Lamentations 3:60

Thou hast seen all their vengeance [and] all their imaginations against me.

Thou hast seen {H7200} all their vengeance {H5360} and all their imaginations {H4284} against me.

You have seen all their vindictiveness and all their plots against me.

You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me.

Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.

Lamentations 3:60 is a powerful cry from the prophet Jeremiah to God, expressing the deep anguish and injustice he and the people of Judah experienced during the Babylonian siege and exile. It reflects a profound trust in God's all-seeing nature, even amidst overwhelming suffering.

Context

This verse comes from the heart of the book of Lamentations, often attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who witnessed the devastating destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Chapter 3 is unique in its structure, featuring a personal lament that transitions into a profound declaration of God's steadfast love and mercies (verses 22-23), before returning to a detailed account of suffering and an appeal to God for justice. Verse 60 specifically highlights the prophet's awareness that God has been an eyewitness to every malicious act and thought directed against him and his people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omniscience: The verse emphasizes God's perfect and comprehensive knowledge. Jeremiah affirms that God has "seen all" – not just the visible actions, but also the hidden intentions and schemes of their enemies. This speaks to God's all-knowing presence and awareness of every detail of human experience, including suffering and injustice.
  • Appeal for Justice: By stating that God has seen their "vengeance" and "imaginations," Jeremiah implicitly appeals for divine intervention and righteous judgment. It's a foundational belief that a just God will ultimately address wrongs.
  • Suffering and Persecution: The verse underscores the intense persecution and malice faced by Jeremiah and the Jewish people. "Vengeance" refers to the hostile acts of retaliation, while "imaginations" points to the malicious plots and evil thoughts concocted against them.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "vengeance" here is niqmātām (נִקְמָתָם), which denotes retribution or punishment. It refers to the hostile and harmful actions carried out by Judah's adversaries. The word for "imaginations" is maḥăšabtêhem (מַחֲשַׁבְתֵיהֶם), meaning thoughts, plans, or devices. This highlights that the cruelty was not random but premeditated and malicious, stemming from evil intentions. The phrase "against me" can be understood both personally for Jeremiah, who endured much persecution, and corporately, representing the nation of Judah.

Practical Application

Lamentations 3:60 offers profound comfort and guidance for believers facing adversity today:

  • God Sees Your Suffering: When you feel unseen, unheard, or unjustly treated, remember that God is fully aware of every wrong done against you. No malicious word, act, or hidden scheme escapes His notice.
  • Trust in Divine Justice: This verse encourages us to bring our grievances to God, trusting that He is a righteous judge. We are called to leave vengeance to God, knowing He will repay.
  • Hope Amidst Despair: Even in the darkest moments, the knowledge of God's omniscience can be a source of hope, reminding us that evil does not have the final say and that justice will ultimately prevail.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 11:19

    But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

  • Jeremiah 11:20

    But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

  • Lamentations 3:59

    O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

  • Psalms 10:14

    Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

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