The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord.This phrase reflects the deep anguish and desperation of the people of Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege and subsequent destruction. The act of crying out to the Lord is a common biblical response in times of distress, seen in passages like
Exodus 2:23-25, where the Israelites groan under Egyptian bondage. It signifies a recognition of God as the ultimate source of help and deliverance. Historically, this period was marked by intense suffering, as the Babylonian conquest led to the destruction of the temple and the city, fulfilling prophecies such as those in
Jeremiah 25:11. Theologically, this cry can be seen as an acknowledgment of sin and a plea for mercy, aligning with the broader biblical theme of repentance and restoration.
O wall of the Daughter of Zion,
The "Daughter of Zion" is a poetic term for Jerusalem, emphasizing its personification as a vulnerable and beloved city. The wall represents both physical protection and the spiritual state of the people. In ancient Near Eastern culture, city walls were crucial for defense, and their breach symbolized defeat and exposure. The lament over the wall underscores the city's desolation and the people's loss of security. This imagery is echoed inIsaiah 62:6-7, where watchmen are placed on Jerusalem's walls to pray continually for its restoration, highlighting the importance of intercession and vigilance.
let your tears run down like a river day and night.
The metaphor of tears flowing like a river conveys unceasing sorrow and mourning. In the context of Lamentations, this reflects the profound grief over the destruction and the people's suffering. Rivers in the Bible often symbolize abundance and life, but here, the abundance is of tears, indicating overwhelming grief. This imagery is reminiscent ofPsalm 42:3, where tears are described as food day and night, illustrating deep emotional pain. The call for continuous weeping also serves as a form of lamentation, a key aspect of Hebrew worship and expression of faith in times of crisis.
Give yourself no relief,
This phrase suggests a deliberate choice to remain in a state of mourning and repentance. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, mourning was often expressed through fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes, as seen in the story of Job (Job 2:8). The lack of relief indicates a period of intense reflection and acknowledgment of sin, aligning with the prophetic calls for repentance found throughout the Old Testament, such as inJoel 2:12-13. This ongoing lament is a plea for God’s intervention and a reminder of the consequences of turning away from Him.
and your eyes no rest.
The instruction for the eyes to find no rest emphasizes the depth of sorrow and the urgency of the situation. In biblical literature, sleeplessness often accompanies distress and divine encounters, as seen in the story of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:24). The lack of rest signifies a relentless pursuit of God's attention and mercy. This continuous state of vigilance and prayer is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), highlighting the importance of persistent faith and reliance on God in times of trouble.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Daughter of ZionThis term is a poetic reference to the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. It personifies the city as a daughter, emphasizing its relationship with God and its current state of distress.
2.
The Wall of the Daughter of ZionSymbolizes the protection and strength of Jerusalem, which has been breached and destroyed, leading to the city's lament.
3.
The LordThe covenant God of Israel, to whom the people cry out in their distress, seeking mercy and restoration.
4.
The Cry of the HeartRepresents the deep, emotional plea of the people of Jerusalem as they face the consequences of their disobedience and the resulting destruction.
5.
Tears Like a RiverA vivid image of continuous mourning and repentance, indicating the depth of sorrow and the need for persistent prayer.
Teaching Points
The Power of Persistent PrayerJust as the people of Jerusalem are urged to cry out without ceasing, believers today are encouraged to persist in prayer, especially in times of distress.
The Importance of Genuine RepentanceThe tears of the Daughter of Zion symbolize true repentance. Believers are called to examine their hearts and turn back to God with sincerity.
God's Faithfulness in Times of JudgmentEven in judgment, God remains faithful. Understanding His character helps believers trust in His ultimate plan for restoration.
The Role of Community in LamentThe collective cry of the people highlights the importance of community support and shared lament in times of crisis.
Hope Beyond DespairWhile Lamentations is a book of sorrow, it also points to the hope of redemption. Believers can find comfort in God's promises of future restoration.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Lamentations 2:18?
2.How does Lamentations 2:18 encourage us to express our sorrow to God?
3.What role does prayer play in seeking God's mercy, according to Lamentations 2:18?
4.How can we apply "cry out to the Lord" in our daily lives?
5.How does Lamentations 2:18 connect with Jesus' teachings on prayer?
6.How can "let your tears flow" deepen our relationship with God?
7.What does Lamentations 2:18 reveal about God's response to human suffering and sin?
8.How does Lamentations 2:18 reflect the emotional state of the Israelites during the Babylonian siege?
9.Why is the heart's cry emphasized in Lamentations 2:18, and what does it signify?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Lamentations 2?
11.Since Psalm 60:1 portrays God as angry and distant, how does this align with the Bible's broader portrayal of His mercy and love?
12.If God wants all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), why does He deliberately harden people's hearts (Romans 9:18)?
13.(Psalm 44:17-19) How is it consistent with other biblical texts that the righteous suffer so severely despite remaining faithful?
14.Psalm 87:7 - In what sense are all 'springs' in Zion, given that historically rivers and water sources are not exclusive to Jerusalem?What Does Lamentations 2:18 Mean
The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord“The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord” (Lamentations 2:18). The verse opens with an honest, collective outpouring of grief.
• True lament starts in the heart. Israel’s disaster could not be fixed by rituals or political alliances; it demanded heartfelt repentance, much like2 Chronicles 7:14 calls God’s people to “humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways.”
• A cry “to the Lord” acknowledges that only He can reverse judgment (Psalm 34:17;Joel 2:12-13).
• The plural “hearts” shows corporate responsibility—everyone shares in both sin and supplication (Daniel 9:5-19).
O wall of the Daughter of ZionThe ruined wall is personified and addressed directly.
• The wall once symbolized strength and safety (Nehemiah 2:17;Isaiah 26:1), yet its breach revealed Judah’s spiritual collapse (Jeremiah 39:8).
• By addressing the wall, Jeremiah underscores that even the city’s stones should testify to covenant failure and call the people back to God (Luke 19:40 echoes this idea).
• “Daughter of Zion” is an affectionate term for Jerusalem, reminding the people they remain God’s chosen, though disciplined (Isaiah 1:8;Zechariah 2:10).
Let your tears run down like a river day and nightGod urges sustained, unrestrained mourning.
• Continuous tears picture unbroken awareness of sin and need (Psalm 42:3;Jeremiah 9:1).
• “River” suggests both depth and duration—grief should not be momentary but thorough until restoration comes (Psalm 119:136).
• Day-and-night sorrow mirrors round-the-clock prayer in times of crisis (Psalm 88:1;1 Samuel 1:15-16).
Give yourself no relief, and your eyes no restThe command is to keep the lament going until God answers.
• Persistent intercession is commended elsewhere:Isaiah 62:6-7 urges watchmen to “give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem,” andLuke 18:7-8 shows God responding to persevering cries.
• No “relief” underscores urgency—sin cannot be shrugged off or scheduled for later (James 4:8-10).
• Sleepless prayer reflects a heart that values God’s favor above personal comfort (Psalm 63:1-6;Acts 12:5).
summaryLamentations 2:18 summons God’s people to wholehearted, persistent repentance and intercession. Hearts, walls, tears, and sleepless eyes unite in a single purpose: to acknowledge sin, seek mercy, and cling to the Lord until He restores. Deep grief over sin is not despair but the doorway to renewed hope, for the God who judges is the same God who hears and heals.
(18)
Their heart.--The possessive pronoun does not refer to any immediate antecedent, but points, with a wild abruptness, to the mourners of Zion. Yet more boldly their cry is an appeal to the "wall" of Zion (comp.
Lamentations 2:8, and
Isaiah 14:31), to take up its lamentation, as though it were a human mourner.
Like a river.--Better,like a torrent.
The apple of thine eye.--Literally, "thedaughter,"as in the English phrase, the "pupil" of the eye.
Verse 18. -
Their heart cried unto the Lord, etc. "Their heart" can only mean "the heart of the people of Jerusalem." For the expression, comp.
Psalm 84:2, "My heart and my flesh cry aloud to the living God." To avoid the rather startling prosopopoeia in the next clause, Thenius supposes a corruption in the group of letters rendered "wall," and attaches the corrected word to the first clause, rendering thus: "Their heart crieth unto the Lord in vain; O daughter of Zion, let tears run down," etc. Another resource, which also involves an emendation, is that of Ewald, "Cry with all thy heart, O wall of the daughter of Zion."
O wall, etc. The prosepopoeia is surprising, but is only a degree more striking than that of ver. 8 and
Lamentations 1:4. In
Isaiah 14:31 we find an equally strong one, "Howl, O gate." Most probably, however, there is something wrong in the text; the following verses seem to refer to the daughter of Zion. Bickell reads thus: "Cry aloud unto the Lord, O virgin daughter of Zion."
Like a river; rather,
like a torrent.Give thyself no rest. The word rendered "rest" means properly the stiffness produced by cold.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The hearts [of the people]לִבָּ֖ם(lib·bām)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820:The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centrecry outצָעַ֥ק(ṣā·‘aq)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6817:To shriek, to proclaimtoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, tothe Lord.אֲדֹנָ֑י(’ă·ḏō·nāy)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136:The LordO wallחוֹמַ֣ת(ḥō·w·maṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2346:A wall of protectionof the Daughterבַּת־(baṯ-)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323:A daughterof Zion,צִ֠יּוֹן(ṣî·yō·wn)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6726:Zion -- a mountain in Jerusalem, also a name for Jerusalemlet your tearsדִּמְעָה֙(dim·‘āh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1832:Tears (of one weeping)run downהוֹרִ֨ידִי(hō·w·rî·ḏî)Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 3381:To come or go down, descendlike a riverכַנַּ֤חַל(ḵan·na·ḥal)Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5158:A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaftdayיוֹמָ֣ם(yō·w·mām)Adverb
Strong's 3119:Daytime, by dayand night.וָלַ֔יְלָה(wā·lay·lāh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915:A twist, night, adversityGiveתִּתְּנִ֤י(tit·tə·nî)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setyourself noאַֽל־(’al-)Adverb
Strong's 408:Notrelief,פוּגַת֙(p̄ū·ḡaṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6314:Benumbing, cessationand your eyesעֵינֵֽךְ׃(‘ê·nêḵ)Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5869:An eye, a fountainnoאַל־(’al-)Adverb
Strong's 408:Notrest.תִּדֹּ֖ם(tid·dōm)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1826:To be dumb, to be astonished, to stop, to perish
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OT Prophets: Lamentations 2:18 Their heart cried to the Lord: wall (Lam. La Lm) 
