Lamentations 3:18

KJV

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

KJV (with Strong's)

And I said {H559}, My strength {H5331} and my hope {H8431} is perished {H6} from the LORD {H3068}:

Complete Jewish Bible

that I think, "My strength is gone, and so is my hope in ADONAI."

Berean Standard Bible

So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.”

American Standard Version

And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:18 captures a moment of profound spiritual and emotional desolation, where the speaker, likely Jeremiah or a representative of Judah, declares that his inner strength and expectant hope have utterly vanished, seemingly withdrawn or destroyed "from the LORD." This verse articulates the deepest point of despair experienced by one grappling with immense suffering and perceived divine abandonment, serving as a poignant expression of human frailty at its breaking point, just before a pivotal shift towards renewed faith in God's enduring mercies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:18 is situated within the heart of the book of Lamentations, an acrostic poem traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, mourning the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. While the surrounding chapters (1, 2, 4, 5) often feature a corporate lament, Chapter 3 shifts to the voice of an individual, often identified as Jeremiah himself or a personified representation of the suffering nation. The verses immediately preceding 3:18 (Lamentations 3:1-17) vividly describe the speaker's intense personal affliction, portraying him as a man besieged by God's judgment, experiencing physical torment, spiritual darkness, and a profound sense of isolation. This particular verse marks the nadir of his despair, an ultimate expression of feeling utterly bereft of internal resources and spiritual solace, setting the stage for the dramatic theological pivot that begins in [Lamentations 3:21](/lamentations/3-21 "Lamentations 3:21 - The Turning Point").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Lamentations is the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BC, an event of unparalleled trauma for the ancient Israelites. This destruction meant the loss of their capital city, the holy temple (the dwelling place of God), the Davidic monarchy, and their national independence, culminating in the exile of much of the population. For the people of Judah, these events were not merely political or military defeats but profound theological crises, challenging their understanding of God's covenant promises and His presence among them. In this context, "strength" (physical, national, spiritual) and "hope" (for restoration, divine intervention, future well-being) were intrinsically linked to God's favor and the stability of their sacred institutions. The declaration in [Lamentations 3:18](/lamentations/3-18 "Lamentations 3:18 - A Cry of Despair") reflects a world turned upside down, where all traditional sources of security and expectation had collapsed, leading to a deep questioning of God's active presence and benevolent intent.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Lamentations and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it embodies **Profound Despair and Hopelessness**, illustrating the human capacity for utter desolation when faced with overwhelming suffering and perceived divine abandonment. The speaker's cry is an honest, raw expression of a soul at its breaking point, where even the fundamental elements of faith—strength and hope—feel extinguished. Secondly, it highlights **Human Frailty and Limits**, demonstrating that even the most resilient individuals can reach a point where all internal and external resources are exhausted. This vulnerability underscores the complete dependence of humanity on divine sustenance. Thirdly, it explores the **Experience of Divine Absence or Withdrawal**, a common theme in biblical lament (e.g., [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - A Cry of Forsakenness")). While the speaker acknowledges God's sovereignty over the events, he feels a profound disconnect, as if God has allowed his strength and hope to perish. This honest wrestling with God's perceived distance is a crucial aspect of biblical lament, validating the expression of difficult emotions to the Lord.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** This primitive root is highly versatile, meaning "to say" with great latitude. In this context, it signifies a definitive declaration, an internal conviction spoken aloud. It's not a question or a tentative thought, but a firm, albeit despairing, statement of reality as perceived by the suffering individual. It underscores the personal and deeply felt nature of the lament.
* **strength (Hebrew, _netsach'_):** This word, derived from a root meaning "to be eminent" or "to excel," properly refers to a goal or a distant bright object, metaphorically representing splendor, victory, or enduring confidence. Here, it denotes inner fortitude, vitality, or the capacity to persevere. Its perishing signifies a complete loss of inner resilience and the ability to continue.
* **hope (Hebrew, _tôwcheleth'_):** Derived from the verb "to wait" or "to hope," this noun specifically means "expectation" or "hope." It is not mere wishful thinking but a confident anticipation of future good, often rooted in God's character and promises. Its loss indicates a complete collapse of future-oriented trust and positive expectation.
* **perished (Hebrew, _ʼâbad'_):** This primitive root means "to wander away," "to lose oneself," and by implication, "to perish" or "to be destroyed." The verb is intense, conveying a sense of utter destruction, irretrievable loss, or being utterly undone. The speaker feels that his strength and hope have not merely diminished but have been completely annihilated.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often translated as "Jehovah" or "the Lord." It signifies the self-existent, eternal God who is faithful to His covenant. The phrase "from the LORD" is particularly poignant; it suggests that the very source of life, strength, and hope has either withdrawn these qualities or allowed them to be destroyed, intensifying the speaker's feeling of abandonment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I said,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the personal and subjective nature of the lament. It is the direct utterance of the suffering individual, expressing an internal conviction that has reached a breaking point. This "saying" is not merely a thought but a declaration, perhaps even a cry, revealing the depth of the speaker's despair.
* **"My strength and my hope"**: These two nouns represent the core internal resources of the speaker. "Strength" (נֶצַח, *netsach*) refers to inner fortitude, resilience, and the capacity to endure, while "hope" (תּוֹחֶלֶת, *tôwcheleth*) signifies confident expectation and a positive outlook for the future, often rooted in divine promises. The pairing indicates a complete collapse of both present endurance and future anticipation.
* **"is perished from the LORD:"**: This concluding phrase is the most devastating. The verb "perished" (אָבַד, *ʼâbad*) conveys utter destruction or being completely lost. The prepositional phrase "from the LORD" is crucial; it implies that the source of this destruction or loss is God Himself, or at least that God has allowed it to happen. This is not merely a personal failing but a perceived divine withdrawal or judgment, deepening the sense of abandonment and making the despair absolute.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:18 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message of despair. **Personification** is evident as "strength" and "hope" are treated as entities capable of "perishing," giving abstract concepts a tangible, vulnerable quality. This emphasizes the speaker's feeling that these vital internal resources have been actively destroyed, rather than simply fading away. The verse also utilizes **Hyperbole**, as the declaration that *all* strength and hope have perished is an exaggerated expression of extreme emotional and spiritual desolation, reflecting the speaker's subjective experience rather than an objective reality about God's ultimate faithfulness. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a poignant example of **Lament**, a genre characterized by raw, honest, and often desperate cries to God in the midst of suffering. The phrase "from the LORD" creates a stark **Irony** or **Paradox**, as the very source of true strength and hope (God) is paradoxically named as the one from whom these qualities have "perished," highlighting the deep theological struggle and perceived divine abandonment central to the speaker's agony.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:18 stands as a stark testament to the depths of human despair when confronted with overwhelming suffering and perceived divine abandonment. Theologically, it highlights the biblical validation of expressing raw, honest, and even despairing emotions to God. It reminds us that faith does not preclude profound sorrow or feelings of hopelessness, but rather provides a framework for bringing such struggles directly into God's presence. This verse serves as a crucial low point, emphasizing that even when all seems lost, and the very source of hope (the LORD) seems to have withdrawn, the narrative of faith can still pivot. It underscores the tension between human experience and divine truth, preparing the reader for the profound shift in perspective that follows, where God's enduring mercies are reaffirmed despite the intensity of the present suffering.

* [Psalm 42:11](/psalms/42-11 "Psalm 42:11 - Why are you cast down, O my soul?")
* [Job 13:15](/job/13-15 "Job 13:15 - Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him")
* [Romans 5:3-5](/romans/5-3-5 "Romans 5:3-5 - Hope through suffering")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:18 offers a profound validation for the human experience of utter despair, even within a life of faith. It teaches us that it is not only permissible but, at times, necessary to articulate the deepest recesses of our sorrow and perceived abandonment to God. In moments when our inner strength feels utterly depleted and hope seems to have vanished, this verse provides a voice for that raw, unvarnished cry. It reminds us that faith is not the absence of doubt or despair, but the courage to bring those very feelings before the Lord, trusting that He can meet us even in our lowest valleys. This passage encourages empathy for those who are suffering profoundly, helping us understand that their cries of hopelessness are legitimate and deeply human. Crucially, it stands as a precursor to the radical shift found in [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21-23 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - The Steadfast Love of the Lord"), demonstrating that even when our feelings tell us all is lost, God's character remains unchanged, and His mercies are new every morning, inviting us to cling to His faithfulness even when our own resources have failed.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel your "strength" or "hope" has perished, or is close to perishing?**
* **How does Lamentations 3:18 validate your own experiences of despair or feeling abandoned by God?**
* **What does it mean to honestly lament to God, even when your feelings are raw and full of doubt?**
* **How can remembering God's unchanging character help you when your personal strength and hope seem to have vanished?**

### FAQ
**Does Lamentations 3:18 suggest that God truly abandons His people?**

Answer: No, not in an ultimate sense. While the speaker's *feeling* is one of profound abandonment and despair, where his strength and hope seem to have "perished from the LORD," this verse reflects a subjective human experience during intense suffering, not an objective theological statement about God's permanent withdrawal. The very act of lamenting to God, as seen throughout the Psalms and Lamentations, implies a continued, albeit strained, relationship. The immediate context of Lamentations 3 itself pivots dramatically just a few verses later, with the powerful declaration in [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21-23 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - The Lord's Mercies Never Cease") of God's unfailing love and mercies, demonstrating that even in the deepest despair, God's faithfulness endures.

**Is it okay for believers to feel such deep despair and hopelessness?**

Answer: Absolutely. Lamentations 3:18 provides biblical validation for the very real human experience of profound spiritual and emotional despair. The Bible is replete with examples of faithful individuals, from Job to the psalmists (e.g., [Psalm 88](/psalms/88 "Psalm 88 - A Psalm of Utter Despair")), who expressed overwhelming sorrow, doubt, and a sense of God's absence. This verse teaches us that honesty before God, even in our darkest moments, is part of a healthy spiritual life. It allows us to bring our true selves and our deepest pain into His presence, trusting that He can meet us there.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of hope in the Bible?**

Answer: This verse represents the nadir of human hope, where it seems to have utterly "perished." However, in the broader biblical narrative, this low point often serves as a prelude to a renewed, divinely-sourced hope. While human strength and hope can fail, God's character as the ultimate source of hope (e.g., [Romans 15:13](/romans/15-13 "Romans 15:13 - God of Hope")) remains steadfast. The perishing of human hope in [Lamentations 3:18](/lamentations/3-18 "Lamentations 3:18 - A Cry of Despair") sets the stage for the rediscovery of God's enduring mercies and faithfulness in the verses that follow, demonstrating that true hope is ultimately grounded not in our feelings or circumstances, but in the unchanging character of the Lord.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 3:18, with its raw cry of strength and hope perishing "from the LORD," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the prophet laments his own perceived abandonment, Jesus, on the cross, uttered the agonizing cry, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" (Matthew 27:46; cf. [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - A Cry of Forsakenness")). In that moment, the Son of God, who knew no sin, became sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), experiencing the ultimate separation from the Father that our sin deserved. His strength and hope, in a human sense, seemed to perish as He bore the full weight of divine wrath, entering into the deepest abyss of human despair and abandonment. Yet, it was precisely through this ultimate act of perishing—His death—that true and eternal hope was secured. His resurrection ([Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Romans 4:25 - Raised for Our Justification")) demonstrates that even when all strength and hope seem utterly lost, God's power triumphs over death and despair. Christ fully identifies with our deepest anguish, having plumbed the depths of suffering, ensuring that our cries of "perished from the LORD" are heard and understood by a Savior who has walked that path. Through Him, we are given a living hope ([1 Peter 1:3](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3 - A Living Hope")), a strength that is made perfect in weakness ([2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Power in Weakness")), and the assurance that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly forsaken by the God who gave His Son for us ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Gives All For Us")).

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

Job 17:15

And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

1 Samuel 27:1

¶ And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

Job 6:11

What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?

Psalms 31:22

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Psalms 116:11

I said in my haste, All men [are] liars.

Ezekiel 37:11

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.