Lamentations 3:53
What does Lamentations 3:53 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:53 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 3:53 means
He says his life was cut off in the dungeon, and a stone was thrown over him—imagery of being trapped and entombed. This recalls experiences where enemies sought not merely to silence but to erase him. The pit and the stone suggest finality. Yet this becomes the backdrop for a miracle of mercy when God hears from the depths. The verse acknowledges how utterly hopeless the situation felt, heightening the wonder of divine deliverance that will be celebrated shortly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They have put an end to my life in the prison, stoning me with stones.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Sade. My life is fallen into the pit, and they have laid a stone over me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They have cut off my life in a pit, and cast a stone upon me.
Context
Continuing the account of unjust persecution, this verse heightens the sense of finality and death-like confinement. Verse 54 will add the drowning image, completing the portrait of utter helplessness. These verses prepare for the pivot to prayer from the lowest point and the recollection of God’s answer in verses 55–57.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 38:9
My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.
- Jeremiah 38:6
Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
- Jeremiah 37:16
When Jeremiah was come into the dungeon-house, and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;
- Daniel 6:17
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
- Matthew 27:60
and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.
- Jeremiah 37:20
And now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be presented before thee, that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
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