Lamentations 3:23
“They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Context
Lamentations mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. In chapter 3 the writer descends into the depths of personal anguish, then, at the lowest point, deliberately recalls the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. Verses 22-23 form the radiant center of the book, a confession of hope amid overwhelming grief.
What Does Lamentations 3:23 Mean?
Lamentations 3:23 declares that God's mercies are renewed each day: "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." The word "they" reaches back to the previous verse, which speaks of the Lord's mercies and compassions that never fail. In the middle of a book that weeps over the ruin of Jerusalem, the prophet lifts his eyes from the rubble and remembers something steadier than his grief: every single morning, God's mercy arrives fresh, like manna that could not be hoarded but had to be gathered new each day.
This is a striking confession to find in a book of laments. The writer does not deny his suffering -- he has just poured out his anguish at length -- yet he anchors his soul in the unchanging character of God. "Great is thy faithfulness" celebrates that God's reliability is vast, steady, and unfailing. His faithfulness is not worn thin by yesterday's troubles, nor exhausted by our repeated need. Each dawn carries a new supply of His compassion, sufficient for that day's burdens. For anyone weighed down by sorrow or guilt, this verse is a daily promise: however dark last night was, the morning brings mercy that has not been used up. God's faithfulness is the bedrock beneath every changing circumstance.
In the Original Language
The Hebrew chesed (steadfast love, mercy) lies behind the mercies of the previous verse, while emunah (faithfulness, firmness) names the great, dependable reliability of God celebrated here.
Cross References
“It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”
- Lamentations 3:22
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
- Psalm 30:5
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:9
Application
Begin each day remembering that God's mercy is freshly given for today. Yesterday's failures and griefs do not deplete His compassion. When mornings feel heavy, receive the new mercy God provides, and let His proven faithfulness steady you. You do not have to carry old burdens into a new day He has filled with grace.