Lamentations 3:19
What does Lamentations 3:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 3:19 means
He pleads with Jehovah to remember his affliction and bitterness, named again as wormwood and gall. This is a turning to prayer, not to accuse but to lay the whole grief before God. By asking God to remember, he aligns with the biblical pattern where divine remembrance leads to mercy and action. The naming of pain is part of healing; it invites God’s compassionate attention. The verse does not yet claim relief, but it moves from speech about God to speech to God—a significant step toward hope, for prayer is itself evidence that faith refuses to be silenced.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Keep in mind my trouble and my wandering, the bitter root and the poison.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Zain. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood and the gall.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Remember thou mine affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall.
Context
After declaring that hope has perished, the speaker nevertheless prays. Verses 20–21 will continue this internal process: the soul remembers and is humbled, and then a different kind of remembrance arises that produces hope. The flow is important: pain is not denied but presented to God, and humility precedes encouragement. The pivot toward hope begins not with changed circumstances, but with changed focus through deliberate recollection.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 132:1
Jehovah, remember for David All his affliction;
- Job 7:7
Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.
- Lamentations 3:5
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
- Nehemiah 9:32
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and lovingkindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
- Psalms 89:50
Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty peoples,
- Psalms 89:47
Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!
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