TRV
Lamentations 3:54
Bible Versions
Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.
Water rose above my head; I thought, "I am finished!"
The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
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Jonah 2:3
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. -
Jonah 2:5
The waters compassed me about, [even] to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. -
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. -
2 Corinthians 1:8
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: -
2 Corinthians 1:10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us]; -
Psalms 18:4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. -
Lamentations 3:18
And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Context
Lamentations 3:54 is part of a deeply personal lament within the book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. This book expresses profound sorrow and grief over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. Chapter 3, in particular, shifts from a collective lament to the individual suffering of the prophet, who embodies the pain and despair of his people. The verses leading up to this one describe the prophet's intense suffering, persecution, and feeling of being abandoned by God and man.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "waters flowed over mine head" (Hebrew: מַיִם הִתְגָּרְמוּ עַל רֹאשִׁי, *mayim hitgarmu al ro'shi*) is a potent metaphor found throughout the Psalms and prophetic literature to describe overwhelming distress and imminent destruction. It suggests a drowning sensation, where one is consumed by trouble. The term "cut off" (Hebrew: גָּזַר, *gazar*) literally means to cut, sever, or decree. In this context, it conveys a sense of being completely severed from life, hope, or divine favor, implying utter destruction or doom.
Practical Application
Lamentations 3:54 resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced overwhelming grief, loss, or despair. It acknowledges the legitimate human experience of feeling utterly submerged by circumstances and believing that all hope is lost. While this verse highlights the depth of human suffering, it is crucial to remember that this lament, though profound, is not the final word in the book of Lamentations. The very next verses begin a pivot towards hope and a renewed trust in God's enduring mercies and faithfulness, even in the darkest valleys. It reminds us that even when we feel "cut off," God's presence and character remain steadfast.