Lamentations 1 21

Lamentations 1:21 kjv

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.

Lamentations 1:21 nkjv

"They have heard that I sigh, But no one comforts me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; They are glad that You have done it. Bring on the day You have announced, That they may become like me.

Lamentations 1:21 niv

"People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me.

Lamentations 1:21 esv

"They heard my groaning, yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it. You have brought the day you announced; now let them be as I am.

Lamentations 1:21 nlt

"Others heard my groans,
but no one turned to comfort me.
When my enemies heard about my troubles,
they were happy to see what you had done.
Oh, bring the day you promised,
when they will suffer as I have suffered.

Lamentations 1 verses

Lamentations 1 21 Meaning

Lamentations 1:21 is the direct cry of personified Jerusalem (or Judah) to the LORD, detailing its overwhelming sorrow, the complete absence of any comforter, and the gleeful derision of its enemies. The most poignant element is the realization and open declaration that this horrific suffering and the enemies' triumph are directly orchestrated by God as the fulfillment of His previously declared judgment. It culminates in a plea, or perhaps a prophetic expectation, that a similar fate of judgment will eventually befall its oppressors.

Lamentations 1 21 Context

Lamentations Chapter 1 portrays Jerusalem as a solitary, weeping widow, utterly desolate and abandoned after the Babylonian destruction of 586 BCE. The entire chapter is an acrostic poem, where each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, imposing a grim order on chaotic despair. The lament speaks from the perspective of personified Jerusalem (often referred to as Daughter Zion), articulating her profound pain, humiliation, and spiritual struggle. Verse 21 occurs towards the end of this opening lament, following descriptions of her betrayal by allies, the widespread nature of her distress, and the shame she feels before her adversaries. This verse particularly focuses on the cause of her suffering (God's judgment) and the distressing irony of enemies finding joy in her pain, making it a critical theological articulation within the lament. It sets the stage for a plea for divine intervention against her adversaries.

Lamentations 1 21 Word analysis

• They heard (שָׁמְעוּ - sham'u): This word signifies public knowledge and recognition. Jerusalem's lament is not private; her deep sighs are audible to the surrounding nations, amplifying her shame and exposure.
• I sigh (נֶאֱנָחָה אֲנִי - ne'enakhah ani): The Hebrew verb נֶאֱנָחָה (ne'enakhah), a Niphal (passive) form of the root אָנַח (anakh), indicates a deep, prolonged, and involuntary groan or sigh of distress. It conveys utter despondency and a loss of composure, often resulting from unbearable pain or grief, emphasizing the intensity of her suffering. The explicit "I" (ani) highlights the personal experience of this agony.
• No one to comfort me (אֵין מְנַחֵם לִי - ein menachem li): This phrase emphasizes utter isolation and hopelessness. מְנַחֵם (menachem), a Piel participle from the root נָחַם (nacham), means "comforter." The absence of comfort (a recurring theme in Lamentations and other laments) signifies complete abandonment and a world turned hostile. This highlights the severity of God's judgment that even customary human comfort is withheld.
• All my enemies (כָּל אוֹיְבַי - kol oyvay): Stresses the complete encirclement of foes, reinforcing the extensive nature of Jerusalem's distress. "My enemies" points to the historical nations surrounding Israel, many of whom harbored long-standing resentments.
• Heard of my trouble (שָׁמְעוּ רָעָתִי - sham'u ra'ati): רָעָתִי (ra'ati) literally means "my evil" or "my calamity/trouble." It refers to the disastrous state and moral degradation brought about by the destruction, which her enemies fully perceive.
• They have rejoiced (שָׂשׂוּ - sasu): From the root שָׂשׂ (sas), meaning "to rejoice," this is a strong verb indicating intense gladness, often with a celebratory connotation. Their joy is not just observing but delighting in her downfall.
• That You have done it (כִּי אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ - ki attah asita): This is a pivotal theological statement. עָשִׂיתָ (asita), "You have done," directly attributes the destruction and subsequent joy of the enemies to God. Jerusalem here explicitly acknowledges God's direct involvement in her calamity. This is a crucial element of biblical lament—the recognition of divine sovereignty even in judgment, however painful.
• You have brought (הֵבֵאתָ - heveta): A Hiphil (causative) form of בּוֹא (bo), meaning "to come/bring," directly confirms God's active role in bringing about this "day."
• The day that You proclaimed (יוֹם קָרָאתָ - yom karata): This refers to the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the "Day of the LORD" or specific days of judgment declared through His prophets (e.g., Deut 28, Lev 26, Jer 25). God is not acting arbitrarily but is fulfilling His pre-announced word and covenant warnings.
• And they are like me (וַיִּהְיוּ כָּמֹנִי - vayyihyu kamoni): This phrase is pregnant with meaning. It can be a desperate, longing plea for the enemies to experience similar suffering, an appeal to the principle of lex talionis (justice that mirrors the offense). It also functions as a prophetic declaration rooted in God's promises of ultimate judgment on nations that oppress His people, indicating that Babylon and others, despite their present triumph, will eventually face their own divine retribution and desolation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They heard that I sigh, there is no one to comfort me": This grouping captures the agonizing paradox of public suffering without any empathetic solace. Jerusalem's internal, unbearable anguish is exposed for all to see, yet no human kindness extends a hand of comfort, emphasizing the profound depth of her desolation.
• "All my enemies have heard of my trouble, They have rejoiced that You have done it": This phrase highlights the bitter irony and theological agony. Her enemies, who might have seemed to be merely human adversaries, are now seen as instruments (albeit unwitting or unwilling) in God's judicial plan. Their malicious joy is validated because it aligns with what God himself has willed and executed, pushing the lamenter into a deeper theological struggle.
• "You have brought the day that You proclaimed, And they are like me": This last part of the verse presents both a theological acknowledgment and a hopeful, albeit vengeful, expectation. It explicitly states God's perfect alignment with His prophetic word. The final declaration "And they are like me" (or "that they would become like me") implies an expectation of reciprocal judgment. Just as Jerusalem has become a spectacle of divine wrath, her enemies too will experience a day of divine retribution, often called the "Day of the Lord" for the nations. This demonstrates a deep-seated belief in God's ultimate justice, even in the midst of current despair.

Lamentations 1 21 Bonus section

The recognition of God's direct authorship of the "trouble" and the "day" ("You have done it," "You have brought the day") is a recurring theological theme throughout Lamentations. It’s not simply acknowledging God's allowance, but His active involvement in bringing about the prophesied judgment due to Judah's sustained unfaithfulness. This powerful theological confession, amidst such immense suffering, reveals a deep and painful intimacy with YHWH—even as He afflicts, He remains Israel's God, bound by covenant and faithful to His declared word. The expectation "they are like me" points to the prophetic theme that divine justice extends beyond Israel, ultimately holding all nations accountable, especially for their treatment of God's covenant people. This sets up a profound hope within the lament, that despite the present overwhelming darkness, God's character ensures a future where righteousness will ultimately prevail.

Lamentations 1 21 Commentary

Lamentations 1:21 offers a raw, profound insight into the spiritual wrestling that accompanies national calamity when understood through a covenantal lens. Jerusalem's "sigh" is not a private matter but is heard by her tormentors, who, instead of pitying, delight in her humiliation. The core agony, however, stems from the theological realization that their schadenfreude is justified not by their power, but by God's decree. The lamenter knows the LORD is behind this "day." This admission ("You have done it") is crucial, demonstrating an unyielding faith in God's sovereignty even in His devastating judgment, rather than attributing the catastrophe to mere chance or the superior strength of idols. It affirms that God is in control of all events, a hard truth that nevertheless anchors the lamenter's hope. This truth means God is capable of bringing judgment, but also restoration. The final, poignant line, "And they are like me," serves as both a desperate longing for justice and a declaration of unwavering confidence in God's consistent moral governance of the world. It’s an implicit prayer that divine retribution will not forget those who oppressed God's people. This expresses the deeply human cry for vindication that finds its hope not in human strength, but in God's ultimate justice, which promises a turning of the tables.

• Practical Usage Example: When facing intense personal suffering or communal distress where it seems others are reveling in our hardship, we can find resonance in Lamentations. Instead of focusing solely on the "who" (human agents) or "how" (circumstances), this verse challenges us to ask "why" and, if applicable, to humbly consider God's permissive will or disciplinary hand in the matter. It reminds us that our hope is rooted in His ultimate justice, knowing that He sees, hears, and will eventually balance the scales, even if the present is filled with uncomforted sighs and enemies' rejoicings.