Lamentations 3:54
What does Lamentations 3:54 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:54 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 3:54 means
Waters flowed over his head; he concluded he was cut off. The drowning picture expresses panic and resignation—no breath left, no escape. This is the nadir of personal affliction. Such extremity forces the heart to cry or to die; here, it leads to prayer. The verse is honest about despair while setting up the mercy that comes next. It shows that God often meets His servants at the edge, where strength fails and only His intervention can save.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Waters were flowing over my head; I said, I am cut off.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Waters streamed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
Context
This verse completes the depiction of personal ruin under unjust persecution. Immediately following, verses 55–57 will recall calling on Jehovah from the lowest dungeon and being heard, with God drawing near and speaking comfort. The contrast between near-drowning despair and God’s nearness is designed to magnify divine compassion.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 124:4
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul;
- Psalms 18:4
The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
- Psalms 69:15
Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, Neither let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.
- Lamentations 3:18
And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.
- Psalms 31:22
As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, When I cried unto thee.
- Job 17:11
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.
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