Lamentations 3:59
O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
Original Language Analysis
רָאִ֤יתָה
thou hast seen
H7200
רָאִ֤יתָה
thou hast seen
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
1 of 5
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְהוָה֙
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 5
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Psalms 43:1Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.Psalms 9:4For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.Psalms 26:1Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.Psalms 35:1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.Genesis 31:42Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.1 Peter 2:23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Historical Context
Jeremiah faced constant opposition: beaten, imprisoned, mocked, plotted against by religious leaders and royalty alike (Jeremiah 20:1-2; 26:8-11; 37:15; 38:4-6). His vindication came not in his lifetime but in history's verdict—he was right, and Jerusalem fell exactly as he prophesied. Trusting God to judge meant relinquishing immediate vindication.
Questions for Reflection
- When wronged, do you trust God to judge your cause, or do you take vindication into your own hands through gossip, retaliation, or self-justification?
- How does appealing to God as Judge free you from the burden of defending yourself and enable you to love even unjust accusers?
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Analysis & Commentary
O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause (רָאִיתָה יְהוָה עַוָּתָתִי שָׁפְטָה מִשְׁפָּטִי, ra'itah YHWH avatati shoftah mishpati)—'Thou hast seen' (ra'itah) appeals to God as witness. 'My wrong' (avatati) is the injustice done to me, my oppression. 'Judge thou my cause' (shoftah mishpati)—a legal appeal for vindication. Jeremiah appeals to the righteous Judge to vindicate him against false accusers. This is imprecatory prayer—not personal revenge but appeal to divine justice. It acknowledges that vengeance belongs to God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19), removing it from human hands while confidently expecting divine action.