Lamentations 1:20

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.

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}.

"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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Lamentations 1:20 offers a profound and raw cry of distress from the perspective of Jerusalem, personified as a weeping widow. The verse vividly portrays the deep physical and emotional anguish experienced by the city and its inhabitants in the aftermath of its destruction by Babylon.

Context

The book of Lamentations is a collection of poetic laments mourning the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. Authored traditionally by the prophet Jeremiah, it expresses the immense grief, despair, and spiritual reflection upon the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God's covenant. This particular verse comes from the first chapter, which sets the scene of Jerusalem's desolation and its desperate plea for God's attention amidst overwhelming suffering.

Key Themes

  • Profound Distress and Anguish: The speaker's appeal, "Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress," immediately conveys an acute sense of suffering. This is amplified by the visceral descriptions of internal turmoil: "my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me."
  • Confession of Sin: Crucially, the suffering is directly linked to the nation's spiritual failure: "for I have grievously rebelled." This confession acknowledges divine justice in their calamity, connecting their plight to their unfaithfulness. Such a recognition of culpability is a vital step toward true repentance and restoration.
  • Widespread Devastation: The verse paints a grim picture of both external and internal destruction. "Abroad the sword bereaveth" speaks to the violence, warfare, and loss of life outside the city walls, while "at home there is as death" describes the pervasive despair, famine, and loss of life within the city, making every dwelling a place of mourning.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my bowels are troubled" (Hebrew: me'ay nimharu) reflects an ancient understanding where the inner organs, particularly the intestines or bowels, were considered the seat of deep emotions like compassion, grief, or distress. It signifies a profound, gut-wrenching pain that is both physical and emotional. The turning of the heart within expresses utter confusion and despair, as if the very core of one's being is in disarray. The word "rebelled" (Hebrew: marithi) emphasizes a deliberate act of defiance against God, highlighting the severity of their transgression, which led to the fulfillment of covenant curses for disobedience.

Practical Application

Lamentations 1:20 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Acknowledge Suffering: It validates the experience of deep pain and distress, showing that it's acceptable to express such feelings honestly before God, as the psalmist often did (e.g., Psalm 142:2).
  • Connect Sin and Consequence: The verse powerfully illustrates that while God is merciful, there are indeed consequences for persistent rebellion against His will. It prompts self-examination regarding our own actions and their spiritual ramifications.
  • The Path to Repentance: The confession "I have grievously rebelled" is a crucial step. True repentance begins with acknowledging one's sin and its role in one's suffering, opening the door for God's forgiveness and eventual healing, as promised in 1 John 1:9.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Lamentations 2:11 (5 votes)

    Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

  • Deuteronomy 32:25 (4 votes)

    The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling [also] with the man of gray hairs.

  • Isaiah 16:11 (4 votes)

    Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

  • Ezekiel 7:15 (4 votes)

    The sword [is] without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that [is] in the field shall die with the sword; and he that [is] in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.

  • Jeremiah 4:19 (3 votes)

    ¶ My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

  • Job 30:27 (3 votes)

    My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.

  • Leviticus 26:40 (2 votes)

    ¶ If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;