Lamentations 1:20 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In deep distress the city turns to God, confessing her rebellion while death stalks both the streets outside and the homes within.
What Does Lamentations 1:20 Mean?
The plea 'Behold, O LORD' rises again, the instinct of a heart that, however broken, still addresses God directly. The distress is physical and total: 'my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me.' Ancient speech located deep emotion in the inner organs, and the poet means that the anguish has reached the core of her being.
She names her rebellion once more, even here, refusing to plead innocent. And she names the trap she is caught in: 'abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.' Outside, the enemy's blade; inside, famine and disease. There is no safe place left, no door to close against the terror. Yet she brings even this cornered desperation to the LORD, which is itself a kind of faith.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lamentations 1:20
What does Lamentations 1:20 mean?
In deep distress the city turns to God, confessing her rebellion while death stalks both the streets outside and the homes within.