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Lamentations 2:13

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Lamentations 2:13 · King James Version

Meaning

The verse in question is a poignant cry for help and comfort directed towards the daughter of Jerusalem, symbolizing the people of Israel who have experienced great sufferings. The speaker is grappling with how to adequately convey the severity of their pain and suffering, likening it to a breach as vast and overwhelming as the sea. The use of rhetorical questions emphasizes the magnitude of the daughter of Zion's suffering and the speaker's struggle to find anything comparable to offer solace. The verse serves as a plea for healing and restoration in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. It conveys a sense of desperation and the need for divine intervention to bring healing and comfort to a wounded nation.

Theological Overview

The verse from the book of Lamentations in the Old Testament reflects the deep sorrow and anguish of the prophet Jeremiah over the devastation of Jerusalem. In this passage, there is a poignant plea for someone or something to bear witness to the tragedy that has befallen the people of Jerusalem. The use of rhetorical questions highlights the magnitude of the suffering, emphasizing the severity of the breach that separates the people from God. The references to the daughter of Jerusalem and the virgin daughter of Zion evoke images of innocence and vulnerability, underscoring the profound sense of loss and longing for comfort. The comparison of the breach to the sea further emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the pain and the impossibility of finding a remedy. This verse captures the depth of despair felt by the people and their desperate need for healing and restoration.

Lamentations 2:13 in other translations

American Standard Version

What shall I testify unto thee? what shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

World English Bible

What shall I testify to you? what shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?

Douay-Rheims

Mem. To what shall I compare thee? or to what shall I liken thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? to what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for great as the sea is thy destruction: who shall heal thee?

Geneva Bible (1599)

What thing shall I take to witnesse for thee? what thing shall I compare to thee, O daughter Ierusalem? what shall I liken to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgine daughter Zion? for thy breach is great like ye sea: who can heale thee?