Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, [and] all their imaginations against me;
Thou hast heard {H8085} their reproach {H2781}, O LORD {H3068}, and all their imaginations {H4284} against me;
You have heard their taunts, ADONAI, and all their plots against me,
O LORD, You have heard their insults, all their plots against me—
Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, and all their devices against me,
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.
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Lamentations 5:1
¶ Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. -
Zephaniah 2:8
¶ I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified [themselves] against their border. -
Psalms 74:18
¶ Remember this, [that] the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and [that] the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. -
Psalms 89:50
Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; [how] I do bear in my bosom [the reproach of] all the mighty people; -
Lamentations 3:30
He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Lamentations 3:61 is a poignant cry from the suffering prophet (often understood as Jeremiah) to God, expressing the deep awareness that the LORD knows the full extent of the enemies' hostility.
Context
This verse is situated within a section of Lamentations Chapter 3 that shifts from the depths of personal and national suffering (verses 1-44) to a renewed expression of hope in God's mercy and faithfulness (verses 45-57), culminating in direct appeals for deliverance and justice (verses 58-66). Having recalled God's past help, the speaker now lays the enemies' actions before God, trusting in His divine attention and future action. The context is the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile, where the faithful remnant faced ongoing ridicule and plotting from their adversaries.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The word translated "reproach" is the Hebrew cherpah (חֶרְפָּה), which signifies scorn, shame, disgrace, or mocking. It speaks to the verbal and public humiliation faced by the people. "Imaginations" comes from the Hebrew machashabah (מַחֲשָׁבָה), referring to thoughts, devices, schemes, or malicious plots. It indicates the planned and deliberate nature of the adversaries' actions against the speaker.
Commentary and Application
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that when we face opposition, mockery, or secret plotting from others, we can find solace in the fact that the LORD hears our cries and witnesses every injustice. The prophet doesn't need to fully explain the enemies' actions; simply stating that God has heard their "reproach" and knows their "imaginations" is enough. This implies a profound trust in God's perfect knowledge and His capacity to act righteously based on what He knows.
For believers today, Lamentations 3:61 encourages us to bring our hurts and the wrongs done against us before God in prayer. It teaches us that God is not distant but is intimately aware of our struggles and the intentions of those who oppose us. Knowing that God sees and knows our suffering and the schemes against us can strengthen our faith and help us release the burden of retaliation, trusting that He will ultimately deal with wickedness and establish justice in His time.