Lamentations 3:56

56 you heard my plea, "Do not close your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!"

Lamentations 3:56 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:56

Thou hast heard my voice
Either in times past, when he cried unto him, and was delivered; and this was an encouragement to call upon him again in such extremity, who had shown himself to be a God hearing and answering prayer; hence it follows: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry;
turn not a deaf ear to me, who hast been wont to hear me heretofore; stop not thine ear at my cry now, at my prayer, which he calls his "breathing"; prayer is the breath of a soul regenerated by the Spirit, and is a sign and evidence of life, when it is spiritual; in it a soul pants after God, and communion with him, and salvation by him. Some render it, "at my gasping" ^F19; or "panting", for breath; just ready to expire, unless immediate help is given: or else the whole of this refers to the present time, when the Lord heard and answered, not only the first clause, but this also; which may be rendered, not by way of petition, but affirmation, "thou didst not hide thine ear at my breathing, at my cry" {t}; and this agrees both with what goes before, and with what is expressed in ( Lamentations 3:57 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (ytxwrl) "ad anhelitum meum", Cocceius; "ad respirationem meam", Pagnius, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F20 (Mlet la) "non avertisti", Grotius.

Lamentations 3:56 In-Context

54 water closed over my head; I said, "I am lost."

55 I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit;

56 you heard my plea, "Do not close your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!"

57 You came near when I called on you; you said, "Do not fear!"

58 You have taken up my cause, O Lord, you have redeemed my life.