en_tn_lite_do_not_use/lam/03/15.md

# General Statement:

The writer gives two metaphors to describe how Yahweh has made him suffer. The first metaphor speaks of Yahweh as if he were forcing Jeremiah to eat bitter herbs, and the second as if he were forcing him to drink a bitter liquid. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# He filled me with bitter herbs

Here the phrase "bitter herbs" is a metaphor for suffering. Alternate translation: "I suffer as if he caused me eat a great amount of bitter herbs" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# forced me to drink wormwood

Wormwood is the bitter juice from the leaves and flowers of a certain plant. Drinking that bitter juice represents suffering. Alternate translation: "I suffer as if he forced me to drink fill my stomach with wormwood" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# forced me to drink wormwood

The word "drink" here speaks of drinking a large amount of something. Some versions read, "forced me to drink so much wormwood that I became drunk."