Lamentations 2:18
What does Lamentations 2:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 2:18 means
The people’s heart cries to the Lord. The “wall of the daughter of Zion” is summoned as if it could weep, urging tears to flow like an unceasing river. There is to be no rest, no ceasing of the “apple of thine eye,” a poetic way of saying let the weeping continue. This is a call to sustained lament—an honest, uninterrupted pouring out of grief before God. Tears here are not self-pity but prayer, an appeal that refuses numbness. When words fail, the river of sorrow can still run toward the Lord, acknowledging both His hand and their desperate need.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Their heart cried unto the Lord: O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give thyself no respite; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Their heart cried unto the Lord: O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give thyself no respite; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let your cry go up to the Lord: O wall of the daughter of Zion, let your weeping be flowing down like a stream day and night; give yourself no rest, let not your eyes keep back the drops of sorrow.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Cried hath their heart unto the Lord; O wall of the daughter of Zion, Cause to go down as a stream tears daily and nightly, Give not rest to thyself, Let not the daughter of thine eye stand still.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Sade. Their heart cried to the Lord upon the walls of the daughter of Sion: Let tears run down like a torrent day and night: give thyself no rest, and let not the apple of thy eye cease.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Their heart cried unto the Lord. O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a torrent day and night: give thyself no respite; let not the apple of thine eye rest.
Context
After affirming God’s purpose (v. 17), the poem turns from report to appeal (v. 18). The community is urged to an unending vigil of tears. This prepares for verse 19’s more specific instruction to rise at night watches and lift hands for the children. The transition matters: once the cause is recognized as divine, the response must be directed to Him. Lament becomes the pathway to approach the God who judged, seeking mercy for survivors. The call intensifies from general weeping to active, intercessory prayer.
v.17Jehovah hath done that which he purposed; he hath fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: And he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries.
v.18This passage
v.19Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; Pour out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 14:17
And thou shalt say this word unto them, Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound.
- Jeremiah 4:31
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers.
- Psalms 119:136
Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law. צ TSADHE.
- Lamentations 1:2
She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies.
- Lamentations 3:48
Mine eye runneth down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
- Jeremiah 13:17
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Jehovah’s flock is taken captive.
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