Lamentations 3:49

What does Lamentations 3:49 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:49 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 3:49 means

His eyes pour down tears without stopping, without a break. This emphasizes the perseverance of lament. True intercession does not tire quickly; it remains at the wall, pleading for God to regard the suffering. Such persistent sorrow reflects love for the people and faith that Jehovah can yet intervene. The verse dignifies sustained grief as a faithful response to communal disaster, refusing denial or distraction until the Lord brings comfort.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

My eyes are streaming without stopping, they have no rest,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there was no rest:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

Context

The weeping intensifies from verse 48. Verse 50 will state the condition for relief: until Jehovah looks down and sees from heaven. Verse 51 will then describe how what he sees affects his inner being. This keeps the prayer oriented upward while acknowledging the heavy impact of what is observed on the ground.

v.48Mine eye runneth down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

v.49This passage

v.50Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 77:2

    In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; My soul refused to be comforted.

  • 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.

  • Lamentations 1:16

    For 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.

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