The Meaning of Lamentations 5:1 Explained

Lamentations 5:1

KJV: Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

YLT: Remember, O Jehovah, what hath befallen us, Look attentively, and see our reproach.

Darby: Remember, O Jehovah, what is come upon us; consider, and see our reproach.

ASV: Remember, O Jehovah, what is come upon us: Behold, and see our reproach.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Remember,  O LORD,  what is come upon us: consider,  and behold  our reproach. 

What does Lamentations 5:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jeremiah called on Yahweh to remember the calamity that had befallen His people, and to consider the reproach in which they now lived (cf. Lamentations 3:34-36). The humbled condition of the Judahites reflected poorly on the Lord, because the pagans would have concluded that He was unable to keep His people strong and free. Jeremiah implied that if Yahweh remembered His people, He would act to deliver them (cf. Exodus 2:24-25; Exodus 3:7-8).

Chapter Summary: Lamentations 5

1  A complaint of Zion in prayer unto God

What do the individual words in Lamentations 5:1 mean?

Remember Yahweh what has come upon us - Look and behold - our reproach
זְכֹ֤ר יְהוָה֙ מֶֽה־ הָ֣יָה לָ֔נוּ [הביט] (הַבִּ֖יטָה) וּרְאֵ֥ה אֶת־ חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ

זְכֹ֤ר  Remember 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הָ֣יָה  has  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לָ֔נוּ  upon  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
[הביט]  - 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
(הַבִּ֖יטָה)  Look 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
וּרְאֵ֥ה  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ  our  reproach 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.