Lamentations 3:50

KJV

Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.

KJV (with Strong's)

Till the LORD {H3068} look down {H8259}, and behold {H7200} from heaven {H8064}.

Complete Jewish Bible

until ADONAI looks down and sees from heaven.

Berean Standard Bible

until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

American Standard Version

Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:50 encapsulates the persistent, desperate cry of a suffering individual, likely representing the exiled nation of Judah, for God's compassionate intervention. Despite profound anguish and a sense of divine abandonment, the prophet expresses an unwavering hope that the Almighty, from His exalted dwelling in heaven, will ultimately acknowledge their plight and act decisively. This verse serves as a poignant testament to enduring faith, even when God's presence feels distant, underscoring the deep conviction that divine omniscience will eventually lead to merciful action.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:50 concludes a deeply personal and intense section of lament (verses 40-54) within a chapter that shifts from corporate grief to individual suffering. Following a profound declaration of God's enduring mercies and faithfulness (verses 21-39), the speaker, often identified with Jeremiah or a representative of the nation, returns to detailing his overwhelming affliction and the relentless pursuit by his enemies. Verses 49-51 specifically describe the speaker's eyes weeping without ceasing, expressing the depth of his sorrow and the constant flow of his tears, which will only stop "Till the LORD look down." This verse acts as a climactic plea, a final, hopeful utterance in a torrent of despair, anticipating the moment God's gaze will bring an end to the suffering detailed in the preceding verses, such as the speaker being "hunted... like a bird" ([Lamentations 3:52](/lamentations/3-52 "Lamentations 3:52 - Hunted Like a Bird")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Lamentations is a direct response to the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. This event was not merely a military defeat but a theological crisis, as it challenged the people's understanding of God's covenant promises and His presence among them. The cultural context is one of profound national mourning, ritual lament, and theological wrestling with divine judgment. The act of "looking down from heaven" was a common motif in ancient Near Eastern thought, signifying a deity's awareness and potential intervention in human affairs, often in response to a cry for justice or mercy. For the Israelites, it invoked the imagery of God's throne in the heavens, from which He surveyed the earth and dispensed justice or salvation, as seen in [Psalm 14:2](/psalms/14-2 "Psalm 14:2 - God Looks Down from Heaven").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Lamentations and broader biblical theology. It highlights the theme of **Perseverance in Prayer**, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to crying out to God despite prolonged suffering and apparent divine silence. It underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Omniscience**, emphasizing God's elevated position and His comprehensive knowledge of earthly affairs, even when His intervention is delayed. The phrase "Till the LORD look down" also speaks to the theme of **Hope in Divine Intervention**, a deep-seated conviction that God will not remain indifferent forever but will ultimately act with compassion and justice. This hope is rooted in the character of God, whose "mercies are new every morning" ([Lamentations 3:23](/lamentations/3-23 "Lamentations 3:23 - The Lord's Mercies are New Every Morning")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the proper name of the self-existent, eternal God of Israel, Jehovah. The use of "LORD" (Yahweh) here is significant, emphasizing that the plea is directed not to a generic deity, but to the covenant-keeping God who has historically intervened on behalf of His people. It grounds the desperate cry in a relationship with the sovereign Creator.
* **look down (Hebrew, _shâqaph'_):** From H8259, this primitive root means "to lean out (of a window), i.e., (by implication) peep or gaze." This is a vivid and anthropomorphic image, suggesting God actively bending down or leaning out from His heavenly abode to observe. It implies an attentive, deliberate, and perhaps even urgent, act of observation, rather than a casual glance. The nuance is that God is not merely aware, but is taking a specific posture of engagement.
* **behold (Hebrew, _râʼâh'_):** From H7200, this primitive root means "to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)." While a more general term for seeing than `shâqaph`, its inclusion here reinforces the intensity and comprehensiveness of God's observation. It suggests a full perception, a deep understanding of the situation, implying that when God "beholds," He fully grasps the reality of the suffering.
* **heaven (Hebrew, _shâmayim'_):** From H8064, this dual noun refers to "the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, heaven(-s)." It signifies God's exalted dwelling place, emphasizing His transcendence, sovereignty, and supreme authority. The act of looking down "from heaven" underscores God's ultimate perspective, His ability to see all things from a position of ultimate power and knowledge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Till the LORD look down":** This clause expresses the speaker's persistent and unwavering hope. The word "Till" (עַד, `ʿad`) indicates a duration of suffering and prayer that will only cease when a specific divine action occurs. It implies a relentless crying out, a faith that endures through prolonged silence, believing that the covenant God (the "LORD," Yahweh) will eventually take notice. The phrase "look down" (H8259, `shâqaph`) suggests an active, intentional gaze from God's exalted position, a leaning in to observe the earthly plight.
* **"and behold from heaven":** This second clause reinforces and amplifies the first. "Behold" (H7200, `râʼâh`) signifies a comprehensive and understanding observation, not just a fleeting glance. The addition of "from heaven" (H8064, `shâmayim`) explicitly states God's transcendent dwelling place, emphasizing His sovereign vantage point. Together, these clauses convey a profound yearning for God to not merely be aware of their suffering, but to fully perceive it from His divine perspective and, by implication, to act in response.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:50 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. **Anthropomorphism** is central, attributing human actions—"look down" and "behold"—to God. This makes the divine accessible and relatable, allowing the human speaker to express a deep yearning for a personal, attentive God. The image of God "leaning out of a window" (implied by `shâqaph`) is a particularly vivid form of anthropomorphism, painting a picture of divine engagement. **Hyperbole** is subtly present in the broader context of the speaker's unceasing tears (Lamentations 3:49) and the duration implied by "Till the LORD look down," emphasizing the extreme and prolonged nature of the suffering that demands such a divine response. The phrase also utilizes **Imagery**, specifically the contrast between the suffering speaker on earth and the transcendent God in "heaven," creating a sense of vast distance that only God's compassionate "looking down" can bridge. This imagery highlights God's ultimate sovereignty and the desperate hope for His intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:50 stands as a profound testament to the enduring power of prayer and the unwavering hope in God's ultimate justice and mercy, even in the darkest valleys of human experience. It affirms the biblical truth that God is not distant or uncaring, but actively attentive to the cries of His people, even when His response seems delayed. This verse echoes the ancient Israelite understanding of God as both transcendent (in heaven) and immanent (involved in human affairs), whose ultimate gaze brings about change. The theological weight lies in the conviction that God's omniscience is intrinsically linked to His compassion and His commitment to His covenant, ensuring that He will not forever ignore the suffering of the righteous.

* [Psalm 11:4](/psalms/11-4 "The LORD's Throne in Heaven")
* [Psalm 33:13-14](/psalms/33-13 "God Looks from Heaven")
* [Isaiah 63:15](/isaiah/63-15 "Look Down from Heaven")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:50 offers profound spiritual nourishment for those navigating seasons of prolonged difficulty, unanswered prayers, or a sense of divine silence. It teaches us the vital discipline of persistent prayer, reminding us that our cries ascend to the very throne of God, even when we cannot perceive His immediate response. This verse encourages us to anchor our hope not in the fleeting circumstances of life, but in the unchanging character of the LORD, who, from His heavenly vantage point, sees and knows all. It challenges us to cultivate a faith that trusts in God's perfect timing and His sovereign plan, even when His intervention is not yet visible. In our own moments of despair, this verse calls us to maintain a posture of hopeful expectation, believing that the God who "looks down and beholds" is a God who will ultimately act in love and justice, bringing an end to our sorrow and vindicating His faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God "looking down" from heaven impact your understanding of His presence and awareness in your own suffering?**
* **What does this verse teach you about perseverance in prayer, especially when answers seem delayed or God feels distant?**
* **In what ways does your hope for divine intervention rest on God's character rather than on your immediate circumstances?**

### FAQ

**Does "Till the LORD look down" imply that God is unaware or indifferent to suffering until that point?**

Answer: No, the phrase "Till the LORD look down" does not imply God's prior ignorance or indifference. Instead, it reflects the human experience of suffering and the *perception* of divine delay or silence. Theologically, God is omniscient and omnipresent, fully aware of all things at all times. The plea is for God to move from a state of knowing to a state of active, visible intervention. It's a cry for God to manifest His awareness through a decisive act of deliverance, akin to how God "looked down" upon the affliction of Israel in Egypt before delivering them ([Exodus 3:7-8](/exodus/3-7 "God Sees Israel's Affliction")). The prophet's hope is that God's compassionate gaze will culminate in a tangible response to their deep distress.

**How does this verse relate to the idea of God's sovereignty and human free will?**

Answer: This verse strongly emphasizes God's sovereignty, as He is depicted as being in "heaven," from which He "looks down" and "beholds" all earthly affairs. This highlights His supreme authority and ultimate control over creation and history. The human speaker's persistent prayer, however, underscores the importance of human agency and the role of supplication in God's sovereign plan. While God is sovereign, He often chooses to act in response to the prayers of His people, inviting them to participate in His work through intercession. It's a beautiful tension where God's ultimate control does not negate the significance of human cries for help, but rather invites them into a dynamic relationship with the Almighty ([James 5:16](/james/5-16 "The Prayer of a Righteous Person")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 3:50 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The desperate cry for the LORD to "look down, and behold from heaven" resonates deeply with the Incarnation, where God did not merely look down from a distance but fully entered into human suffering. In Jesus, God literally "looked down" by taking on flesh, dwelling among us, and experiencing the full weight of human pain, sorrow, and abandonment. On the cross, Jesus himself cried out, embodying the ultimate lament, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, through His death and resurrection, God definitively "beheld" humanity's sin and suffering, not with mere observation, but with redemptive power. The "looking down" of God in Christ resulted in the ultimate divine intervention, securing salvation and promising a future where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "No More Tears")). Thus, the hope expressed in Lamentations 3:50 is not just for a momentary relief but for the complete and final restoration found in the new heavens and new earth, inaugurated by the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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

Isaiah 63:15

¶ Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

Lamentations 5:1

¶ Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

Psalms 102:19

For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

Psalms 102:20

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

Isaiah 62:6

¶ I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

Isaiah 62:7

And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Lamentations 2:20

Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, [and] children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?