Lamentations 5:1

Authorized King James Version

PDF

Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

Original Language Analysis

זְכֹ֤ר Remember H2142
זְכֹ֤ר Remember
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 1 of 9
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
יְהוָה֙ O LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ O LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 9
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מֶֽה H4100
מֶֽה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 3 of 9
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
הָ֣יָה H1961
הָ֣יָה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 4 of 9
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לָ֔נוּ H0
לָ֔נוּ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 5 of 9
הַבִּ֖יטָ what is come upon us consider H5027
הַבִּ֖יטָ what is come upon us consider
Strong's: H5027
Word #: 6 of 9
to scan, i.e., look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care
וּרְאֵ֥ה and behold H7200
וּרְאֵ֥ה and behold
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 7 of 9
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 8 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃ our reproach H2781
חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃ our reproach
Strong's: H2781
Word #: 9 of 9
contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

Analysis & Commentary

Chapter 5 is a communal prayer: "Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach" (zechor YHWH meh-hayah lanu habitah ure'eh et-kherpatenu, זְכֹר יְהוָה מֶה־הָיָה לָנוּ הַבִּיטָה וּרְאֵה אֶת־חֶרְפָּתֵנוּ). The verb zakhar (זָכַר, "remember") is crucial. It's not that God forgets—His memory is perfect. But biblical "remembering" means acting on relationship. When God "remembered Noah" (Genesis 8:1), the flood waters receded. When He "remembered His covenant" (Exodus 2:24), deliverance began. Here, the plea is for God to act based on remembering His people. The dual verbs "consider" (habitah, הַבִּיטָה, "look attentively") and "behold" (re'eh, רְאֵה, "see") request God's attention to their "reproach" (cherpah, חֶרְפָּה)—shame, disgrace. The people acknowledge their humiliated state and appeal to God's compassion. This models appropriate prayer after judgment: not demanding or presuming, but humbly requesting God notice and act. Psalm 74:18-22, 79:8-12, and 89:46-51 express similar appeals for God to remember and intervene.

Historical Context

Chapter 5 functions as communal lament and petition, likely used in post-exilic worship as the ruined Jerusalem community appealed for full restoration. While some Jews returned after Cyrus's decree (538 BC), Jerusalem remained desolate until Nehemiah's rebuilding (445 BC). For decades, returnees lived amid ruins, facing opposition from surrounding peoples (Ezra 4, Nehemiah 4). The 'reproach' included:

  1. mockery from neighbors like Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
  2. poverty and economic hardship (Nehemiah 5:1-5)
  3. vulnerability to enemies (Nehemiah 4:11-12)
  4. the temple's diminished glory compared to Solomon's (Ezra 3:12, Haggai 2:3).

The prayer 'remember...consider...behold' appeals to God's covenant relationship. Psalm 136's refrain 'His mercy endureth forever' repeats 26 times, emphasizing perpetual covenant love. God who remembered His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18, Exodus 2:24) would remember His covenant with David and Jerusalem.

Questions for Reflection