Lamentations 1 13

Lamentations 1:13 kjv

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.

Lamentations 1:13 nkjv

"From above He has sent fire into my bones, And it overpowered them; He has spread a net for my feet And turned me back; He has made me desolate And faint all the day.

Lamentations 1:13 niv

"From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.

Lamentations 1:13 esv

"From on high he sent fire; into my bones he made it descend; he spread a net for my feet; he turned me back; he has left me stunned, faint all the day long.

Lamentations 1:13 nlt

"He has sent fire from heaven that burns in my bones.
He has placed a trap in my path and turned me back.
He has left me devastated,
racked with sickness all day long.

Lamentations 1 verses

Lamentations 1 13 Meaning

Lamentations 1:13 portrays Jerusalem's profound suffering as a direct act of divine judgment. The verse depicts God unleashing a devastating fire that penetrates to the deepest core of the city's being, leaving it completely consumed and without strength. This imagery progresses to illustrate a state of utter entrapment, where God has laid a snare, immobilizing any attempt to escape or advance. The consequence is constant desolation and a pervasive sense of weakness and heartbreak, underscoring that the city's ruined state is not merely external but an internal collapse orchestrated by its God.

Lamentations 1 13 Context

Lamentations 1:13 is spoken from the perspective of personified Jerusalem (Lady Zion) after her utter destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The entire chapter grieves over the city's fallen state, contrasting its former glory with its present desolation, solitude, and shame. Jerusalem acknowledges that its intense suffering is not random calamity but a direct, deliberate judgment from God, specifically "from above." This verse vividly details the multifaceted pain, internal and external, resulting from God's hand, attributing all aspects of the city's ruin—from its deep internal anguish to its utter inability to escape its fate—to divine action. The historical context is crucial: Jerusalem's repeated idolatry and rebellion against the Lord, despite warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, ultimately led to this promised desolation as a just consequence for breaking the covenant.

Lamentations 1 13 Word analysis

• From above (מִמָּרוֹם, mimmārôm): This phrase immediately establishes the divine origin of the suffering. It signifies that the calamity is not an accident or solely from human adversaries, but emanates directly from God's heavenly throne, underscoring His sovereignty and judgment.
• He sent (שָׁלַח, shālach): A strong verb indicating intentional, deliberate action. God is not merely allowing events but actively initiating them, reinforcing His direct involvement in Jerusalem's punishment.
• fire (אֵשׁ, 'esh): A potent symbol throughout the Bible, representing both the consuming wrath of God (e.g., Deut 32:22, Jer 4:4) and purification. Here, it denotes destructive divine judgment that leaves nothing unscathed.
• into my bones (בְּעַצְמוֹתַי, bᵉ‘aṣmôṯay): This idiom expresses pain that is deep, visceral, and pervasive, affecting the very core of one's being (cf. Ps 38:3). It indicates internal anguish, physical debilitation, and spiritual suffering, not just superficial wounds.
• He made it descend (וַיֹּרִדֶהָ, wayyōrīḏehā): Another verb emphasizing God's direct, downward action. He ensures the judgment reaches its target and penetrates fully, leaving no aspect unaffected.
• it prevailed (וַיִּרְדֶּנָּה, wayyirədeˈnnah): This is a crucial and often nuanced term derived from the root רָדָה (radah), meaning "to rule," "subdue," or "have dominion over." It means the fire, once descended, wasn't just spreading but actively conquering and taking command over the afflicted, illustrating the overwhelming, inescapable power of God's judgment. The "it" refers to the fire, and "over them" likely refers to the strength or vitality of the suffering city, implying a complete victory of the divine fire.
• He has spread a net (פָּרַשׂ רֶשֶׁת, pāraś rešeṯ): Imagery drawn from hunting, indicating a deliberate act of trapping. It suggests being ensnared, stripped of freedom, and unable to escape or maneuver. This implies a complete loss of liberty and self-determination.
• for my feet (לְרַגְלַי, lᵉraḡlay): Specifies the area of entrapment. It speaks to the inability to move forward, to escape the current predicament, or to pursue a different path, symbolizing complete immobilization and hopelessness.
• He has turned me back (הֵשִׁיבַנִי, hešîvanî): Implies reversal of fortune and purpose. Rather than advancing, the city is forced into retreat or an undesirable state, unable to regain its former standing or pursue its own destiny. It signifies being frustrated and compelled to move away from any desired direction.
• He has made me desolate (שַׁמָּה, šammâ): From the root שָׁמֵם (šāmēm), meaning utter devastation, ruin, and waste. It signifies an emptiness, a loss of inhabitants, and a complete cessation of normal life, a theme frequently warned of in prophetic judgment (e.g., Jer 25:11).
• all the day (כָּל הַיּוֹם, kol hayyôm): This temporal phrase signifies a continuous, unceasing suffering. There is no respite, no moment of peace; the desolation and affliction are relentless and ongoing.
• faint (דְּוֵה, dəwēh): Describes a state of deep weakness, sickness, languishing, or heartbreak. It’s an internal draining of strength and vitality, mirroring the physical desolation with emotional and spiritual exhaustion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "From above He sent fire into my bones; He made it descend, it prevailed over them.": This opening sets a terrifying tone. It describes the divine origin and deliberate execution of an all-consuming judgment. The fire, originating from God's realm, descends and penetrates to the core (bones), signifying intense, pervasive, and inescapable internal torment, ultimately dominating and extinguishing all life and strength. It's a vivid picture of the sheer power and directness of God's punitive hand.
• "He has spread a net for my feet, He has turned me back;": This second part shifts from internal, consuming pain to external, inescapable imprisonment. The image of the net highlights complete helplessness and entrapment. God Himself is the hunter, and Jerusalem the ensnared prey. The "turning back" emphasizes the frustrating reality of shattered hopes and the inability to escape or make any progress, symbolizing an irreversible downturn in fortune and the frustration of any self-effort towards recovery.
• "He has made me desolate all the day, faint.": This final phrase encapsulates the enduring consequence. The judgment has resulted in total desolation – a profound void and ruin. This state is not temporary but perpetual ("all the day"), leading to continuous inner and outer languishing, an ultimate weariness and heartbreak that offers no relief. It paints a picture of irreversible spiritual and physical decay due to God's sustained judgment.

Lamentations 1 13 Bonus section

The personification of Jerusalem as a suffering woman ("daughter of Zion") throughout Lamentations, especially in this chapter, imbues the stark theological declarations with profound emotional weight. This verse contributes heavily to that portrayal, presenting her as not merely a fallen city, but a living being enduring immense physical and emotional anguish at the hands of her offended Father. The use of multiple verbs depicting God's active, direct hand – "sent," "made it descend," "prevailed," "spread a net," "turned me back," "made me desolate" – leaves no ambiguity as to the source of the catastrophe. This serves a theological purpose within the text: to impress upon the reader that the calamity is not random, but the just and sovereign response of a covenant-keeping God to His people's persistent covenant-breaking. It establishes divine justice as the primary lens through which to understand the tragedy, emphasizing the covenant curse for disobedience (e.g., Deut 28) and driving toward a realization of the gravity of their sin.

Lamentations 1 13 Commentary

Lamentations 1:13 stands as a raw, personal lament detailing the consequences of God's direct judgment on Jerusalem. The verse masterfully employs vivid, visceral imagery to convey the depth and scope of suffering. By asserting that fire from above—from God's very being—has entered "into my bones," the speaker conveys not merely external damage but profound internal torment, a scorching that consumes the core of existence. The subsequent "prevailed" underlines the utter victory of this divine fire over Jerusalem's strength and vitality, leaving no room for resistance.

The shift to the "net" signifies absolute entrapment, making any self-initiated escape impossible. This imagery vividly portrays a captive without hope, unable to maneuver or break free from the consequences of their actions orchestrated by the divine Hand. The "turning back" suggests an ultimate reversal of fortune, a complete thwarting of future prospects, signifying utter frustration and a forced retreat from any progress or hope. The cumulative effect is "desolation," an emptiness that permeates every aspect of existence "all the day," symbolizing incessant anguish without relief. Finally, the "faint" encapsulates the pervasive, internal exhaustion and heartbreak that accompanies such profound divine chastisement. The verse is a stark theological statement that Jerusalem's horrific experience is a righteous judgment from the Lord, precise and complete in its execution, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty even over the most devastating calamities, always connected to the sin of His people.