible source of these daily mercies.

    Exodus 16:21

    "And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating."

    Manna in the wilderness — God's daily provision pattern.

    Matthew 6:11

    "Give us this day our daily bread."

    Jesus' prayer assumes daily, not stockpiled, provision.

    Prayer Response

    Faithful Father, Your mercies are new this morning. I will not drag yesterday into today, nor borrow tomorrow's worry. I receive today's fresh portion with gratitude. Great is Your faithfulness. Amen.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why can't God give me a year's supply of mercy at once?

    Because daily mercy keeps you daily dependent on Him. Stockpiled grace would breed self-reliance. The morning-by-morning rhythm trains the soul to seek God daily.

    What if I wake up not feeling any mercy?

    Mercies are not feelings; they are realities. Whether you feel them or not, the mercy is delivered fresh. Look for evidences — breath, salvation, Scripture, the Spirit, daily bread — and gratitude will catch up to faith.

    Is 'great is Thy faithfulness' more than poetic language?

    It is a theological confession with massive weight. God's faithfulness is the bedrock of every promise in Scripture, every prayer answered, every soul saved. Without it, nothing in the Christian life is secure.

    Read commentary on surrounding verses

    Continue studying Lamentations 3 verse by verse:

    Before · Lamentations 3:21Exact verse

    This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

    Theme: Hope Begins With Memory

    Before · Lamentations 3:22-23Exact verse

    It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

    Theme: God's Faithfulness & Mercy

    Before · Lamentations 3:22Exact verse

    It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

    Theme: Hope & God's Mercy

    After · Lamentations 3:24Exact verse

    The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

    Theme: When God Himself Is the Inheritance

    After · Lamentations 3:25Exact verse

    The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

    Theme: Faith & Trust

    After · Lamentations 3:31-32Exact verse

    For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

    Theme: Compassion in Discipline

    Read Lamentations 2No commentary yet
    Read Lamentations 3 (full)Nearest commentary: Lamentations 3:22-23
    Read Lamentations 4No commentary yet
    Previous commentary: Lamentations 3:22Next commentary: Lamentations 3:24

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    Related Bible Questions

    Common questions people ask about this passage — answered with KJV scripture.

    What Is the Book of Lamentations About?

    The Book of Lamentations is a collection of five poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon, confessing sin, and finding hope in God's steadfast mercies that are new every morning.

    Read answer

    What Does the Bible Say About Hope?

    Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but confident assurance in God's promises — an anchor for the soul grounded in the character and faithfulness of God.

    Read answer

    What Does the Bible Say About Hope?

    Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation based on God's character and promises, anchoring the soul through every storm.

    Read answer

    What Is Faithfulness in the Bible?

    Faithfulness is the Spirit-produced quality of steadfast reliability — keeping one's word, fulfilling obligations, and remaining loyal to God and others through every circumstance.

    Read answer

    What Is Tithing?

    Tithing is the practice of giving a tenth (10%) of one's income to God, rooted in Old Testament law and reflected in New Testament generosity.

    Read answer

    What does the Bible say about tithing?

    The Old Testament commands giving a tenth (tithe) of one's income to God. The New Testament emphasizes cheerful, generous, and sacrificial giving without specifying a percentage.

    Read answer

    Quick Devotional

    For a shorter devotional reflection on related verses:

    Lamentations 3:22-23 – Meaning & Devotional

    "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

    Lamentations 3:22-23 – Meaning & Devotional

    "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

    Lamentations 3:22-23 – Meaning & Devotional

    "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

    Related Miracles

    Signs and wonders connected to this passage and its themes:

    Provision
    Old Testament

    Manna from Heaven

    God rained bread from heaven to feed Israel daily for forty years in the wilderness.

    Read the miracle
    Healing
    New Testament

    Cleansing of the Ten Lepers

    Jesus cleansed ten lepers on the way to Jerusalem; only one — a Samaritan — returned to give thanks.

    Read the miracle
    Healing
    New Testament

    Healing of Malchus' Ear

    Jesus restores the severed ear of the high priest's servant at His arrest in Gethsemane.

    Read the miracle
    Signs & Wonders
    Old Testament

    The Glory of the LORD Fills Solomon's Temple

    Fire falls and the glory of the LORD fills the temple at its dedication, so the priests cannot stand to minister.

    Read the miracle

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