Lamentations 5 17

Lamentations 5:17 kjv

For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.

Lamentations 5:17 nkjv

Because of this our heart is faint; Because of these things our eyes grow dim;

Lamentations 5:17 niv

Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim

Lamentations 5:17 esv

For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,

Lamentations 5:17 nlt

Our hearts are sick and weary,
and our eyes grow dim with tears.

Lamentations 5 verses

Lamentations 5 17 meaning

Lamentations 5:17 powerfully expresses the profound emotional, psychological, and physical devastation experienced by the people of Jerusalem after its destruction. It conveys a deep-seated anguish that has taken a tangible toll, manifesting as a weakening of their inner spirit (heart faint) and a visible impairment due to incessant sorrow and despair (eyes dim). The verse underscores that these intense physical symptoms are a direct consequence of the catastrophic suffering detailed throughout the lament.

Lamentations 5 17 Context

Lamentations 5:17 stands within the final chapter of the book, which shifts from the personal laments of the prophet to a communal prayer for restoration and an appeal to God. This chapter serves as the collective voice of the exiled and suffering people of Judah, recounting their profound humiliation, desolation, and physical and spiritual decay. It details a litany of woes: lost inheritance, hunger, abuse, national shame, the destruction of their sanctuary, and the absence of joy. Verse 17 directly follows a description of such deep suffering ("youths grind at the mill...women are ravished in Zion," 5:13, and specifically 5:16, "The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!"). It thus summarizes the physical and emotional cost of this prolonged agony and divine judgment, explicitly linking their current state of despair and weariness to the ongoing horrific events. The original audience would have understood this as a direct reflection of the consequences of their national sins and the catastrophic Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in 586 BC, where famine, siege, and massacre had taken an unbearable toll.

Lamentations 5 17 Word analysis

• Because for this (עַל־זֹ֣את - al-zot): Hebrew conjunction and demonstrative. "On account of this," or "for this very reason." It explicitly links the following suffering to the previously described terrible conditions and national calamity. It signifies cause and effect, where the prior distress (stated in verses 1-16) directly causes the internal state described here.
• our heart is faint (הָיָ֣ה דַוֶּ֑ה לִבֵּנוּ - hayah daweh libenu):
  • libenu: "our heart," referring to the innermost being, the seat of emotions, will, intellect, and courage, not just a physical organ.
  • daweh: "faint," "sick," "languishing," "diseased." This is a strong word denoting physical illness and feebleness resulting from deep sorrow and distress. It suggests not just weakness, but a withering or debilitating condition of the spirit and soul.
  • The phrase emphasizes a profound inner collapse, a loss of hope, courage, and vitality, much like a person becoming physically ill from extreme grief.
• for these things (עַל־אֵ֤לֶּה - al-'elleh): Parallel phrase to "for this," but possibly emphasizing the plurality or manifold nature of their suffering, broadening the cause to encompass all the devastating events. Reinforces the weight of cumulative sorrow.
• our eyes are dim (חָשְׁכוּ עֵינֵֽינוּ - chashkhu eynenu):
  • eynenu: "our eyes," a window to the soul, reflecting inner state.
  • chashkhu: "grew dark," "became obscure," "faded." This suggests impairment of sight, often associated with intense weeping, prolonged grief, exhaustion, and potentially hunger/malnutrition. It's a visible, physical manifestation of deep and prolonged suffering, symbolizing loss of hope, joy, and the ability to see a bright future. It might even imply the dimness of old age brought on prematurely by suffering.

Words-group analysis:

• "Because for this... for these things": These parallel clauses create a strong causal link. They underline that the specified internal collapse is a direct, unavoidable result of the immense national trauma, sin, and divine judgment. It grounds their despair in objective reality.
• "our heart is faint... our eyes are dim": This pairing reflects both internal and external expressions of despair. The faint heart describes the inner spirit, the core of their being losing strength. The dim eyes describe a visible, physical symptom—a body weary from suffering, reflecting a soul overwhelmed by sorrow and hopelessness. Together, they paint a complete picture of total collapse, mentally, emotionally, and physically. The symmetry underscores the pervasive nature of their desolation.

Lamentations 5 17 Bonus section

The Hebrew word daweh (faint, sick) for heart is also used in passages like Psa 38:8 to describe a physical sickness unto death. Its usage here, therefore, isn't just poetic but hints at a life-threatening emotional and spiritual condition that pervades the entire populace. The dimming of the eyes could also imply a profound weariness from constant tears, which have literally dried out or impaired their vision. The communal "our" highlights that this is a shared experience of deep national grief and trauma, binding the people together in their collective suffering. It signifies that no one is immune from the fallout of sin and its judgment.

Lamentations 5 17 Commentary

Lamentations 5:17 is a raw, evocative depiction of utter despair, not as a fleeting emotion, but as a condition that has physically sickened and weakened a whole people. It goes beyond mere sadness, portraying a state of debilitation where the very seat of life and emotion (the heart) is failing, and the windows to the soul (the eyes) are obscured by an overwhelming darkness of sorrow. This is the physiological and psychological cost of enduring unimaginable trauma, siege, and national destruction, rooted in the recognition of their sin and God's judgment. Yet, this honest articulation of weakness and sorrow, delivered in a communal prayer, implicitly retains a sliver of hope that God will hear and perhaps, through acknowledging their state, they might appeal to His mercy. It testifies to the severe consequences of straying from God's covenant, manifesting as tangible physical and spiritual distress.