Lamentations 3:55

Old Testament Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Lamentations 3:55 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon.
Lamentations 3:55 — American Standard Version

Context — Lamentations 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
55I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I called upon thy name, O Lord, etc.] As in times past, so in the present distress; when all hope was gone, and all help failed, still there was a God to go to, and call upon: out of the low dungeon; or “dungeon of lownesses” f89; the lowest dungeon, the deepest distress, a man or people could be in; yet then and there it is not too late to call upon the Lord; and there may be hope of deliverance out of such an estate by him.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I called out of dungeon--Thus the spirit resists the flesh, and faith spurns the temptation [CALVIN], (Psa 130:1; Jon 2:2).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A prayer for deliverance and for vengeance upon his enemies. Lamentations 3:55 Out of the low dungeon - “The lowest pit” of Psalms 88:6. Some consider that Psalms 69:0 was composed by Jeremiah, and is the prayer referred to here (Jeremiah 38:6 note). Lamentations 3:56 Thou hast heard - In sending Ebedmelech to deliver me. The next clause signifies “Hide not thine ear to my relief to my cry,” i. e. to my cry for relief. Lamentations 3:58 God now appears as the prophet’s next of kin, pleading the lawsuits of his soul, i. e. the controversies which concern his salvation. and rescuing his life, in jeopardy through the malice of his enemies. Lamentations 3:59 Wrong - Done to him by the perversion…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Ch2 33:11, Ch2 33:12; Psa 18:5, Psa 18:6, Psa 40:1, Psa 40:2, Psa 69:13-18, Psa 116:3, Psa 116:4, Psa 130:1, Psa 130:2; Psa 142:3-7; Jer 38:6; Jon 2:2-4; Act 16:24-28 Lamentations 3:56”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Prayer for deliverance, and confident trust in its realization. Lam 3:55. "Out of the lowest pit I call, O Lord, on Thy name;" cf. Psa 88:7, Psa 88:14; Psa 130:1. The perfect קראתי is not a preterite, (Note: The perfects are so viewed by Ngelsbach, who also thinks that the speaker, in Lam 3:55-58, thanks the Lord for deliverance from the pit, and in Lam 3:55 reminds the Lord of the prayer he has addressed to Him out of the pit. But could he possibly think that the Lord had forgotten this? What, we should like to know, would be the use of this reminder, even if 'תּעלם וגו, Lam 3:56, could be taken as the words of address to the Lord? For we can discover no thanksgiving in Lam 3:55-58. This…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification