Lamentations 3:55-57
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When the prophet cries out "from the depths of the pit," he's not just describing a dark place, but a state so low it felt like the very abode of the dead. Even in this extremity, calling on God's "name" signifies remembering and appealing to God's known character and promises, not just uttering a generic plea.
“I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The poet, lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem, recalls his own deepest despair when cast into a dark, flooded dungeon by his enemies. Even in this seemingly hopeless pit, a place so dire it felt like the depths of Sheol, he turned to God in prayer. This cry for help from his utter extremity marks a turning point, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments, faith can find its voice and reach out to God.
Ever felt like you're at rock bottom, with no hope in sight? This verse speaks to that exact feeling, but with a crucial addition.
A Prayer from the Abyss
Jeremiah, the likely author of Lamentations, uses the phrase "out of the depths of the pit" to describe his prayer. This isn't just a bad day; it's a vivid image of the lowest possible place – a dark, flooded dungeon, perhaps even reminiscent of Sheol, the grave.
What does it really mean to 'call on God's name' when you're in the worst possible situation?
The Power of God's Name
To "call on the name of the LORD" is far more than just uttering a prayer. In the biblical context, a name represents the very essence, character, and attributes of a person. When Jeremiah calls on God's name from the pit, he's not just looking for a generic rescue.
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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.
tehinnah · Hebrew Noun
The act of making an earnest, humble, or urgent request, particularly in a legal or religious context to a superior or to God for mercy and intervention.
shav'ah · Hebrew Noun
A loud or urgent call for aid, often expressing deep distress, suffering, or a desperate need for divine attention.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
An emotional or spiritual state of agitation, anxiety, or terror, often countered by God's promise of His presence and sovereign protection.
The verse likely recalls Jeremiah's personal experience of being cast into a cistern-prison during the final siege of Jerusalem. This provides a powerful image of calling out to God from the deepest despair, mirroring the communal suffering of Jerusalem's destruction and exile.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports some of Jerusalem's elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Babylonian power.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This event severely weakens the kingdom of Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its temple, and deport the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the pivotal catastrophe for the Judean people.
c. 580 BC
Jeremiah's Imprisonment in the Pit
Tradition and textual clues suggest the prophet Jeremiah, during the siege of Jerusalem, was imprisoned in a cistern or pit, a place of extreme suffering and despair, before being rescued.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon. This event opens the door for the exiles to eventually return to Judah.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
This Psalm speaks of crying out to the Lord from the depths, mirroring the cry from the 'lowest dungeon' in Lamentations.
Jonah 2:2Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish is a classic example of calling out to God from a place of extreme distress, much like Jeremiah in the dungeon.
Psalm 88:6This passage uses similar language of being in the deepest, darkest places, highlighting the profound despair and isolation from which the Lamentations cry is issued.
Romans 8:38-39Paul's declaration that nothing can separate us from God's love, not even the 'depths,' echoes the persistence of faith in the face of overwhelming circumstances found in Lamentations.
Jeremiah 38:6This verse directly recounts Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern and a dungeon, providing a historical context for the imagery of being in the 'lowest dungeon' from which he cries out.
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 .
When the prophet cries out "from the depths of the pit," he's not just describing a dark place, but a state so low it felt like the very abode of the dead. Even in this extremity, calling on God's "name" signifies remembering and appealing to God's known character and promises, not just uttering a generic plea.
The poet, lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem, recalls his own deepest despair when cast into a dark, flooded dungeon by his enemies. Even in this seemingly hopeless pit, a place so dire it felt like the depths of Sheol, he turned to God in prayer. This cry for help from his utter extremity marks a turning point, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments, faith can find its voice and reach out to God.
The poet, lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem, recalls his own deepest despair when cast into a dark, flooded dungeon by his enemies. Even in this seemingly hopeless pit, a place so dire it felt like the depths of Sheol, he turned to God in prayer. This cry for help from his utter extremity marks a turning point, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments, faith can find its voice and reach out to God.
"“I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’" — When the prophet cries out "from the depths of the pit," he's not just describing a dark place, but a state so low it felt like the very abode of the dead. Even in this extremity, calling on God's "n…
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Last reviewed October 2026
