Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Lamentations 3:21 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 21. 21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse marks the hinge: the speaker deliberately recalls something else and therefore begins to hope.
Read It With
- Lamentations 3:19-24
Read Lamentations 3:21 with 3:19-24. This verse marks the hinge: the speaker deliberately recalls something else and therefore begins to hope. The complete unit establishes this movement: Memory initially keeps wormwood and misery present, but the speaker deliberately recalls the LORD's loyal mercies, unfailing compassions, renewed care, faithfulness, and covenantal portion; hope re-enters as a chosen, fragile stance.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The triple acrostic turns through an act of recollection, not a narrated change in circumstances or an answer from God. Within that movement, this verse marks the hinge: the speaker deliberately recalls something else and therefore begins to hope.
Follow the Context
- Affliction, misery, wormwood, and gall remain in memory.
- The soul remembers continually and bows down.
- The speaker recalls another truth and therefore begins to hope.
- Mercies, compassions, faithfulness, and the LORD as portion ground that hope.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“This I recall to my mind”
In plain language: This verse marks the hinge: the speaker deliberately recalls something else and therefore begins to hope.
Hope enters through recollection rather than changed circumstances.
Why it matters: The wording carries textual, theological, ethical, or pastoral risk requiring its complete unit and stated limits.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
This verse does not erase verses 1-20, treat recollection as denial, or promise that circumstances have already changed.
What Remains True
Hope enters through recollection rather than changed circumstances.
How It Can Shape Life
- Invite remembered resources without demanding a hopeful result.
Teach It Back
Explain Lamentations 3:21's contribution to Lamentations 3:19-24: marks the hinge: the speaker deliberately recalls something else and therefore begins to hope. Include the surrounding alphabet stanza, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Lamentations 3:19-24 — Remembered Misery Becomes Fragile HopeSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
What 'this' includes is interpreted from the following confession and possibly the preceding survival.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact displayed Scripture, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and canonical verse coverage.
Exact location: Lamentations 3:19-24, repository-pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Lamentations
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, alphabet sequence, person and number, repeated vocabulary, and translation questions.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Lam.xml, OSIS Lam.3.19-Lam.3.24
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Lamentations with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level Hebrew, syntax, textual, acrostic, literary, historical, and translation notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Lamentations PDF, printed pp. 1565-1571, translation and notes on 3:19-24
Open source ↗