Lamentations 2:13

KJV

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach [is] great like the sea: who can heal thee?

KJV (with Strong's)

What thing shall I take to witness {H5749}{H5749} for thee? what thing {H4100} shall I liken {H1819} to thee, O daughter {H1323} of Jerusalem {H3389}? what shall I equal {H7737} to thee, that I may comfort {H5162} thee, O virgin {H1330} daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726}? for thy breach {H7667} is great {H1419} like the sea {H3220}: who can heal {H7495} thee?

Complete Jewish Bible

What can be said to you, what can be compared with you, daughter of Yerushalayim? What example can I give to comfort you, virgin daughter of Tziyon? For your downfall is as vast as the sea; who can heal you?

Berean Standard Bible

What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?

American Standard Version

What shall I testify unto thee? what shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 2:13 captures the prophet's profound and desperate cry over Jerusalem's unparalleled devastation. Through a series of rhetorical questions, the speaker grapples with the sheer immensity of the city's suffering, asserting that its "breach" or ruin is so vast and overwhelming—"great like the sea"—that no earthly comparison can adequately describe it, nor can any human effort provide true comfort or healing. The verse encapsulates the deep anguish and helplessness felt in the face of such catastrophic loss, highlighting the seemingly insurmountable nature of Zion's wounds.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 2 forms the heart of the book, shifting from a general lament over Jerusalem's destruction in chapter 1 to a more direct accusation of God's role in the calamity, portraying Him as the active agent of judgment. The chapter graphically details the horrors of the siege, famine, and destruction, emphasizing the Lord's "fierce anger" and the complete dismantling of Zion's former glory. Verse 13 emerges after vivid descriptions of the city's suffering, including children fainting in the streets and widespread starvation ([Lamentations 2:11-12](/lamentations/2-11 "Lamentations 2:11-12 - The Prophet's Anguish")). The prophet's rhetorical questions in this verse serve as a climax to this outpouring of grief, underscoring the unique and incomprehensible nature of Jerusalem's ruin, suggesting that its sorrow transcends all previous human experience or comparison. It sets the stage for the personal lament and hope found later in [Lamentations 3](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - The Prophet's Hope in God's Steadfast Love").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Lamentations is a direct response to the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC. This event was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological crisis for ancient Israel. Jerusalem, particularly Mount Zion and the Temple, was considered the dwelling place of Yahweh, a symbol of His covenant presence and, for many, inviolable. The destruction of the city, the Temple, and the subsequent exile of its people shattered their national and religious identity. Culturally, lament was a recognized and vital form of expression in the ancient Near East, allowing for the public articulation of grief, despair, and even protest to the divine. The personification of Jerusalem as a "daughter" or "virgin daughter of Zion" is a common biblical trope, depicting the city as a vulnerable female figure, often implying a special, intimate relationship with God, and thus making her devastation all the more tragic and poignant.
* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 2:13 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Unparalleled Suffering and Divine Judgment**, portraying Jerusalem's destruction as a unique cataclysm, a direct consequence of the nation's sin and God's righteous wrath. The vastness of the "breach" implies a judgment so severe that it defies human comprehension or remedy, echoing the warnings found in books like [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "The Book of Jeremiah - Warnings of Judgment and Exile"). Secondly, it highlights the **Limits of Human Comfort and Healing**, as the prophet's rhetorical questions expose the inadequacy of any human attempt to console or restore a city so utterly broken. This theme implicitly points towards a divine need for intervention, as human resources are clearly insufficient. Finally, the verse contributes to the theme of **Profound Despair and Lament**, giving voice to the deep anguish and helplessness that grips the community, a necessary stage in processing trauma before any hope of restoration can emerge, as seen later in [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - Hope in God's Steadfast Love").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **breach (Hebrew, _sheber'_):** From the root meaning "to break," this word denotes a fracture, shattering, or utter ruin. In the context of Lamentations 2:13, it signifies the complete destruction and devastation of Jerusalem, not just a physical breaking of walls but a profound spiritual and national collapse. It conveys a sense of irreparable damage, a wound so deep it seems impossible to mend.
* **sea (Hebrew, _yâm'_):** This term refers to a large body of water, often associated with vastness, overwhelming power, and sometimes chaos or uncontrollable forces in biblical imagery. When Jerusalem's "breach" is compared to the sea, it emphasizes the immense scale, depth, and engulfing nature of its destruction, suggesting an overwhelming flood of suffering that threatens to drown the city entirely.
* **heal (Hebrew, _râphâʼ'_):** A primitive root meaning "to mend (by stitching)" or "to cure." In this verse, it refers to the restoration of health, wholeness, or soundness. The rhetorical question "who can heal thee?" underscores the prophet's despair, implying that the city's wounds are so grievous that no human physician or remedy could possibly bring about recovery or restoration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem?"**: This opening pair of rhetorical questions expresses the prophet's profound inability to find any comparable example or witness to the unique and overwhelming suffering of Jerusalem. The "daughter of Jerusalem" is a tender personification, emphasizing the city's vulnerability and former beauty, now tragically marred. The questions highlight the unprecedented nature of the city's calamity.
* **"what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion?"**: Continuing the theme of unparalleled suffering, the prophet seeks a suitable comparison that might enable him to offer comfort. The addition of "virgin daughter of Zion" further emphasizes the city's former purity, sanctity, and special relationship with God, making its current defilement and ruin all the more shocking and painful. The quest for comfort is deeply human, yet the questions imply its futility in this context.
* **"for thy breach [is] great like the sea: who can heal thee?"**: This clause provides the reason for the prophet's despair. The "breach" (shattering, ruin) of Jerusalem is described as "great like the sea," a powerful simile conveying its immense, overwhelming, and perhaps all-consuming nature. The final rhetorical question, "who can heal thee?", serves as a desperate cry, acknowledging the apparent impossibility of recovery through human means and underscoring the depth of the city's wounds.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 2:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of Jerusalem's anguish. The most prominent are **Rhetorical Questions**, which dominate the verse. The repeated queries ("What thing shall I take to witness...?", "what thing shall I liken...?", "what shall I equal...?", "who can heal thee?") are not seeking answers but rather emphasize the unparalleled and incomprehensible nature of Jerusalem's suffering, highlighting the prophet's utter helplessness and despair. This technique draws the reader into the prophet's emotional state. **Personification** is also central, as Jerusalem is tenderly addressed as "daughter of Jerusalem" and "virgin daughter of Zion." This imbues the city with human qualities, making its suffering more relatable and tragic, emphasizing its former beauty and sacred status now utterly violated. Finally, the **Simile** "thy breach [is] great like the sea" powerfully conveys the immense scale and overwhelming nature of the destruction. The sea, often a symbol of vastness and uncontrollable power, illustrates that Jerusalem's wound is not merely large but boundless, engulfing, and seemingly beyond any human capacity to mend.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 2:13, with its desperate cry over Jerusalem's irreparable "breach," resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of sin's devastating consequences and the profound need for divine intervention. The unparalleled suffering described here is a direct result of God's righteous judgment against His people's covenant unfaithfulness, demonstrating that even His chosen city is not immune to the consequences of rebellion. The prophet's inability to find comfort or healing highlights the limits of human capacity in the face of overwhelming brokenness, implicitly pointing to the truth that ultimate restoration must come from God alone. This verse underscores the biblical theme that while human sin can create wounds too deep for human hands to mend, God remains the ultimate source of healing and hope, even in the midst of the most profound despair.

* [Jeremiah 30:17](/jeremiah/30-17 "Jeremiah 30:17 - God's Promise to Heal Israel")
* [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")
* [Psalm 69:1-2](/psalms/69-1 "Psalm 69:1-2 - Drowning in Deep Waters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 2:13 offers a profound space for acknowledging and lamenting moments of deep, seemingly irreparable brokenness in our lives, communities, or the world. It validates the experience of overwhelming grief and despair, recognizing that some wounds are so vast they defy human comparison or comfort. In a world that often pressures us to "fix" things quickly or to "move on," this verse grants permission to sit in the raw anguish of a "breach great like the sea." It reminds us that there are limits to our own capacity to heal or comfort ourselves and others. This recognition, however, is not an end in itself but a crucial step towards understanding our utter dependence on a power beyond our own. When human solutions fail, and our resources are exhausted, this lament implicitly directs us to the divine, the only one truly capable of mending what appears unfixable. It encourages us to bring our deepest wounds and most desperate questions to God, trusting that even when we cannot see a way, He is the ultimate Healer.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "breaches" in your life or community feel "great like the sea," overwhelming your capacity for comfort or healing?**
* **How does acknowledging the limits of human comfort lead you to seek a divine source of healing?**
* **In what ways can lamenting our pain, rather than suppressing it, be a pathway to deeper spiritual honesty and reliance on God?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of Jerusalem being called "daughter" and "virgin daughter of Zion"?**

Answer: The terms "daughter of Jerusalem" and "virgin daughter of Zion" are powerful and common biblical personifications. "Daughter" (Hebrew: *bath*) often implies a tender, intimate relationship and vulnerability. "Virgin daughter" (Hebrew: *bᵉthûwlâh*) further emphasizes the city's former purity, sanctity, and special, undefiled relationship with God, akin to a bride. By using these terms, the prophet highlights the profound tragedy of Jerusalem's destruction. It's not just a city that has fallen, but a beloved, sacred entity, once pristine and set apart for God, now utterly defiled and ravaged. This imagery intensifies the sense of loss and betrayal, making the city's suffering deeply personal and poignant, as seen throughout [Lamentations 1](/lamentations/1 "Lamentations 1 - Jerusalem's Lament").

**How can a "breach" be "great like the sea"?**

Answer: The simile "great like the sea" is a vivid and potent image used to describe the "breach" (Hebrew: *sheber*), which signifies a shattering, ruin, or profound wound. The sea, in ancient Near Eastern thought, often represented immense, uncontrollable, and overwhelming power, sometimes even chaos. By comparing Jerusalem's devastation to the sea, the prophet conveys several layers of meaning:
1. **Vastness:** The destruction is not localized or minor; it is boundless, extending in every direction, encompassing the entire city and its people.
2. **Depth:** The wound is not superficial but goes to the very core of Jerusalem's existence, affecting its spiritual, physical, and national identity.
3. **Overwhelming Force:** The calamity is like an irresistible flood that has engulfed and drowned the city, leaving no escape or refuge.
4. **Incurability:** Just as one cannot easily "heal" or "mend" the vastness of the sea, the city's wounds appear so immense that human intervention is utterly insufficient to restore it. This emphasizes the unique and catastrophic nature of God's judgment upon Jerusalem, as also described in [Lamentations 2:2](/lamentations/2-2 "Lamentations 2:2 - The Lord's Relentless Destruction").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 2:13, with its poignant cry over an irreparable "breach" and the desperate question "who can heal thee?", finds its ultimate answer and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The prophet's lament over Jerusalem's wound, "great like the sea," foreshadows the ultimate brokenness of humanity due to sin—a spiritual breach far vaster and more devastating than any physical destruction. No human effort or earthly comparison could adequately address this universal wound, just as no one could heal Jerusalem. However, in Christ, God Himself enters into our brokenness. Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the "breach" of our sin on the cross, taking upon Himself the judgment we deserved, so that "by His wounds we are healed" ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")). He is the divine Physician who can mend the deepest spiritual wounds, offering comfort that transcends human understanding through the Holy Spirit, the [Comforter](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit, the Comforter"). The despair of "who can heal thee?" is met with the triumphant declaration of Christ's resurrection, demonstrating His power to bring life from death, wholeness from brokenness, and to ultimately establish a [New Jerusalem](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2 - The New Jerusalem Descending"), where every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more pain or breach.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Lamentations 1:12

¶ [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.

2 Samuel 5:20

And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

Jeremiah 14:17

¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Jeremiah 8:22

[Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah 30:12

For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise [is] incurable, [and] thy wound [is] grievous.

Jeremiah 30:15

Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow [is] incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: [because] thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

Isaiah 37:22

This [is] the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.