Lamentations 3:55
I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
Original Language Analysis
קָרָ֤אתִי
I called
H7121
קָרָ֤אתִי
I called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
1 of 5
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
שִׁמְךָ֙
upon thy name
H8034
שִׁמְךָ֙
upon thy name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
2 of 5
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 5
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
Jeremiah was literally thrown into a cistern/pit for his prophesying (Jeremiah 38:6-13). The Hebrew 'bor' (pit) is the same word used there. He sank in mud and would have died if not rescued by an Ethiopian eunuch. This autobiographical detail grounds the poetry in lived experience.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'low dungeons' in your life have you viewed as abandonment by God rather than as prayer closets where you can call upon His name?
- How does the fact that Jeremiah prayed from the pit rather than waiting until rescue suggest that prayer is not dependent on favorable circumstances?
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Analysis & Commentary
I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon (קָרָאתִי שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה מִבּוֹר תַּחְתִּיּוֹת, qarati shimkha YHWH mibor tachtiyot)—'Low dungeon' literally translates 'pit of the lowest parts' (bor tachtiyot), evoking Sheol, the grave, deepest extremity. 'Called upon thy name' (qarati shimkha) is covenant language—invoking YHWH's revealed character and promises. Prayer from the pit demonstrates that no depth is beyond God's hearing. This may reference Jeremiah's literal imprisonment in a muddy cistern (Jeremiah 38:6) or be metaphorical for national extremity. Either way, the 'low dungeon' becomes a place of prayer, not abandonment.