Lamentations 2:19

Authorized King James Version

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Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

Original Language Analysis

ק֣וּמִי׀ Arise H6965
ק֣וּמִי׀ Arise
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 1 of 22
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
רֹ֣נִּי cry out H7442
רֹ֣נִּי cry out
Strong's: H7442
Word #: 2 of 22
properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e., to shout (usually for joy)
בַלַּ֗יְלָ in the night H3915
בַלַּ֗יְלָ in the night
Strong's: H3915
Word #: 3 of 22
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ in the beginning H7218
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ in the beginning
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 4 of 22
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת of the watches H821
אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת of the watches
Strong's: H821
Word #: 5 of 22
a night watch
שִׁפְכִ֤י pour out H8210
שִׁפְכִ֤י pour out
Strong's: H8210
Word #: 6 of 22
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
כַמַּ֙יִם֙ like water H4325
כַמַּ֙יִם֙ like water
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 7 of 22
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
לִבֵּ֔ךְ thine heart H3820
לִבֵּ֔ךְ thine heart
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 8 of 22
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
נֹ֖כַח before H5227
נֹ֖כַח before
Strong's: H5227
Word #: 9 of 22
properly, the front part; used adverbially (especially with preposition), opposite, in front of, forward, in behalf of
פְּנֵ֣י the face H6440
פְּנֵ֣י the face
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 10 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲדֹנָ֑י of the Lord H136
אֲדֹנָ֑י of the Lord
Strong's: H136
Word #: 11 of 22
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
שְׂאִ֧י lift up H5375
שְׂאִ֧י lift up
Strong's: H5375
Word #: 12 of 22
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֵלָ֣יו H413
אֵלָ֣יו
Strong's: H413
Word #: 13 of 22
near, with or among; often in general, to
כַּפַּ֗יִךְ thy hands H3709
כַּפַּ֗יִךְ thy hands
Strong's: H3709
Word #: 14 of 22
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 15 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ toward him for the life H5315
נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ toward him for the life
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ of thy young children H5768
עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ of thy young children
Strong's: H5768
Word #: 17 of 22
a suckling
הָעֲטוּפִ֥ים that faint H5848
הָעֲטוּפִ֥ים that faint
Strong's: H5848
Word #: 18 of 22
to shroud, i.e., clothe (whether transitive or reflexive); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish
בְּרָעָ֖ב for hunger H7458
בְּרָעָ֖ב for hunger
Strong's: H7458
Word #: 19 of 22
hunger (more or less extensive)
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ in the beginning H7218
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ in the beginning
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 20 of 22
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 21 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חוּצֽוֹת׃ of every street H2351
חוּצֽוֹת׃ of every street
Strong's: H2351
Word #: 22 of 22
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors

Analysis & Commentary

Urgent nighttime prayer: "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord" (kumi ronni va-laylah le-rosh ashmurot shiphkhi kha-mayim libeikh nokach penei Adonai). "Arise" (kumi) demands action—don't remain passive. "Cry out in the night" (ronni va-laylah)—nighttime prayer demonstrates urgency and desperation (Psalm 119:62, Acts 16:25). "In the beginning of the watches" (le-rosh ashmurot) refers to ancient night watches (three 4-hour periods, Judges 7:19, or four 3-hour periods in Roman times). Beginning prayers at watch-changes means continual intercession through the night. "Pour out thine heart like water" (shiphkhi...libeikh) describes complete emotional honesty—hiding nothing, expressing all anguish. "Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street" (se'i elav kapayim al-nefesh olalayikh ha'atufim be-ra'av be-rosh kol-khutsot). The fainting children motivate desperate prayer.

Historical Context

Nighttime prayer was practiced by faithful Israelites. Psalm 119:62 states: 'At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee.' Psalm 63:6: 'When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.' Daniel prayed three times daily, facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). The crisis of siege would intensify prayer frequency and fervency. When children are dying, sleep becomes impossible; prayer becomes constant. The image of children fainting from hunger at street corners was literal reality during sieges. Lamentations 4:4 describes similar scenes. The call to 'pour out your heart like water' echoes Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 1:15) and anticipates New Testament teaching on bringing all concerns to God (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7). The phrase 'like water' suggests abundance—don't measure or ration prayers, but pour them out lavishly.

Questions for Reflection