Lamentations 3:5

Lamentations 3:5 describes the profound anguish and feeling of being utterly overwhelmed by suffering, as expressed by the prophet or representative of Judah. The verse states, "He hath builded against me, and compassed [me] with gall and travail." This vivid imagery conveys a sense of inescapable pain and distress.

Context

The Book of Lamentations is a collection of poetic laments, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, mourning the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Chapter 3, in particular, shifts from a collective lament to a more personal one, often voiced by "the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath" (Lamentations 3:1). This personal lament encapsulates the deep national sorrow, expressing the feeling that God Himself has become an adversary, bringing about the intense suffering.

Key Themes

• Divine Agency in Suffering: The repeated use of "He" (referring to God) throughout this chapter indicates the speaker's perception that their immense suffering is not random but is divinely ordained or permitted. This acknowledges God's sovereignty even over hardship.
• Overwhelming Encirclement: The phrases "builded against me" and "compassed me" evoke the imagery of a siege. Just as a city is surrounded and fortified against, the speaker feels trapped and besieged by their pain, with no escape.
• Profound Bitterness and Hardship: "Gall and travail" symbolize the deepest forms of bitterness, sorrow, and painful labor. It speaks to a life consumed by misery and arduous affliction, much like the "water of gall" or "wormwood" often used in Scripture to denote severe judgment and sorrow.

Linguistic Insights

• The Hebrew word for "builded" (banah - בנה) typically means to construct or build. Here, in the context of "against me," it powerfully suggests the deliberate construction of barriers or siege works designed to inflict distress.
• "Compassed" comes from naqaph (נקף), meaning to strike, surround, or encircle. It reinforces the idea of being hemmed in by adversity.
• "Gall" is rosh (ראש), referring to a poisonous herb or venom, metaphorically representing extreme bitterness, anguish, and a sense of toxic affliction.
• "Travail" is amal (עמל), denoting painful toil, hardship, misery, or distress. It conveys the burdensome and exhausting nature of the suffering.

Practical Application

Lamentations 3:5 offers a raw and honest expression of profound suffering, reminding us that it is permissible to voice deep anguish, even to God, when experiencing overwhelming trials. It highlights the human tendency to perceive God's hand in both blessing and adversity. For modern readers, this verse can:

• Validate Suffering: It acknowledges the reality of immense pain and the feeling of being trapped by circumstances, offering solidarity to those in deep distress.
• Encourage Honest Lament: It models a form of prayer that is brutally honest about one's feelings, even when those feelings involve perceiving God as the source of affliction. This honesty can be a pathway to deeper faith and eventual hope, as seen later in Lamentations 3.
• Promote Empathy: Understanding the depth of the speaker's pain helps us to empathize with others who feel overwhelmed by life's "gall and travail."