FocusLoss and confession
Connection to the wholeJerusalem's desolation is portrayed through lament and confession, inviting attention to the severity of the city's suffering.
interpretation Lamentations 1:13
KJVFrom above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
Read it in context
How Lonely Lies the City!
Start reading at Lamentations 1:1 (Lamentations 1:1 to Lamentations 1:22).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
Jerusalem's desolation is portrayed through lament and confession, inviting attention to the severity of the city's suffering.
- 1:1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
- 1:2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
- 1:3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
- 1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
- 1:5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
- 1:6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
- 1:7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
- 1:8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
- 1:9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
- 1:10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
- 1:11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.
- 1:12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
- 1:13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
- 1:14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the LORD hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
- 1:15 The LORD hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the LORD hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
- 1:16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
- 1:17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
- 1:18 The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
- 1:19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.
- 1:20 Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
- 1:21 They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
- 1:22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Jeremiah is the traditional author. The poems themselves do not identify their writer, so the personal attribution remains uncertain. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Lamentations 1:1–2:22): The poet speaks about ruined Jerusalem, and the city is also personified as a woman addressing others and the LORD. The sufferers of Judah are the human community represented. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? The devastated people of Judah and Jerusalem mourning the city's destruction, and the community preserving that lament and appeal to God. Biblical references: Lamentations 1:1; Lamentations 2:10; Lamentations 5:1. book background
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? How Lonely Lies the City!. Read Lamentations 1:1 through Lamentations 1:22 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? Jerusalem's desolation is portrayed through lament and confession, inviting attention to the severity of the city's suffering. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The poems concern Jerusalem's devastation and its aftermath. They do not supply a composition date or name their author within the text. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? Jerusalem's ruined condition and the people's suffering form the setting, while individual and communal voices describe that distress. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in How Lonely Lies the City! (Lamentations 1:1 to Lamentations 1:22). Start reading at Lamentations 1:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The lament over Jerusalem can be compared with Jesus' lament for the city. The comparison joins grief and accountability without making every speaker in Lamentations a direct prophetic portrait of Jesus. See Lamentations 1:1, Luke 19:41, Luke 19:44. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Make room for truthful lament, confession, and prayer in devastation. Hope in mercy does not require pretending that suffering is small or that every question has been resolved. interpretation
Cited: Lamentations 1:1, Lamentations 1:22, Luke 19:41, Luke 19:44
Who wrote it, and how we know
Jeremiah (traditional)
From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. Chronicles records that Jeremiah lamented for Josiah.
2 Chronicles 35:25
Early traditionThe Greek translation and early tradition name Jeremiah.
What is debatedAuthorship is not stated in the book itself.
Related passages
- above Lam 2:3-4 Deut 32:21-25 Job 30:30 Ps 22:14 Ps 31:10 Ps 102:3-5 Nah 1:6 Hab 3:16
- he hath spread Lam 4:17-20 Job 18:8 Job 19:6 Ps 66:11 Ezek 12:13 Ezek 17:20 Ezek 32:3 Hos 7:12
- he hath turned Ps 35:4 Ps 70:2-3 Ps 129:5 Isa 42:17
- desolate Lam 1:22 Lam 5:17 Deut 28:65 Jer 4:19-29
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Lamentations 1
Lamentations consists of poetic laments over Jerusalem's devastation. The book does not name its author. Shifts between the city's voice, an individual sufferer, and communal prayer must be respected. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Lamentations 1:1 Lamentations 3:1 Lamentations 5:1
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Lamentations
Lamentations consists of poetic laments over Jerusalem's devastation. The book does not name its author. Shifts between the city's voice, an individual sufferer, and communal prayer must be respected.
Lamentations 1:1 Lamentations 3:1 Lamentations 5:1
FocusLoss and confession
Connection to the wholeJerusalem's desolation is portrayed through lament and confession, inviting attention to the severity of the city's suffering.
interpretation The day of the LORD's anger
Lamentations 2:1–22FocusDevastation and an appeal to cry out
Connection to the wholeThe lament considers the destruction as judgment and urges a pouring out of the heart before the Lord.
interpretation The sufferer remembers and hopes
Lamentations 3:1–66FocusAffliction, mercy, and appeal
Connection to the wholeIndividual affliction gives way to remembrance of the LORD's mercies, self-examination, and further appeals for help and justice.
interpretation The former glory overturned
Lamentations 4:1–22FocusReversal and responsibility
Connection to the wholeThe poem contrasts earlier conditions with present degradation and considers the failures surrounding the city's collapse.
interpretation The community prays
Lamentations 5:1–22FocusRemember and restore
Connection to the wholeThe closing communal prayer brings the people's condition before the LORD and asks for restoration without supplying a simple narrative resolution.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.