Dullness of heart: dullness translates a word that occurs only here in the Old Testament; its meaning is therefore uncertain. Scholars have attempted to find a word in Hebrew or some other language, such as Arabic, that it may be related to, but there has been little success. Translators for their part have tried to come up with something that fits the context: Good News Translation has “fill them with despair,” which is a reasonable attempt. New International Version, appealing to a verb meaning “cover,” which has the same consonants, translates “Put a veil over their hearts,” but this can mean almost anything. New Jerusalem Bible has “Lay hardness of heart,” and New English Bible “Show them how hard thy heart can be.” Since nothing really better is available, translators are advised to follow Good News Translation or Revised Standard Version.

In the entire Old Testament Revised Standard Version uses the word curse to translate ten different Hebrew words. The one used here, like dullness above, is found nowhere else in the Old Testament. However, translators are generally agreed on the use of the word curse in this case, except for New English Bible, which has “Show … how little concern thou hast for them.” No explanation is given for this rendering. Translators are again advised to follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

A curse normally involves calling on a supernatural being or force to bring about the effects of the spoken curse. From the content of verse 66 there can be no doubt what the object of the curse is. If a verb form for curse is not available, we may sometimes say, for example, “Cause evil to happen to them” or “Speak harmful words to them and punish them.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on Lamentations. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .