Lamentations 3:55
“I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Lamentations 3:55
“I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about being in a bad place; it's about calling out to God specifically. The phrase "out of the depths of the pit" vividly conveys utter despair, but the crucial element is that even from such darkness, the cry is directed to the Lord, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of help. It highlights that prayer is possible and potent, even when we feel completely buried.
The prophet Jeremiah recounts a time of extreme suffering, when he was cast into a deep, flooded dungeon. In this dark place, almost at death's door, he cried out to God, remembering past deliverances and finding a flicker of hope in prayer. This verse highlights his desperate plea from the very depths of despair, recalling a moment when his prayer reached God even from the lowest point of his life.
Imagine being in a place so dark, so hopeless, that you feel buried alive. That's the 'low dungeon' described here.
This verse vividly describes a place of utter despair, often called 'the pit' or 'the lowest dungeon.' It’s not just a physical prison, but a state of extreme suffering, isolation, and hopelessness.
Even when trapped in the darkest pit, there's a lifeline. What does it mean to 'call on God's name'?
The core of this verse is the action: 'I called on your name, O LORD.' This isn't a casual cry; it’s an intentional act of turning to God, even from the most desperate circumstances.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses (YHWH). Calling on this name signifies an appeal to God’s character, His faithfulness, and His authority as the only true Savior in times of distress.
This verse is deeply rooted in the trauma of the Babylonian exile and the personal suffering of Jeremiah, who was imprisoned in a dungeon. It reminds us that even in the absolute lowest points of despair, when we feel cast into the deepest pit, our cry to God can still be heard.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon besieges Jerusalem, leading to its destruction, the burning of the Temple, and the exile of many Judeans. This marks a catastrophic end to the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 586 BC
Jeremiah Cast into the Dungeon
During the siege, the prophet Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern dungeon by Jehoiakim and his officials for his prophecies of doom, where he remains until rescued.
c. 586-539 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean population, particularly the elite, is deported to Babylon. This period is characterized by loss, lament, and a re-evaluation of their relationship with God.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ushering in the Persian Empire and allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
This psalm echoes the sentiment of calling out from deep distress, 'Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! Lord, hear my voice!' highlighting the theme of crying to God from a place of profound difficulty.
Jonah 2:2Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish mirrors this verse, as he also cried out to the LORD from a place of utter desperation and confinement: 'Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.'
Psalm 88:6This verse shares the specific imagery of being in the lowest places, a concept directly referenced in Lamentations 3:55: 'You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest deeps.'
Luke 11:9Jesus' teaching on prayer reinforces the idea that even from the deepest despair, God hears and responds to those who call out to Him: 'And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.'
barnesLamentations 3:55: "I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon."
A prayer for deliverance and for vengeance upon his enemies. Lamentations 3:55 Out of the low dungeon - "The lowest pit" of Psalm 88:6. Some consider that Psalm 69 was composed by Jeremiah, and is the prayer referred to here (Jeremiah 38:6 note).
ellicottLamentations 3:55: "I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon."
(55) Out of the low dungeon. —Here, again, we have to choose between a literal reference to Jeremiah’s sufferings or a figurative interpretation. The phrase is the same as that of Psalm 88:6 .
This verse isn't just about being in a bad place; it's about calling out to God specifically. The phrase "out of the depths of the pit" vividly conveys utter despair, but the crucial element is that even from such darkness, the cry is directed to the Lord, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of help. It highlights that prayer is possible and potent, even when we feel completely buried.
The prophet Jeremiah recounts a time of extreme suffering, when he was cast into a deep, flooded dungeon. In this dark place, almost at death's door, he cried out to God, remembering past deliverances and finding a flicker of hope in prayer. This verse highlights his desperate plea from the very depths of despair, recalling a moment when his prayer reached God even from the lowest point of his life.
The prophet Jeremiah recounts a time of extreme suffering, when he was cast into a deep, flooded dungeon. In this dark place, almost at death's door, he cried out to God, remembering past deliverances and finding a flicker of hope in prayer. This verse highlights his desperate plea from the very depths of despair, recalling a moment when his prayer reached God even from the lowest point of his life.
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c. 538 BC onwards
Return from Exile
Many Judeans begin to return to Jerusalem, rebuilding the Temple and the city walls, and re-establishing their religious and civic life under Persian rule.
"“I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit;" — This verse isn't just about being in a bad place; it's about calling out to God specifically. The phrase "out of the depths of the pit" vividly conveys utter despair, but the crucial element is tha…