Lamentations 1:2

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.

She weepeth {H1058} sore {H1058} in the night {H3915}, and her tears {H1832} are on her cheeks {H3895}: among all her lovers {H157} she hath none to comfort {H5162} her: all her friends {H7453} have dealt treacherously {H898} with her, they are become her enemies {H341}.

Bitterly she weeps at night, tears running down her cheeks. Not one of all her lovers is there to comfort her. Her friends have all betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

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.

Context

Lamentations 1:2 vividly portrays the deep sorrow and isolation of Jerusalem (personified as 'she'), following its devastating destruction by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC. This verse, like much of the book, captures the raw grief and despair of a once-proud city that stood as the spiritual heart of Israel, now desolate and humiliated. The traditional author, the prophet Jeremiah, often called the 'weeping prophet', bears witness to the tragic consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness to God's covenant, which led to this severe divine judgment.

Key Themes

  • Profound Grief and Despair: The imagery of "She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks" powerfully conveys an overwhelming and continuous sorrow that endures even through the darkest hours of solitude. This isn't just sadness but a deep, unending anguish reflecting the complete devastation and loss experienced by the city and its inhabitants.
  • Betrayal by Allies: The phrase "among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies" highlights Judah's misguided reliance on foreign nations (such as Egypt or Assyria) for security, rather than trusting in God. These political and military alliances, often pursued through unholy treaties and involving idolatry, ultimately proved futile and turned against her, serving as instruments of her judgment. This reflects the prophetic warnings against seeking help from human powers instead of God.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the entire book of Lamentations underscores that Jerusalem's suffering is a direct result of her persistent sin, idolatry, and rebellion against the Lord, leading to His disciplinary judgment. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of covenant disobedience.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "weepeth sore" (בָּכֹה תִבְכֶּה, bakhoh tivkeh) uses an infinitive absolute before the verb, a common Hebrew construction that emphasizes the intensity and continuous nature of the action. It translates to "weep, yea, she weeps" or "she weeps bitterly," underscoring the deep and persistent anguish experienced by Jerusalem. The term "lovers" (מְאַהֲבֶיהָ, me'aha'veha) refers to the foreign nations with whom Jerusalem (Judah) made political and military alliances, which are often depicted in prophetic literature as spiritual adultery against God, a betrayal of her covenant relationship with the Lord.

Practical Application

Lamentations 1:2 serves as a poignant reminder that placing ultimate trust and seeking comfort in anything or anyone other than God can ultimately lead to disappointment and betrayal. For believers today, it highlights the importance of wholehearted reliance on the Lord, rather than seeking security in worldly alliances, fleeting pleasures, or human wisdom. When we face trials, feel abandoned, or experience the consequences of our own choices, this verse encourages us to turn to the one true Comforter, God Himself, who promises to be near the brokenhearted and to ultimately wipe away all tears, as foretold in the vision of the new heaven and new earth.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 6:6

    I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

  • Micah 7:5

    Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

  • Lamentations 1:16

    For these [things] I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

  • Lamentations 1:17

    Zion spreadeth forth her hands, [and there is] none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, [that] his adversaries [should be] round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

  • Jeremiah 22:20

    ¶ Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.

  • Jeremiah 22:22

    The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

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