I called on Your nameThis phrase reflects a personal and direct appeal to God, emphasizing the importance of invoking God's name in times of distress. In biblical tradition, calling on the name of the Lord signifies a deep trust and reliance on God's character and promises. This act of calling is seen throughout Scripture, such as in
Genesis 4:26, where people began to call on the name of the Lord, indicating a relationship and communication with God. It also echoes the practice of prayer and supplication found in Psalms, where the psalmists frequently call upon God in times of need (e.g.,
Psalm 18:6).
O LORD
The use of "LORD" in all capitals indicates the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenant name of God revealed to Moses inExodus 3:14. This name signifies God's eternal presence and faithfulness to His people. The invocation of Yahweh highlights the personal relationship between the speaker and God, rooted in the covenant promises made to Israel. It underscores the belief in God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver and save, as seen in the deliverance narratives throughout the Old Testament.
out of the depths of the Pit
The "depths of the Pit" metaphorically represents a place of extreme despair and hopelessness. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the "Pit" often referred to Sheol, the realm of the dead, or a place of deep distress and suffering. This imagery is used in other biblical texts, such asPsalm 88:6 andJonah 2:2, to describe situations of profound anguish. Theologically, it signifies the lowest point of human experience, where divine intervention is desperately needed. This phrase can also be seen as a type of Christ, who descended into the depths of human suffering and death, ultimately overcoming them through His resurrection, offering hope and redemption to all who call upon His name.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JeremiahTraditionally attributed as the author of Lamentations, Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet." He laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, to whom Jeremiah directs his plea. Yahweh is portrayed as both just and merciful throughout the book.
3.
The PitSymbolic of despair and deep distress. In Hebrew, the word "Pit" ("bor") often refers to a place of death or Sheol, the realm of the dead.
Teaching Points
The Power of Calling on God's NameIn times of deep distress, calling on the name of the LORD is a powerful act of faith. It acknowledges God's sovereignty and willingness to hear our cries.
God's Presence in the DepthsEven in the darkest moments, God is present. The "Pit" is not beyond His reach, and He is attentive to the cries of His people.
Hope in DespairLamentations teaches that even in the midst of suffering, there is hope. God's mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness is great.
The Importance of LamentLament is a biblical way to process grief and suffering. It allows believers to express their pain while still trusting in God's ultimate goodness.
Repentance and RestorationThe cry from the depths often accompanies a heart of repentance, leading to restoration and renewed relationship with God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Lamentations 3:55?
2.How does Lamentations 3:55 inspire us to call on God in distress?
3.What does "I called on Your name, O LORD" reveal about Jeremiah's faith?
4.How can we apply Jeremiah's example of prayer in our own struggles?
5.Which other Bible passages emphasize calling on God during difficult times?
6.How does Lamentations 3:55 encourage us to trust God's presence in adversity?
7.What is the historical context of Lamentations 3:55?
8.How does Lamentations 3:55 reflect the theme of hope in despair?
9.What does Lamentations 3:55 reveal about God's responsiveness to prayer?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Lamentations 3?
11.How does calling for coals of fire upon evildoers in Psalm 140:10 align with the concept of a merciful God?
12.(Psalm 145:3) How can God's greatness be 'unsearchable' when people claim to comprehend or define it through doctrine or science?
13.Hebrews 10:26-27 implies a terrifying judgment for deliberate sin after knowing the truth; does this conflict with teachings on God's mercy and grace elsewhere?
14.Who is known as the Weeping Prophet?What Does Lamentations 3:55 Mean
I called• The verse begins with decisive action: “I called.” It is not a casual wish but an intentional cry for help, echoing the pattern of God’s people through the ages.
•Psalm 18:6 mirrors this urgency: “In my distress I called upon the LORD… and my cry for His help reached His ears.”
• Scripture presents calling as the believer’s first response in crisis (Psalm 34:17;James 5:13), showing trust that the Lord both hears and answers.
on Your name• Calling “on Your name” means appealing to God’s revealed character—His faithfulness, mercy, and power.
•Exodus 34:5-6 highlights that name: “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious…”
•Proverbs 18:10 adds, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
• Thus, Jeremiah (the likely speaker) isn’t reciting a formula; he is leaning on the unchanging nature of God Himself.
O LORD• The direct address “O LORD” reinforces covenant intimacy. He isn’t praying to a distant deity but to Yahweh who pledged Himself to Israel.
•Isaiah 42:8 declares, “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another.”
• Such personal address assures the sufferer that God’s past promises are still binding in the present moment.
out of the depths• “The depths” describe overwhelming circumstances—emotional, physical, or spiritual.Psalm 130:1 uses the same phrase: “Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD.”
• Jonah, swallowed by the great fish, prayed “from the depths of Sheol” (Jonah 2:1-2), proving no place is too remote for God’s ear.
• These depths can be self-inflicted or imposed by others, yet God invites honest cries from either situation.
of the Pit• In Lamentations, the “Pit” likely recalls Jeremiah’s literal imprisonment in a muddy cistern (Jeremiah 38:6).
• The pit also symbolizes death, ruin, or the darkest seasons of life (Psalm 40:2: “He lifted me up from the pit of destruction”).
• By stating his location so starkly, the writer underlines God’s power to reach the lowest point imaginable and rescue.
summaryLamentations 3:55 captures a believer’s reflex in profound trouble: a deliberate call upon the covenant-keeping LORD, confident that His character guarantees a hearing even from life’s deepest pit. The verse models how faith clings to God’s name, trusts His ear, and anticipates deliverance no matter how hopeless the circumstances appear.
(55)
Out of the low dungeon.--Here, again, we have to choose between a literal reference to Jeremiah's sufferings or a figurative interpretation. The phrase is the same as that of
Psalm 88:6.
Verse 55. -
I called. Bunsen renders, "Then I called." But there is no connection indicated in the Hebrew between this and the preceding triad.
Out of the low dungeon; literally,
out of the pit of the lower parts (
of the earth) - a phrase borrowed from
Psalm 88:6 (Hebrew, 7). Sheol, or Hades, is signified.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
I called onקָרָ֤אתִי(qā·rā·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, readYour name,שִׁמְךָ֙(šim·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8034:A nameO LORD,יְהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelout of the depthsתַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃(taḥ·tî·yō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8482:Lowermost, the depthsof the Pit.מִבּ֖וֹר(mib·bō·wr)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 953:A pit, cistern, well
Links
Lamentations 3:55 NIVLamentations 3:55 NLTLamentations 3:55 ESVLamentations 3:55 NASBLamentations 3:55 KJV
Lamentations 3:55 BibleApps.comLamentations 3:55 Biblia ParalelaLamentations 3:55 Chinese BibleLamentations 3:55 French BibleLamentations 3:55 Catholic Bible
OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:55 I called on your name Yahweh out (Lam. La Lm) 
