Lamentations 5:19
Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָה֙
Thou O LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
Thou O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לְעוֹלָ֣ם
for ever
H5769
לְעוֹלָ֣ם
for ever
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
3 of 7
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
תֵּשֵׁ֔ב
remainest
H3427
תֵּשֵׁ֔ב
remainest
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כִּסְאֲךָ֖
thy throne
H3678
כִּסְאֲךָ֖
thy throne
Strong's:
H3678
Word #:
5 of 7
properly, covered, i.e., a throne (as canopied)
Cross References
Psalms 102:12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.Psalms 45:6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.Psalms 145:13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.Psalms 9:7But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.Revelation 1:8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.1 Timothy 1:17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.Psalms 90:2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.Psalms 146:10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.Habakkuk 1:12Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Historical Context
The Davidic throne, occupied since 1000 BC, stood empty after 586 BC. No king sat in Jerusalem until Jesus, 'great David's greater Son.' Yet God's throne never vacated. This theological truth sustained Jewish hope through 70 years of exile and centuries without a king, anticipating Messiah's eternal kingdom.
Questions for Reflection
- When the earthly structures you've relied on collapse (job, relationships, health, nation), do you panic or remember that God's throne remains unshaken?
- How does God's eternal reign reframe temporal losses—are they ultimate tragedies or passing circumstances under an unchanging sovereign?
Analysis & Commentary
Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever (אַתָּה יְהוָה לְעוֹלָם תֵּשֵׁב, atah YHWH le'olam teshev)—'Remainest' or 'sittest' (yashav) evokes God's enthronement—stable, unchanging, eternal. Thy throne from generation to generation (כִּסְאֲךָ לְדֹר וָדֹר, kis'akha ledor vador)—while earthly kingdoms rise and fall (including David's throne in Jerusalem), God's reign is trans-generational, perpetual. This affirmation stands in stark contrast to chapter 5's litany of national collapse (verses 1-18). Though Israel's kingdom has fallen, the kingdom of God endures. This verse anchors the book's concluding prayer (verses 20-22) in God's unchanging nature.