Lamentations 3:54
Lamentations 3:54 in Multiple Translations
The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
Waters were flowing over my head; I said, I am cut off.
Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
Waters flowed ouer mine head, then thought I, I am destroyed.
Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
Waters flowed over my head. I said, “I am cut off.”
Waters flowed over my head; then I said, I am cut off.
Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off.
The water in the pit rose above my head, and I said to myself, “I am about to die/drown!”
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 3:54
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Lamentations 3:54 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
צָֽפוּ
מַ֥יִם
עַל
רֹאשִׁ֖/י
אָמַ֥רְתִּי
נִגְזָֽרְתִּי
צָֽפוּ
tsûwph
H6687
to flow
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
מַ֥יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
N-mp
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
רֹאשִׁ֖/י
rôʼsh
H7218
head
N-ms | Suff
אָמַ֥רְתִּי
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
נִגְזָֽרְתִּי
gâzar
H1504
to cut
V-Niphal-Perf-1cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 3:54
צָֽפוּ
tsûwph
H6687
"to flow"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
This Hebrew word means to flow or overflow, like a flood or a river. It can also mean to swim or float on water. In the Bible, it describes powerful natural events.
Definition: 1) to flow, overflow, flood, float 1a) (Qal) to flood 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to flow over 1b2) to cause to float
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: (make to over-) flow, swim. See also: Deuteronomy 11:4; 2 Kings 6:6; Lamentations 3:54.
מַ֥יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
רֹאשִׁ֖/י
rôʼsh
H7218
"head"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Definition: : head 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning 1a) head (of man, animals) 1b) top, tip (of mountain) 1c) height (of stars) 1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest) 1e) head, front, beginning 1f) chief, choicest, best 1g) head, division, company, band 1h) sum
Usage: Occurs in 547 OT verses. KJV: band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. See also: Genesis 2:10; Numbers 17:18; 2 Samuel 4:7.
אָמַ֥רְתִּי
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
נִגְזָֽרְתִּי
gâzar
H1504
"to cut"
V-Niphal-Perf-1cs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to cut or divide something, like cutting down a tree or deciding a matter. It is used in various ways, such as cutting off or destroying something. This word appears in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: 1) to cut, divide, cut down, cut off, cut in two, snatch, decree 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut in two, divide 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to cut off, destroy, exterminate 1a4) to decree 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off, separated, excluded 1b2) to be destroyed, cut off 1b3) to be decreed
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: cut down (off), decree, divide, snatch. See also: 1 Kings 3:25; Psalms 88:6; Psalms 136:13.
Study Notes — Lamentations 3:54
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 3:54 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:54
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:54
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:54
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:54
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:54
- Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:54
- Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:54
- Sermons on Lamentations 3:54
Context — God’s Justice
52Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird.
53They dropped me alive into a pit and cast stones upon me.
54The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
55I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit. 56You heard my plea: “Do not ignore my cry for relief.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonah 2:3–5 | For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me. At this, I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.’ The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths closed around me; the seaweed wrapped around my head. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 37:11 | Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ |
| 3 | Lamentations 3:18 | So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.” |
| 4 | 2 Corinthians 1:8–10 | We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, |
| 5 | Psalms 18:4 | The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. |
| 6 | Job 17:11–16 | My days have passed; my plans are broken off— even the desires of my heart. They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness. If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? Will it go down to the gates of Sheol? Will we go down together into the dust?” |
| 7 | Psalms 124:4–5 | then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us, then the raging waters would have swept us away. |
| 8 | Isaiah 38:10–13 | I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me. I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me. |
| 9 | Psalms 69:1–2 | Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me. |
| 10 | Psalms 31:22 | In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help. |
Lamentations 3:54 Summary
[This verse is saying that the writer felt completely overwhelmed by their problems and felt like they were going to be destroyed by them, like they were drowning in water. This is how many people feel when they are facing difficult situations, but the good news is that God is always with us and can help us, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. The writer's experience shows us that even when we feel like we are at the end of our rope, we can cry out to God for help and trust that He will rescue us, as seen in Psalm 107:19 and Matthew 14:30.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the waters to flow over the writer's head in Lamentations 3:54?
This is a metaphorical expression of being overwhelmed by troubles and feeling like one is drowning in their struggles, similar to the feelings expressed in Psalm 42:7 and Jonah 2:3-5.
Is the writer of Lamentations 3:54 literally describing a physical event or is it a figurative expression?
While it is possible that the writer experienced a physical event, the language used suggests that it is also a figurative expression of the emotional and spiritual turmoil they were experiencing, similar to the feelings expressed in Job 30:14-15.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual desperation and crying out to God?
This verse sets the stage for the writer's cry for help in Lamentations 3:55-56, illustrating the idea that it is often in our darkest moments that we are most desperate for God's intervention, as seen in Psalm 107:19 and Matthew 14:30.
What can we learn from the writer's experience in Lamentations 3:54 about trusting God in difficult times?
We can learn that even when we feel like we are at the end of our rope and things seem hopeless, God is still with us and can rescue us, as promised in Isaiah 43:2 and 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like the waters were flowing over my head, and how did I respond to those situations?
- How can I apply the principle of crying out to God in desperation, as seen in Lamentations 3:55-56, to my own life when I am facing challenges?
- In what ways can I trust God to be my rescuer and deliverer, even when things seem impossible, as seen in this verse and other scriptures like Exodus 14:13-14?
- What are some practical steps I can take to deepen my trust in God and His ability to rescue me in times of trouble, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 29:11?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:54
Waters flowed over mine head,.... As in a pit or dungeon, where there is not only mire and clay, but much water, into which persons being put, sink, and are covered therewith; see Psalms 69:1; this
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:54
Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird - which is destitute of counsel and strength. The allusion seems to be to Proverbs 1:17 (Calvin).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 3:54
Afflictions often in Scripture are called waters, ,18 59:19. I am cut off; that is, I am utterly undone, there is no hope for me.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 3:54
Lamentations 3:54 Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.Ver. 54. Waters flowed over mine head.] Many and great miseries have overwhelmed and oppressed me, both in body and soul. These are frequently compared to waters. Then I said, I am cut off,] sc., From the land of the living; but God was better to me than my hopes.
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 3:54
54. Waters flowed over mine head] figuratively. So in Psalms 42:7; Psalms 69:2, which latter Ps. was traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah. I am cut off] Cp. Psalms 31:22; Psalms 88:5; 2 Chronicles 26:21; Isaiah 53:8.
Barnes' Notes on Lamentations 3:54
Waters flowed over mine head - A figurative expression for great mental trouble.
Whedon's Commentary on Lamentations 3:54
54. Waters flowed — Figurative language, but such as would be very naturally suggested from the circumstance of using underground cisterns for dungeons.
Sermons on Lamentations 3:54
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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He Destroyed the Grave by Michael Koulianos | Michael Koulianos passionately preaches about the resurrection of Christ, emphasizing its profound significance and the mystery of God becoming man. He connects the resurrection to |
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Jonah Gave Thanks and Was Delivered by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes Jonah's journey from despair to deliverance, illustrating how Jonah, trapped in the belly of a whale, turned to God in thanksgiving despite his dire circ |
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Jonah 2:3 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith discusses the concept of 'lying vanities' that lead people away from God's call, using Jonah's attempt to flee from his divine mission as a primary example. He emphasiz |
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Raising the Dead by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of giving one's heart to Jesus and seeking forgiveness for sins. He shares a story about a man from Nigeria who, after hearin |
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Born of Water and the Spirit 02 John 3: by J. Henry Brown | In this sermon, the speaker uses a story about a sailing ship heading towards the Niagara Falls to illustrate the concept of being born again and understanding the kingdom of God. |
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The This of Rev. by James A. Stewart | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of prayer and the need for believers to have honest dealings with God. He emphasizes that while we may appreciate and respect o |
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Summary of Israel's Present Plight and Her Future Glory by Art Katz | Art Katz discusses Israel's current struggles and the prophetic understanding of her future glory, emphasizing that the nation must undergo redemptive suffering before achieving la |