Lamentations 5:17-18
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This isn't just about sorrow; it's about a physical reaction to deep, prolonged suffering. Their hearts are literally growing weak and their eyes are becoming dim, showing how the weight of their calamities has taken a tangible, debilitating toll on their bodies and minds.
For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The lament continues with a profound sense of physical and emotional exhaustion stemming from the nation's devastating experiences. The poet describes hearts growing weak and eyes dim, not just from general hardship, but specifically from witnessing the humiliation of their nation and the ruin of sacred places like Mount Zion. This deep sorrow and despair prepares the way for an earnest appeal to God, highlighting their overwhelming concern for His honor above all else.
Ever feel like your vision is blurred, not by tears, but by the sheer weight of what you've lost or seen go wrong? This verse captures that profound exhaustion.
The prophet expresses a deep physical and emotional weariness. The phrase "For this our heart has become sick" points to a profound distress that affects their very core, their spirit and will. It's not just sadness, but a deep-seated malaise born from the destruction and humiliation described in the preceding verses – the loss of national honor, the desolation of their holy city, and the overall horror of their situation. Similarly, "for these things our eyes have grown dim" speaks to a vision clouded by relentless sorrow and weeping. It's the exhaustion that comes from seeing the worst, from a spiritual and emotional blindness setting in because of overwhelming circumstances.
When everything looks bleak and your vision fails, where do you turn? This verse marks a pivotal moment, shifting from despair to an appeal for divine intervention.
While verses 17 and 18 vividly describe the deep sorrow and exhaustion of the people, they also serve as a transition. The lament over their condition – their hearts sick and eyes dim – doesn't end in despair. Instead, it sets the stage for the ultimate prayer and confession that follows. The prophet isn't just wallowing in misery; he's articulating the depth of their suffering to prepare for the plea, 'Turn us again to you, O LORD.' This highlights a crucial aspect of faith: even in the darkest moments, when our understanding and sight fail us, we are called to direct our gaze and our hope toward God.
Understand the original words
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lebab · Hebrew Noun
The inner person; the seat of emotions, intellect, will, and conscience. In Scripture, it is the center of human moral and spiritual life and the place where true repentance or hardening occurs.
Tsiyyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
The prominent mountain in Jerusalem where the Temple of the LORD was located. Symbolically, it represents the dwelling place of God, the site of His covenant presence, and the spiritual center of Israel.
shamem · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
A state of being uninhabited, ruined, or laid waste. It often describes the judgment of God upon land or cities that have abandoned His covenant.
The profound sorrow expressed in Lamentations 5:17 stems directly from the unimaginable devastation of Jerusalem's fall and the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC. This wasn't just a political defeat; it was a spiritual crisis that left the survivors heartbroken and blinded by tears.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Power
The Assyrian Empire was the dominant superpower of the ancient Near East, known for its military might and brutal conquests. Their influence cast a long shadow over the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, creating an atmosphere of constant threat and political instability.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, after defeating the Egyptians at Carchemish, besieged Jerusalem and deported a group of elite Judeans, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marked the beginning of Judah's decline and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion by King Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar exiled more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. The Temple in Jerusalem was looted, and Zedekiah was installed as a puppet king.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
After a prolonged siege and a final rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar's armies utterly destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple. The remaining population was largely exiled to Babylon, marking a devastating turning point in Israelite history.
c. 586 - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean people lived in exile in Babylon, stripped of their homeland, their Temple, and their national sovereignty. This period was marked by profound grief, reflection, and the development of new religious practices and identity.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, ushering in the Persian Empire. This event offered a glimmer of hope for the exiles, as Cyrus would soon issue a decree allowing them to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple.
This passage expresses a similar physical and emotional exhaustion due to prolonged sorrow and distress, mirroring the 'faint heart' and 'dim eyes' of Lamentations 5:17.
Psalm 88:9Here, the psalmist describes his eyes growing dim and weary due to affliction, a direct parallel to the emotional and physical state depicted in Lamentations 5:17.
Isaiah 6:5While Isaiah's reaction is due to holiness, his declaration 'my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' conveys a profound sense of being overwhelmed and seeing reality in a new, albeit startling, light, which can lead to a similar spiritual dimming before true sight is granted.
Jeremiah 9:1This verse reflects a deep sorrow and weeping over the sins and destruction of God's people, leading to a desire to escape and a profound grief that can cause one's eyes to dim with tears.
barnesLamentations 5:17: "For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim."
Is faint ... - Or, has become "faint" - have become "dim." "For this," i. e. for the loss of our crown etc.
ellicottLamentations 5:17: "For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim."
(17) For this . . . for these things. —The first clause refers to the loss of national honour indicated in Lamentations 5:16 ; the latter, to all the horrors named in Lamentations 5:8-15 .
This isn't just about sorrow; it's about a physical reaction to deep, prolonged suffering. Their hearts are literally growing weak and their eyes are becoming dim, showing how the weight of their calamities has taken a tangible, debilitating toll on their bodies and minds.
The lament continues with a profound sense of physical and emotional exhaustion stemming from the nation's devastating experiences. The poet describes hearts growing weak and eyes dim, not just from general hardship, but specifically from witnessing the humiliation of their nation and the ruin of sacred places like Mount Zion. This deep sorrow and despair prepares the way for an earnest appeal to God, highlighting their overwhelming concern for His honor above all else.
The lament continues with a profound sense of physical and emotional exhaustion stemming from the nation's devastating experiences. The poet describes hearts growing weak and eyes dim, not just from general hardship, but specifically from witnessing the humiliation of their nation and the ruin of sacred places like Mount Zion. This deep sorrow and despair prepares the way for an earnest appeal to God, highlighting their overwhelming concern for His honor above all else.
"For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it." — This isn't just about sorrow; it's about a physical reaction to deep, prolonged suffering. Their hearts are literally growing weak and their eyes are becoming dim, showing how the weight of their cal…
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Last reviewed October 2026
