Lamentations 3:8

KJV

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

KJV (with Strong's)

Also when I cry {H2199} and shout {H7768}, he shutteth out {H5640} my prayer {H8605}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Even when I cry out, pleading for help, he shuts out my prayer.

Berean Standard Bible

Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.

American Standard Version

Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Lamentations 3:8 profoundly articulates the experience of perceived divine abandonment, where the anguished cries of the speaker, representing the suffering nation of Judah, seem to be actively blocked by God. It captures a moment of intense spiritual desolation, highlighting the prophet's feeling that even his most desperate pleas for relief and intervention are met not with silence, but with an intentional closure of communication from the Almighty. This expression of profound despair is a raw and honest portrayal of faith grappling with the overwhelming reality of judgment and suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Lamentations 3:8 is situated within the deeply personal lament of the prophet, often identified as Jeremiah, in the third chapter of the Book of Lamentations. While the preceding chapters [Lamentations 1](/lamentations/1 "Lamentations 1 - The Desolation of Jerusalem") and [Lamentations 2](/lamentations/2 "Lamentations 2 - God's Wrath on Jerusalem") graphically depict the collective devastation of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, [Chapter 3](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - The Prophet's Lament and Hope") shifts to a first-person narrative, allowing for a more intimate expression of the suffering. This individual voice, however, still powerfully embodies the national anguish. The verses immediately preceding Lamentations 3:8 describe the speaker's profound distress, feeling hedged in and weighed down by God's actions (e.g., [Lamentations 3:7](/lamentations/3-7 "Lamentations 3:7 - God's Affliction")). This particular verse intensifies that sense of divine opposition, moving from physical confinement to a spiritual blockade, setting the stage for the dramatic shift to hope and God's faithfulness later in the chapter (e.g., [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Mercies Endure")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Lamentations is a direct response to the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BCE and the subsequent exile of its people. This event, prophesied by Jeremiah and other prophets, was understood by the Israelites as divine judgment for their persistent idolatry, covenant unfaithfulness, and social injustice. The city, once the glorious dwelling place of God's presence, lay in ruins, its temple desecrated, and its population decimated or deported. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a nation's defeat was often interpreted as the defeat of its gods. For Israel, however, it was a profound theological crisis: how could their sovereign God allow such devastation? The cries of Lamentations 3:8 reflect the deep spiritual trauma of a people who believed their God had not only abandoned them but was actively working against them, a shocking reversal of their covenant expectations.
* **Key Themes:** Lamentations 3:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **divine judgment and discipline**, portraying God not as a passive observer but as an active agent in the suffering, even to the point of "shutting out" prayer. This highlights the severity of the consequences for covenant disobedience. Secondly, it powerfully expresses the theme of **profound human suffering and despair**, validating the raw, honest expression of spiritual anguish in the face of overwhelming calamity. The "cry and shout" are not mere requests but desperate pleas from the depths of affliction. Lastly, this verse, when read in the broader context of [Lamentations 3](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - The Prophet's Lament and Hope"), serves as a stark contrast to the subsequent declaration of God's enduring mercies (e.g., [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Unfailing Compassions")), thereby amplifying the power of the hope found in God's faithfulness even amidst the darkest despair.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cry (Hebrew, _zâʻaq'_):** This word, H2199, denotes a vehement shriek or outcry, typically stemming from anguish, danger, or a desperate need for help. It is not a casual request but an urgent, often public, appeal for intervention, sometimes even implying a call for justice. In this context, it emphasizes the intensity and desperation of the prophet's supplication, a cry born of profound suffering.
* **shout (Hebrew, _shâvaʻ'_):** H7768, _shâvaʻ_, complements _zâʻaq_ by adding the nuance of a "halloo for help," specifically for freedom from trouble. It implies a fervent, often loud, appeal for deliverance or liberation. Together, "cry and shout" paint a picture of relentless, vociferous prayer, exhausting all human effort to be heard by God.
* **shutteth out (Hebrew, _çâtham'_):** H5640, _çâtham_, is a crucial verb here. It means "to stop up," "to block," or "to shut off," often implying an active, deliberate closure. While it can also mean to keep secret or hidden, in this context, it conveys the painful sense that God has intentionally and actively closed off the channel of communication, making the prophet feel not merely ignored, but actively rejected and silenced.
* **prayer (Hebrew, _tᵉphillâh'_):** H8605, _tᵉphillâh_, refers to intercession or supplication, a direct address to God. It can also imply a hymn or a formal act of worship. Here, it specifically refers to the prophet's earnest communication with God, which he perceives as being blocked. The use of this term underscores the spiritual nature of the crisis—it is the very act of seeking God that is being thwarted.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Also when I cry and shout":** This clause vividly portrays the prophet's intense and desperate state. The repetition of "cry" and "shout" emphasizes the fervor and persistence of his supplication. It is not a quiet whisper, but a loud, anguished appeal, indicative of extreme distress and a profound need for divine intervention. This highlights the human effort and emotional investment in seeking God.
* **"he shutteth out my prayer":** This is the devastating culmination of the clause. The "he" refers to God, and the verb "shutteth out" (Hebrew _çâtham_) implies an active, deliberate, and intentional blocking. It's not that God is merely silent or absent; rather, from the prophet's perspective, God is actively preventing his prayers from reaching Him. This creates a profound sense of rejection, abandonment, and spiritual isolation, making the suffering even more acute.

#### Literary Devices
Lamentations 3:8 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its message of spiritual anguish. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, as the prophet's feeling that God "shutteth out" his prayer is an exaggerated expression of his deep despair and perceived divine unresponsiveness, rather than a literal assertion that God is incapable of hearing. This serves to emphasize the intensity of his emotional and spiritual pain. There is also strong **Personification** of God, depicted as an active agent deliberately blocking communication, rather than a passive or distant deity. This makes the perceived rejection more personal and agonizing. Furthermore, the verse uses **Juxtaposition** between the fervent "cry and shout" of the prophet and the active "shutting out" by God, creating a stark contrast that highlights the futility and frustration of the speaker's efforts. This dramatic tension underscores the depth of the prophet's spiritual crisis.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 3:8 speaks to the deeply unsettling experience of perceived divine silence or even active opposition, a theme not uncommon in biblical literature. It challenges the simplistic notion that God always answers prayers in the way or time we expect, particularly during periods of divine judgment or discipline. The prophet's raw honesty validates the human experience of profound spiritual struggle, demonstrating that even those in covenant relationship with God can feel utterly abandoned. This verse serves as a theological anchor for understanding that faith is not merely adherence to doctrine but a wrestling with the realities of suffering and God's mysterious ways, often leading to a deeper, more resilient trust as seen in the later verses of [Lamentations 3](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - From Despair to Hope").

* [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - Cry of Abandonment")
* [Job 23:3](/job/23-3 "Job 23:3 - Longing to Find God")
* [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sin Separates from God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 3:8 offers a profound validation for anyone who has experienced the agonizing feeling of being unheard by God. It assures us that expressing such raw, honest spiritual pain is not a sign of weak faith, but rather a deeply human and biblically attested response to suffering. In seasons of intense trial, when our fervent prayers seem to hit a wall, this verse reminds us that it is permissible, even necessary, to voice our lament directly to God. It encourages us to persist in prayer, even when the heavens seem brass, trusting that God's purposes, though inscrutable in the moment, are ultimately redemptive. The prophet's journey from this profound despair to a renewed declaration of God's faithfulness within the same chapter serves as a powerful testament to the enduring nature of God's character and the transformative power of honest lament.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when your prayers feel unheard or blocked by God?**
* **What does Lamentations 3:8 teach us about the honesty and rawness permissible in our communication with God?**
* **In what ways might God's "silence" or perceived "shutting out" of prayer serve a deeper, redemptive purpose in our lives?**

### FAQ
**Does God truly "shut out" prayers, or is this a human perception?**

Answer: Lamentations 3:8 expresses the prophet's deeply felt perception and experience during a time of intense national judgment and personal suffering. From a theological perspective, God is omniscient and omnipresent, meaning He hears all prayers ([Psalm 65:2](/psalms/65-2 "Psalm 65:2 - God Hears Prayer")). However, the Bible also teaches that sin can create a barrier between humanity and God, hindering the effectiveness of prayer ([Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sin Separates from God")). Furthermore, God's "silence" or apparent unresponsiveness can be part of His sovereign plan—to test faith, to discipline, to refine, or to await His perfect timing. So, while God doesn't literally cease to hear, His active intervention or immediate response might be withheld for specific, often redemptive, purposes, leading the one praying to feel "shut out."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 3:8, with its raw cry of perceived divine abandonment, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, became sin for us, bearing the full weight of humanity's rebellion and the Father's righteous judgment. His agonizing cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction") and [Mark 15:34](/mark/15-34 "Mark 15:34 - Jesus' Cry of Abandonment")), echoes the prophet's lament in Lamentations 3:8 with unparalleled depth. In that moment, the perfect communion between the Father and the Son was, for the sake of our salvation, momentarily broken. Jesus truly experienced what it meant for prayer to be "shut out," for the Father to "turn away" from the sin He abhorred, even though it was His beloved Son bearing it. This ultimate act of identification with human suffering, particularly the spiritual agony of separation from God, ensures that believers, even in their deepest despair and feelings of abandonment, are never truly alone. Christ has walked that path, enduring the ultimate "shutting out" so that the way to the Father might be forever opened for us through His sacrifice ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access Through Christ's Blood")). His suffering transforms our lament into a confident appeal to a God who understands our pain, having experienced it fully in His Son.

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

Job 30:20

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me [not].

Psalms 22:2

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Job 19:7

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but [there is] no judgment.

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Habakkuk 1:2

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!

Lamentations 3:44

Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that [our] prayer should not pass through.

Psalms 80:4

O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?