BibleWord.ai› Bible› Lamentations› Chapter 1› Verse 13

Lamentations 1:13

Old Testament Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Lamentations 1:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
Lamentations 1:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Lamentations 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: For she hath seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary, Concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thine assembly.
11All her people sigh, they seek bread; They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul: See, O Jehovah, and behold; for I am become abject.
12Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me, Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.
13From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand; They are knit together, they are come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to fail: The Lord hath delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand.
15The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me; He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men: The Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah.
16For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water; Because the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me: My children are desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed.
← Lamentations 1:12Lamentations 1:14 →
← Full Chapter 1 Lamentations Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“From above hath he sent fire into my bones, etc.] Which the Targum interprets of her fortified cities, towns, or castles; as Jerusalem, more especially the temple, and the palaces of the king and nobles in it; which, though burnt by the fire of the Chaldeans, yet, this being according to the determination and by the direction of the Lord, is said to be sent from above, from heaven; so that they seemed to be as it were struck with lightning from heaven; unless it should be thought rather to be understood of the fire of divine wrath, of which the people of the Jews had a quick sense, and was like a burning fever in them: and it prevails against them; or “it” f24; that is, the fire prevails…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“bones--a fire which not only consumes the skin and flesh, but penetrates even to my "bones" (that is, my vital powers). prevaileth against--not as ROSENMULLER, "He (Jehovah) hath broken them"; a sense not in the Hebrew. net-- (Eze 12:13); image from hunting wild beasts. He has so entangled me in His judgments that I cannot escape. turned me back--so that I cannot go forward and get free from His meshes.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The lamentation of the city, personified as a woman in grief over her fate. Lamentations 1:13 It prevaileth - Or, hath subdued. He hath turned me back - Judaea, like a hunted animal, endeavors to escape, but finds every outlet blocked by nets, and recoils from them with terror and a sense of utter hopelessness. Lamentations 1:14 Bound by his hand - As the plowman binds the yoke upon the neck of oxen, so God compels Judah to bear the punishment of her sins. They are wreathed, and ... - Or, they are knotted together, “they come up” etc. Judah’s sins are like the cords by which the pieces of the yoke are fastened together Jeremiah 27:2; they are knotted and twined like a bunch upon the neck,…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Fire - A judgment as consuming, and afflictive as fire. Lamentations 1:14”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:13 The destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians was like fire from heaven.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“above: Lam 2:3, Lam 2:4; Deu 32:21-25; Job 30:30; Psa 22:14, Psa 31:10, Psa 102:3-5; Nah 1:6; Hab 3:16; Th2 1:8; Heb 12:29 he hath spread: Lam 4:17-20; Job 18:8, Job 19:6; Psa 66:11; Eze 12:13, Eze 17:20, Eze 32:3; Hos 7:12 he hath turned: Psa 35:4, Psa 70:2, Psa 70:3, Psa 129:5; Isa 42:17 desolate: Lam 1:22, Lam 5:17; Deu 28:65; Jer 4:19-29 Lamentations 1:14”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Lamentations 1 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification