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Lamentations 5:20

Old Testament Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Lamentations 5:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [And] forsake us so long time?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [And] forsake us so long time?
Lamentations 5:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Lamentations 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim;
18For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk upon it.
19Thou, O Jehovah, abidest for ever; Thy throne is from generation to generation.
20Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [And] forsake us so long time?
21Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.
22But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.
← Lamentations 5:19Lamentations 5:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wherefore dost thou, forget us for ever, etc.] Since thou art firm, constant, and unchangeable, and thy love and covenant the same. God seems to forget his people when he afflicts them, or suffers them to be oppressed, and does not arise immediately for their help; which being deferred some time, looks like an eternity to them, or they fear it will ever be so; at least this they say to express their eager desire after his gracious presence, and to show how much they prize it: [and] forsake us so long time? or, “to length of days” f147? so long as the seventy years’ captivity; which to be forsaken of God, or to seem to be forsaken of him, was with them a long time.”
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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
“for ever--that is, for "so long a time."”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“dost: Psa 13:1, Psa 44:24, Psa 74:1, Psa 77:7-10, Psa 79:5, Psa 85:5, Psa 89:46, Psa 94:3, Psa 94:4; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 14:19-21 so long time: Heb. for length of days Lamentations 5:21”
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Related study paths

Read Lamentations 5 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification