Lamentations 5:20
Lamentations 5:20 in Multiple Translations
Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?
Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, And forsake us so long time?
Why have we gone from your memory for ever? why have you been turned away from us for so long?
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
Wherefore doest thou forget vs for euer, and forsake vs so long time?
Why for ever dost Thou forget us? Thou forsakest us for length of days!
Why do you forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?
Why dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
Why wilt thou forget us for ever? why wilt thou forsake us for a long time?
So why [RHQ] have you forgotten us? Why [RHQ] have you abandoned us for a very long time?
Berean Amplified Bible — Lamentations 5:20
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 5:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לָ֤/מָּה
לָ/נֶ֨צַח֙
תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔/נוּ
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֖/נוּ
לְ/אֹ֥רֶךְ
יָמִֽים
לָ֤/מָּה
mâh
H4100
what?
Prep | Part
לָ/נֶ֨צַח֙
netsach
H5331
perpetuity
Prep | N-ms
תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔/נוּ
shâkach
H7911
to forget
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֖/נוּ
ʻâzab
H5800
Forsaken
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
לְ/אֹ֥רֶךְ
ʼôrek
H753
length
Prep | N-ms
יָמִֽים
yôwm
H3117
day
N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Lamentations 5:20
לָ֤/מָּה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Prep | Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
לָ/נֶ֨צַח֙
netsach
H5331
"perpetuity"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for perpetuity or everlastingness, often used to describe God's nature. It appears in Psalm 9:7, where the psalmist praises God's enduring presence. This word conveys the idea of something lasting forever.
Definition: 1) eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness 1a) eminence 1b) enduring of life 1c) endurance in time, perpetual, continual, unto the end 1d) everlastingness, ever
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: alway(-s), constantly, end, ([phrase] n-) ever(more), perpetual, strength, victory. See also: 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalms 74:10; Psalms 9:7.
תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔/נוּ
shâkach
H7911
"to forget"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Definition: 1) to forget, ignore, wither 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to forget 1a2) to cease to care 1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten 1c) (Piel) to cause to forget 1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget 1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
Usage: Occurs in 95 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. See also: Genesis 27:45; Psalms 106:13; Psalms 9:13.
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֖/נוּ
ʻâzab
H5800
"Forsaken"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Definition: This name means to restore, repair Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 206 OT verses. KJV: commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:24; Nehemiah 5:10; Psalms 9:11.
לְ/אֹ֥רֶךְ
ʼôrek
H753
"length"
Prep | N-ms
Length can refer to physical distance or a long period of time, and also to patience and self-restraint, like waiting forever for something to happen.
Definition: 1) length 1a) physical length 1b) of time 2) forbearance, self-restraint (of patience)
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] forever, length, long. See also: Genesis 6:15; Psalms 93:5; Psalms 21:5.
יָמִֽים
yôwm
H3117
"day"
N-mp
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
Study Notes — Lamentations 5:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Lamentations 5:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 5:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 5:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 5:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 5:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 5:20
- Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 5:20
- Sermons on Lamentations 5:20
Context — A Prayer for Restoration
18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
19You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.
20Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?
21Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old, 22unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 44:24 | Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression? |
| 2 | Psalms 13:1 | How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? |
| 3 | Jeremiah 14:19–21 | Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the guilt of our fathers; indeed, we have sinned against You. For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it. |
| 4 | Isaiah 64:9–12 | Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people! Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins. After all this, O LORD, will You restrain Yourself? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure? |
| 5 | Psalms 79:5 | How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? |
| 6 | Psalms 74:1 | Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture? |
| 7 | Psalms 85:5 | Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations? |
| 8 | Psalms 94:3–4 | How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast. |
| 9 | Psalms 77:7–10 | “Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again? Is His loving devotion gone forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His anger shut off His compassion?” Selah So I said, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” |
| 10 | Psalms 89:46 | How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire? |
Lamentations 5:20 Summary
Lamentations 5:20 is a cry of desperation and sadness, where the writer asks God why He has forgotten them forever. The writer is feeling abandoned and alone, and is questioning God's presence in their life, much like the Psalmist in Psalms 22:1-2. However, even in the midst of these feelings, we can trust that God is still sovereign and loving, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. We can pour out our hearts to God in honesty and vulnerability, knowing that He is big enough to handle our questions and doubts, and that He will never forget us, as promised in Isaiah 49:15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the writer of Lamentations 5:20 ask if God has forgotten them forever?
The writer is expressing deep sorrow and feelings of abandonment, questioning why God seems distant and unresponsive, much like the Psalmist in Psalms 13:1-2, who also cries out to God in despair.
Is it wrong to ask God why He has forsaken us?
No, it's not wrong to express our emotions and questions to God, as seen in Psalms 42:9, where the Psalmist asks God why He has forgotten him, and in Lamentations 5:20, the writer is pouring out his heart to God in honesty and vulnerability.
How can we reconcile God's sovereignty with the feeling of being forsaken?
The Bible teaches that God is both sovereign and loving, as seen in Romans 8:28, which reminds us that God works all things together for our good, even when we can't understand His ways, and in Isaiah 49:15, which assures us that God will never forget us.
What can we learn from the writer's expression of emotion in Lamentations 5:20?
We can learn that it's okay to express our emotions to God, and that He is big enough to handle our questions and doubts, as seen in Psalms 102:1-2, where the Psalmist pours out his heart to God in prayer.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt forsaken by God, and how did I respond to those feelings?
- How can I balance my emotions and questions with trust in God's sovereignty and love, like the writer of Lamentations 5:20?
- In what ways can I, like the writer, pour out my heart to God in honesty and vulnerability, as seen in Psalms 62:8?
- How can I remind myself of God's faithfulness and love when I'm feeling forgotten or forsaken, like the Psalmist in Psalms 103:1-5?
- What are some promises from Scripture that I can hold onto when I'm feeling abandoned, such as Deuteronomy 31:6 or Hebrews 13:5?
Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 5:20
Wherefore dost thou, forget us for ever,.... Since thou art firm, constant, and unchangeable, and thy love and covenant the same.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 5:20
Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Wherefore dost thou forget us forever - i:e., for 'so long a time.'
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Lamentations 5:20
Wherefore dost thou, in the dispensations of thy providence, carry thyself as if thou hadst forgotten us, and forsaken us, and that for a long time.
Trapp's Commentary on Lamentations 5:20
Lamentations 5:20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [and] forsake us so long time?Ver. 20. Wherefore dost thou forget us?] Since thy covenant runs otherwise. And forsakest us so long time?] Heb., To length of days. Not for seventy years only, but to the end of the world; till "wrath is come upon us to the utmost."
Ellicott's Commentary on Lamentations 5:20
(20) Wherefore dost thou forget . . .—This was the problem of the mystery of suffering then, as it has been at all times. Jehovah had seemed forgetful of His people, indifferent to their miseries.
Cambridge Bible on Lamentations 5:20
20. Since this is so, why is Israel left desolate?
Sermons on Lamentations 5:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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On Eagles' Wings Pt 25 by Don Courville | In this sermon, the evangelist shares a powerful story of reconciliation and forgiveness. A woman in the congregation was prompted by the evangelist to go and make things right wit |
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On Eagles' Wings Pt 69 by Don Courville | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Moses and how he learned to trust and rely on God in the desert. The speaker emphasizes the importance of waiting on God and not |
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Introducing Lament in Psalm 13 by Michael Flowers | Michael Flowers introduces the concept of lament as expressed in Psalm 13, emphasizing its significance in the Psalter as a heartfelt response to grief and sorrow. He explains that |
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The Final Victory - Matter Matters by Michael Flowers | In this sermon, Paul emphasizes that victory is a gift from God and not something that can be achieved through our own efforts. He highlights the importance of recognizing the grac |
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How Long Can You Wait? by Warren Wiersbe | Warren Wiersbe emphasizes the danger of impatience with God, using examples of everyday frustrations to illustrate the impatience we often feel. He delves into Psalm 13:1-6, where |
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Psalm 13 by Andrew Bonar | Andrew Bonar reflects on Psalm 13, expressing David's deep anguish and longing for God's presence during times of despair. He emphasizes the feelings of abandonment and sorrow that |
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Rev. 6:10. How Long? by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar explores the profound question 'How long?' as expressed in Revelation 6:10, emphasizing its significance in human experience and divine communication. He categorizes |