Lamentations 5:17

17 Because of this, our heart has become faint, because of these, our eyes have become dim.

Lamentations 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:17

For this our heart is faint
Our spirits sink; we are ready to swoon and die away; either for this, that we have sinned; because of our sins, they are so many, so great, and so aggravated; or for those distresses and calamities they have brought upon us before mentioned; or for the desolation of Zion, more especially, after expressed; and so the Targum,

``for this house of the sanctuary, which is desolate, our heart is weak:''

for these [things] our eyes are dim;
or "darkened" ^F2 almost blinded with weeping; can scarcely see out of them; or as persons in a swoon; for dimness of sight usually attends faintness of spirit.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (wkvx) "contenebrati sunt", V. L. "obtenebrati", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Cocceius.

Lamentations 5:17 In-Context

15 The joy of our hearts has stopped; our circle-dancing has changed to a mourning ceremony.

16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

17 Because of this, our heart has become faint, because of these, our eyes have become dim.

18 Because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, {foxes tread on it}.

19 You, O Yahweh, will sit forever [on] your throne for generation to generation.