What does Lamentations 1:22 mean?
"Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint." - Lamentations 1:22
Lamentations 1:22 - "Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint."
Lamentations 1:22 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint." This verse is part of a collection of verse found in the book of Lamentations, which is a series of poetic laments by the prophet Jeremiah over the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the suffering of the people of Judah.
The book of Lamentations is a powerful and emotional response to the devastation of Judah and its capital city, Jerusalem. The verse is a reflection of the deep pain and despair felt by the prophet as he witnesses the destruction and suffering of his people. In this particular verse, Jeremiah is expressing a desire for God to bring justice upon the wicked, and to punish them for their evil deeds. He also acknowledges his own transgressions and the suffering he has endured, pleading with God to have mercy on him and the people of Judah.
One of the main themes in Lamentations 1:22 is the concept of justice and divine retribution. The prophet Jeremiah is calling upon God to bring justice to the wicked, to hold them accountable for their sins, and to punish them for the suffering they have caused. This reflects the belief in an all-powerful and just God who will ultimately bring about justice for the oppressed and the innocent. It also reflects the idea that God is intimately involved in the affairs of humanity, and that He will not allow the wicked to go unpunished.
Another important theme in this verse is the concept of suffering and lamentation. Jeremiah's words convey a deep sense of grief, sorrow, and despair. He describes his heart as "faint" and his sighs as "many," acknowledging the weight of his suffering and the suffering of his people. This reflects the human experience of despair and hopelessness in the face of overwhelming tragedy and loss. It also demonstrates the human need to express and process emotions of grief and suffering, and the belief that God is present in these moments of pain and sorrow.
The verse also contains a strong element of personal confession and repentance. Jeremiah acknowledges his own transgressions and sins, recognizing the need for God's mercy and forgiveness. This reflects the profound sense of personal responsibility and humility before God, as well as the belief in the possibility of redemption and renewal through repentance and forgiveness.
In terms of context, Lamentations was likely written after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The book serves as a lament for the suffering and devastation experienced by the people of Judah, and a plea for God's mercy and restoration. The historical context of the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile provides a backdrop for understanding the deep sense of loss, despair, and longing expressed in Lamentations 1:22.
In terms of symbolism, the verse can be seen as a representation of the broader biblical theme of justice, suffering, and redemption. It reflects the belief in an all-powerful and just God who ultimately brings about justice for the oppressed, and the belief in the possibility of repentance and forgiveness. It also serves as a reminder of the human experience of grief and suffering, and the need to turn to God in moments of despair.
In conclusion, Lamentations 1:22 is a powerful and poignant expression of the prophet Jeremiah's grief, despair, and plea for justice and mercy. It reflects important biblical themes of justice, suffering, sorrow, and repentance, and provides a profound glimpse into the human experience of tragedy and loss. As part of the broader context of the book of Lamentations, this verse serves as a reminder of the human need to express and process emotions of grief and suffering, and the belief in God's ultimate sovereignty and justice.
Lamentations 1:22 Artwork
Lamentations 1:22 - "Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint."
Lamentations 3:22 - "¶ It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
Lamentations 5:22 - "But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us."
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:1 - "I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath."
Ezekiel 19:1 - "Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,"
Lamentations 4:22 - "¶ The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins."
Lamentations 5:1 - "Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach."
2 Samuel 1:17 - "¶ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:"
Lamentations 3:22-24 - "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him.""
Lamentations 2:22 - "Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed."
Lamentations 4:1 - "How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street."
Acts 1:21-22
Lamentations 1:1 - "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!"
Acts 1:21-22
1 Chronicles 1:22 - "And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,"
Amos 5:1 - "Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel."
Lamentations 1:19 - "I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls."
Lamentations 1:6 - "And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer."
Lamentations 1:5 - "Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy."
Lamentations 1:2 - "She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies."
Lamentations 1:20 - "Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death."
Lamentations 1:4 - "The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness."
Lamentations 1:9 - "Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself."
Lamentations 1:11 - "All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile."
1 Chronicles 8:22 - "And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,"
Job 22:1 - "Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,"
Lamentations 1:8 - "Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward."
Lamentations 1:3 - "Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits."
1 Corinthians 1:22 - "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:"