Lamentations 3:55
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Lamentations 3:55
55 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
Chapter Context
Lamentations 3 is a funeral dirge chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of grace, wisdom, covenant. Written during just after Jerusalem's fall (c. 586 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Written amid the devastating aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-66: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Lamentations and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Lamentations 3:55
55 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
Analysis
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.
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.
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?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord