Lamentations 1 2

Lamentations 1:2 kjv

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.

Lamentations 1:2 nkjv

She weeps bitterly in the night, Her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers She has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.

Lamentations 1:2 niv

Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

Lamentations 1:2 esv

She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.

Lamentations 1:2 nlt

She sobs through the night;
tears stream down her cheeks.
Among all her lovers,
there is no one left to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed her
and become her enemies.

Lamentations 1 verses

Lamentations 1 2 Meaning

Lamentations 1:2 powerfully depicts the personified city of Jerusalem, "daughter of Zion," in profound, unceasing grief and utter abandonment. She is seen weeping intensely throughout the night, tears perpetually streaming down her face. This image of overwhelming sorrow is deepened by the betrayal of those she once sought solace and alliances from – her "lovers" (foreign nations) and "friends" – who have now turned against her, leaving her utterly desolate and without comfort. The verse encapsulates the devastating consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness to God and her reliance on human political maneuvering rather than divine covenant.

Lamentations 1 2 Context

Lamentations chapter 1 presents a stark and heart-wrenching lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the resulting desolation and exile of her people. The prophet Jeremiah, often considered the author, personifies Jerusalem as a grieving widow, bereft and alone. Verse 2 specifically describes the depth of her mourning and highlights a key reason for her plight: her reliance on and subsequent betrayal by the nations she had formed alliances with. Historically, Judah frequently sought political and military alliances with powerful foreign nations (such as Egypt or Assyria) for security, rather than trusting in the Lord's protection as stipulated by the Mosaic covenant. These alliances, metaphorically called "lovers" and "friends" in this verse, ultimately proved faithless and contributed to her downfall, leading to the Babylonian conquest and the profound suffering lamented here. This verse, therefore, places the immediate agony within the larger historical context of Judah's spiritual idolatry and covenant infidelity.

Lamentations 1 2 Word analysis

• She weeps (בָּכֹה תִבְכֶּה֮ - bakhoh tivkeh): An intensive Hebrew construction (infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb) meaning "weeping she weeps" or "she weeps bitterly/continually." It conveys a profound, relentless, and extreme sorrow.
• bitterly: Implied by the intensive verbal form. Her grief is not merely sorrow but agony.
• in the night (בַּלַּיְלָה - ba-laylah): Night is often a time of quiet, rest, or spiritual communion. Here, it intensifies her solitude and pain, as weeping is done in the lonely hours when relief should come, but none does. It symbolizes continuous anguish.
• and her tears (וְדִמְעָתָהּ - ve-dim'atah): Visible, tangible evidence of her inward, overwhelming sorrow. Tears represent the raw manifestation of her agony.
• are on her cheeks (עַל לֶחְיָתָ֑הּ - ‘al lechyatah): Paints a vivid picture of a constant flow of tears, indicating an unceasing, unconsolable lamentation, not just fleeting emotion.
• among all her lovers (מִכֹּל־מְאַהֲבֶ֜יהָ - mikol-m'ahaveyha): "Lovers" (מְאַהֲבִים - m'ahavim) here is a prophetic metaphor. It refers to the foreign nations (e.g., Egypt, Assyria, Babylon) with whom Judah formed political and military alliances, effectively "playing the harlot" against her covenant relationship with Yahweh (Jer 3:1, Eze 16, Hos 2). This reveals Judah's spiritual infidelity.
• she has none to comfort her (אֵין לָהּ מְנַחֵם - ein lah menachem): Highlights the utter isolation and the failure of those "lovers" to provide any succor in her time of need. "Comforter" (menachem) often points to God's unique ability to comfort.
• all her friends (כֹּל־רֵעֶ֙יהָ֙ - kol re'eiha): Broader than "lovers," perhaps referring to any who might have been expected to help, including potentially internal factions or general allies. They were once relied upon but have proved faithless.
• have dealt treacherously with her (בָּגְדוּ־בָ֔הּ - baghdu-vah): From bagad (בָּגַד), meaning to act faithlessly, to betray a trust or a covenant. It speaks to a deep, deliberate betrayal, a breaking of alliance and loyalty. This act of treachery exacerbates Jerusalem's suffering.
• they have become her enemies (הָיוּ לָהּ לְאוֹיְבִים - hayu lah l'oy'vim): The ultimate culmination of the betrayal. Those once considered allies and confidantes are now hostile adversaries, amplifying her vulnerability and helplessness.

Words-group analysis

• "She weeps bitterly in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks": This phrase paints an intensely personal and desperate picture of continuous grief. The "night" adds a layer of solitary anguish, amplifying the raw visible emotion of "tears on her cheeks." It emphasizes Jerusalem's internal torment spilling out externally.
• "among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her": This contrasts the expectation of solace with the reality of profound betrayal. The term "lovers" explicitly connects to Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry in seeking foreign alliances instead of God, highlighting the divine judgment inherent in their abandonment. Their turning "treacherously" underscores the violation of trust and covenant-like relationships.
• "they have become her enemies": This concludes the process of betrayal. Former sources of support are now actively hostile, demonstrating complete abandonment and the catastrophic outcome of misplaced trust. This final state of opposition seals her desolation.

Lamentations 1 2 Bonus section

The deep suffering portrayed in this verse, particularly the absence of any comforter and the betrayal by those formerly relied upon, serves as a poignant theological argument. It subtly directs the listener/reader toward the understanding that only the one true God, whom Judah had abandoned, could ultimately offer true comfort and solace. The very lack of a "comforter" from human sources underscores the need for divine comfort, highlighting God's unique role as the "God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3). This verse is a somber reflection on the outworking of the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26, where national apostasy would lead to abandonment by allies and devastation by enemies. The detailed visual imagery throughout the verse creates empathy for the suffering Jerusalem, yet simultaneously points to the spiritual lessons derived from her fall.

Lamentations 1 2 Commentary

Lamentations 1:2 is a profound lamentation, drawing a vivid picture of Jerusalem's anguish. The personification of the city as a weeping woman underscores the emotional depth of the destruction. Her "bitter weeping in the night" is not just sadness; it signifies deep agony that consumes her even during the time of rest, with her tears being a continuous visible witness to her torment. The theological core of this verse lies in the tragic consequences of Judah's covenant infidelity. Jerusalem's "lovers" were the pagan nations she sought alliances with for security, thus breaking her covenant with Yahweh, who alone was her true protector. These alliances, forbidden by God, proved worthless, not only failing to save her but turning into instruments of her destruction or standing idly by as enemies. The betrayal by "friends" (potentially internal or other minor allies) further highlights the pervasive nature of her abandonment. This verse is a powerful lesson: seeking comfort, security, or solutions apart from God, or in ungodly alliances, leads not to peace but to betrayal and desolation. Trust placed in fleeting human powers or systems ultimately disappoints, leaving one exposed and vulnerable to those who were once trusted. This serves as a timeless reminder that true and lasting comfort and security are found only in God. For example, trusting wealth (Psa 62:10) instead of God or relying on self-sufficiency instead of divine providence ultimately leads to emptiness and abandonment when hardship strikes.