Lamentations 3:18

18 that I think, "My strength is gone, and so is my hope in ADONAI."

Lamentations 3:18 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:18

And I said, my strength and my hope are perished from the
Lord.
] The former of these words signifies, according to Aben Ezra, "my standing", my subsistence, my continuance in being, or my perpetuity; according to Jarchi, my abiding F18 in this world; it is rendered "blood" in ( Isaiah 63:3 ) ; which is the support of life; and which when gone, or ceases to circulate, a man ceases to be: the sense is, that the prophet, or those he represents, looked upon themselves as dead men, at least of a short continuance; their natural strength was exhausted, and they must quickly die, and had no hope of living, or of enjoying the divine favour, or good things, at the hand of God. Some understand it of spiritual strength to do good, and of hope of having good things, or deliverance from the hand of God, which they were despairing of; for the words are the language of despondency, and betray great, weakness and infirmity; for in the Lord is everlasting strength, and he is the hope of his people, and the Saviour of them in time of trouble, ( Isaiah 26:4 ) ( 45:24 ) ( Jeremiah 14:8 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (yxun) "duratio mea", Montanus; "perennitas mea", Cocceius.

Lamentations 3:18 In-Context

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel and pressed me down into ashes.
17 I have been so deprived of peace, I have so forgotten what happiness is,
18 that I think, "My strength is gone, and so is my hope in ADONAI."
19 Remember my utter misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 They are always on my mind; this is why I am so depressed.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.