Lamentations 1:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"See, ADONAI, how distressed I am! Everything in me is churning! My heart turns over inside me, because I have been so rebellious. Outside, the sword brings bereavement; inside, it is like death.

Berean Standard Bible:

See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death.

American Standard Version:

Behold, O Jehovah; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled; My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Behold^{H7200}, O LORD^{H3068}; for I am in distress^{H6887}: my bowels^{H4578} are troubled^{H2560}; mine heart^{H3820} is turned^{H2015} within^{H7130} me; for I have grievously^{H4784} rebelled^{H4784}: abroad^{H2351} the sword^{H2719} bereaveth^{H7921}, at home^{H1004} there is as death^{H4194}.

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Commentary for Lamentations 1:20

Lamentations 1:20 is part of a larger poetic lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. The verse reflects the depth of despair and sorrow experienced by the inhabitants of the city following the Babylonian conquest in 586 BCE. In this verse, the speaker directly addresses the Lord, acknowledging their personal distress and the physical and emotional turmoil they are enduring—a turmoil so severe that it is described as affecting their innermost being, their "bowels," and causing their heart to turn within them.

The historical context is crucial to understanding the gravity of the verse. The Babylonian army, led by Nebuchadnezzar, besieged and eventually destroyed Jerusalem, including the First Temple, which was the center of Jewish religious life. The speaker admits to having "grievously rebelled," which can be interpreted as a confession of the people's sinfulness and disobedience to God's laws, a common theme in Jeremiah's prophecies. This admission suggests that the current calamity is seen as a divine punishment for the people's transgressions.

The mention of the "sword bereaveth" refers to the violent deaths caused by the invading army, while "at home [there is] as death" indicates that even those who were not killed in battle faced starvation, disease, and the psychological trauma of defeat and exile. The verse captures the profound sense of loss, both personal and national, and the recognition of divine judgment, which are central themes throughout the book of Lamentations. It is a poignant expression of the human condition in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and a plea for divine compassion and intervention.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6887
   There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָרַר
   Transliteration: tsârar
   Pronunciation: tsaw-rar'
   Description: a primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive; adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4578
   There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֵעֶה
   Transliteration: mêʻeh
   Pronunciation: may-aw'
   Description: xlit mêʻâh corrected to mêʻeh; from an unused root probably meaning to be soft; used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathy; by implication, a vest; by extension the stomach, the uterus (or of men, the seat of generation), the heart (figuratively); belly, bowels, [idiom] heart, womb.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2560
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָמַר
   Transliteration: châmar
   Pronunciation: khaw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; also as denominative (from חֵמָר); properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch; daub, befoul, be red, trouble.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3820
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵב
   Transliteration: lêb
   Pronunciation: labe
   Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2015
   There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָפַךְ
   Transliteration: hâphak
   Pronunciation: haw-fak'
   Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).
   
8. Strong's Number: H7130
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶרֶב
   Transliteration: qereb
   Pronunciation: keh'-reb
   Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4784
   There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָרָה
   Transliteration: mârâh
   Pronunciation: maw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke); bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).
   
10. Strong's Number: H2351
    There are 159 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חוּץ
    Transliteration: chûwts
    Pronunciation: khoots
    Description: or (shortened) חֻץ; (both forms feminine in the plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors; abroad, field, forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.
    
11. Strong's Number: H2719
    There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֶרֶב
    Transliteration: chereb
    Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
    Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7921
    There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁכֹל
    Transliteration: shâkôl
    Pronunciation: shaw-kole'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively); bereave (of children), barren, cast calf (fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, [idiom] expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil.
    
13. Strong's Number: H1004
    There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּיִת
    Transliteration: bayith
    Pronunciation: bah'-yith
    Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
    
14. Strong's Number: H4194
    There are 155 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָוֶת
    Transliteration: mâveth
    Pronunciation: maw'-veth
    Description: from מוּת; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin; (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d).