Lamentations 5:17 (KJV)

What does Lamentations 5:17 mean?

Lamentations 5:17 describes deep sorrow and exhaustion: the people’s hearts are weak and overwhelmed, and their eyes are dim with grief. The verse expresses how suffering has drained both their inner strength and their ability to see hope.

The speaker is the community of Jerusalem, mourning after the city’s destruction and the hardships that followed. This verse is part of a prayer describing the emotional and physical toll of their suffering, showing how loss and devastation have left them weary and unable to find comfort.

The Hebrew behind Lamentations 5:17

• heart (לֵבָב, levav): This word often refers to the center of a person’s inner life—thoughts, emotions, and will. Here, it highlights that the people’s deepest selves are affected, not just their outward circumstances.
• faint (דָּוֶה, daveh): This word means “weak,” “sick,” or “faint.” It suggests more than tiredness; it carries the sense of being worn down to the point of despair.
• eyes (עַיִן, ayin): In Hebrew thought, the eyes can represent perception or hope. Dim eyes (see next bullet) suggest not just physical exhaustion but also a fading of vision or hope.
• dim (חָשַׁךְ, chashakh): This word means “darkened” or “growing faint.” It paints a picture of eyes clouded by tears or sorrow, unable to see clearly—symbolizing deep grief.

Why Lamentations 5:17 matters

• Lamentations 5:17 shows that grief can affect both the heart (inner life) and the eyes (outlook or hope), not just the body.
• The verse connects personal suffering with the wider destruction of Jerusalem, making the pain communal and deeply felt.
• This verse helps readers understand the depth of despair in Lamentations, where sorrow is not just a feeling but a total experience affecting every part of life.