Lamentations 3:49

KJV

Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

KJV (with Strong's)

Mine eye {H5869} trickleth down {H5064}, and ceaseth {H1820} not, without any intermission {H2014},

Complete Jewish Bible

My eyes weep ceaselessly; there is no respite,

Berean Standard Bible

My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief,

American Standard Version

Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:49 expresses the prophet's profound and unceasing sorrow, depicting an endless flow of tears that signifies overwhelming grief and helplessness in the face of the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. This intensely personal lament mirrors the national tragedy, emphasizing a continuous outpouring of anguish without any relief or intermission.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:49 is situated within the deeply personal "Lament of the Man," which comprises the central and longest chapter of the book of Lamentations. While the book as a whole mourns the devastation of Jerusalem in 586 BC, Chapter 3 shifts from a communal lament to a highly individualized expression of suffering, widely attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. This verse immediately follows [Lamentations 3:48](/lamentations/3-48 "Lamentations 3:48 - Tears for the Daughter of My People"), which explicitly states, "Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people." Thus, verse 49 intensifies this imagery, emphasizing the relentless and unceasing nature of the prophet's tears, underscoring the depth of his anguish and the prolonged nature of the national catastrophe. The chapter, despite its profound despair, also notably contains a pivotal turn towards hope and God's faithfulness later in verses like [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - God's Mercies Are New Every Morning"), making the preceding lament all the more poignant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Lamentations is the siege and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 586 BC, an event of unparalleled trauma for ancient Israel. The First Temple, the spiritual heart of the nation, was destroyed, and the people were exiled to Babylon. Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," witnessed these horrors firsthand. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, public lament and intense weeping were not merely emotional outbursts but established forms of expressing profound grief, repentance, and protest in the face of disaster. Tears were seen as a visceral manifestation of deep suffering, and their unceasing flow, as described in this verse, would have conveyed an extreme and prolonged state of mourning, reflecting the utter desolation of the city and the loss of national identity and divine favor.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Lamentations and the broader prophetic literature. Primarily, it highlights **Profound and Unceasing Grief**, portraying a sorrow so immense and persistent that it knows no pause, underscoring the depth of the national catastrophe. Secondly, it exemplifies **Identification with Suffering**, as the prophet's personal tears are inextricably linked to the destruction of his beloved people and city, making his lament a vicarious outpouring of the nation's agony. This deep empathy is a hallmark of prophetic ministry. Lastly, the verse implicitly speaks to the theme of **Divine Judgment and its Consequences**, as the suffering described is a direct result of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. While the immediate context is one of despair, the very act of lament in the face of judgment, as seen throughout [Lamentations](/lamentations/1 "The Book of Lamentations"), is also a step towards acknowledging sin and, eventually, a renewed hope in God's steadfast love and mercy, as highlighted in [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Great Faithfulness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **eye (Hebrew, _ʻayin'_):** (H5869) This word primarily denotes the physical organ of sight, but it carries rich figurative meaning. Here, it is the source of the prophet's tears, symbolizing not just physical weeping but also the internal anguish and deep perception of suffering. In other contexts, 'ayin' can also refer to a fountain or spring, which subtly reinforces the idea of a continuous flow, much like a spring that never dries up. The use of "Mine eye" makes the lament intensely personal.
* **trickleth down (Hebrew, _nâgar'_):** (H5064) This primitive root means "to flow," "to pour out or down," or "to run." It suggests a steady, continuous stream rather than a sudden gush or overflow. The image conveyed is of tears that are not merely shed in a moment of acute pain but are constantly, relentlessly flowing, like water from a tap that cannot be turned off. This emphasizes the duration and persistence of the prophet's sorrow.
* **ceaseth (Hebrew, _dâmâh'_):** (H1820) This word means "to be dumb or silent," and by extension, "to fail," "to perish," or "to be brought to silence." In this context, "ceaseth not" powerfully conveys the idea of an uninterrupted flow, a state where the weeping cannot be quieted or brought to an end. It underscores the overwhelming and consuming nature of the grief, which silences all other activity and thought.
* **intermission (Hebrew, _hăphugâh'_):** (H2014) Derived from a root meaning "to relax" or "to cease," this noun specifically refers to a "relaxation" or "intermission." The phrase "without any intermission" functions as an emphatic reinforcement of "ceaseth not." It leaves no doubt that there is absolutely no pause, no break, no moment of relief from the continuous flow of tears. This double negative emphasizes the absolute, relentless nature of the prophet's anguish.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Mine eye trickleth down":** This clause establishes the intensely personal nature of the lament, placing the focus on the prophet's own experience of suffering. The verb "trickleth down" (nâgar) vividly describes a steady, continuous, and perhaps even slow, but persistent, flow of tears, indicating a deep-seated and enduring sorrow rather than a momentary outburst.
* **"and ceaseth not":** This phrase immediately amplifies the previous one, emphasizing the relentless and uninterrupted nature of the weeping. The tears are not just flowing; they are flowing without stopping. This highlights the overwhelming and consuming quality of the prophet's grief, suggesting a state of perpetual mourning.
* **"without any intermission":** This final phrase serves as a powerful and emphatic reiteration of the unceasing nature of the tears. "Intermission" implies a break or a pause for relief. By stating there is "no intermission," the prophet underscores the absolute lack of respite from his sorrow, conveying a sense of profound despair and an inability to find any comfort or cessation from his anguish.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:49 makes powerful use of **Imagery** to convey the depth of the prophet's sorrow. The image of the "eye trickleth down" creates a vivid mental picture of continuous, flowing tears, transforming the abstract concept of grief into a tangible, visible reality. This is further intensified by **Hyperbole**, as the idea of tears flowing "without any intermission" suggests a volume and duration of weeping that transcends normal human capacity, underscoring the extraordinary nature of the suffering. The verse also employs **Repetition** and **Emphasis** through the successive phrases "ceaseth not" and "without any intermission." These phrases are not merely redundant but build upon each other, creating a cumulative effect that hammers home the relentless, unending quality of the prophet's grief, leaving no doubt about the profundity and persistence of his anguish.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:49 profoundly expresses the human capacity for deep sorrow in the face of overwhelming tragedy, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. It validates the experience of unceasing grief, demonstrating that even prophets of God can be consumed by anguish. The prophet's tears are not merely personal but are an empathetic identification with the suffering of his people under divine judgment. This lament serves as a model for how to process immense loss and despair before God, acknowledging the full weight of suffering while, within the broader chapter, holding onto a flicker of hope in God's enduring character.

* [Psalm 6:6](/psalms/6-6 "Psalm 6:6 - David's Weeping")
* [Psalm 42:3](/psalms/42-3 "Psalm 42:3 - Tears as Food")
* [Luke 19:41](/luke/19-41 "Luke 19:41 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:49 offers profound insights for contemporary life. Firstly, it provides a biblical validation for the experience of deep, persistent grief. In a world often uncomfortable with prolonged sorrow, this verse reminds us that the Bible does not shy away from portraying the reality of human suffering and the natural response of tears. It grants permission to mourn profoundly in the face of loss, injustice, or tragedy, affirming that such anguish is a legitimate part of the human experience, even for those who walk closely with God. Secondly, the prophet's empathetic weeping for his people calls us to cultivate a similar compassion for others. We are challenged to identify with and share in the burdens of those who suffer, to "weep with those who weep" ([Romans 12:15](/romans/12-15 "Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep")). Finally, while the verse itself expresses immense despair, it is crucial to remember its place within Lamentations 3, which ultimately pivots to hope in God's unfailing mercies [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Mercies Are New Every Morning"). This teaches us that true spiritual lament, even in its raw intensity, can be a pathway to renewed trust and a deeper understanding of God's faithfulness, even when circumstances offer no immediate relief.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse validate your own experiences of deep or prolonged sorrow, or your understanding of others' grief?**
* **In what practical ways can you cultivate empathy and "weep with those who weep" in your community or the wider world?**
* **How might the act of honest lament, even when it feels unending, ultimately lead to a renewed sense of hope or trust in God's character?**

### FAQ
**Is this weeping purely personal, or does it represent something more?**

Answer: While the language "Mine eye" makes the lament intensely personal, the broader context of Lamentations 3 and the book as a whole indicates that the prophet's tears are not solely for his own suffering. Rather, his personal anguish is deeply intertwined with and representative of the collective sorrow of the nation of Judah following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. He embodies the pain and despair of his people, making his tears a vicarious expression of their national calamity and a prophetic outpouring of grief for the "daughter of my people" ([Lamentations 3:48](/lamentations/3-48 "Lamentations 3:48 - Tears for the Daughter of My People")).

**Does this verse offer any hope, given its focus on unceasing sorrow?**

Answer: On its own, Lamentations 3:49 is a stark expression of despair, offering no immediate comfort. However, it is crucial to interpret this verse within its broader literary context. Lamentations 3, despite its profound anguish, famously pivots from lament to hope in [Lamentations 3:21-23](/lamentations/3-21 "Lamentations 3:21-23 - God's Mercies Are New Every Morning"), where the prophet recalls God's steadfast love and mercies. Thus, while the verse itself depicts unending sorrow, it is part of a larger narrative arc that demonstrates how honest lament, even in its deepest form, can ultimately lead to a renewed trust in God's character and faithfulness, even when circumstances remain bleak. The act of pouring out one's heart to God, even in despair, is itself an act of faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The unceasing tears of the prophet in Lamentations 3:49 find their ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The prophet's weeping for a devastated Jerusalem and a suffering people foreshadows the ultimate "Man of Sorrows" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Man of Sorrows")), Jesus, who not only empathized with human suffering but fully entered into it. We see Christ's own tears of profound sorrow and empathy when He wept over Jerusalem, foreseeing its future destruction and the spiritual blindness of its inhabitants ([Luke 19:41](/luke/19-41 "Luke 19:41 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")), and at the tomb of Lazarus, demonstrating His deep compassion for human grief ([John 11:35](/john/11-35 "John 11:35 - Jesus Wept")). The prophet's unending flow of tears for the consequences of sin and rebellion points forward to Christ's ultimate suffering on the cross, where He bore the full weight of humanity's sin, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His perfect sacrifice, Jesus provides the definitive answer to the sorrow caused by sin and death. His suffering and resurrection ultimately promise a future where, unlike the prophet's ceaseless tears, God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears in the New Creation")). Thus, the prophet's lament, while real and profound, ultimately points to the Savior who brings an end to the very source of such unceasing sorrow.

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

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.

Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

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.