Lamentations 1:14
The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the LORD hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
Lamentations 1:14
This verse tightens the image of divine discipline: “The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck.” The syntax suggests a heavy, inescapable burden—the consequences of sin encircling the speaker like a noose. The imagery of a “yoke” and “wreathed” weights conveys both guilt and subjugation, while “the LORD hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up” confirms a sense of helplessness before enemies. The verse aligns with prophetic literature that personifies sin as binding, restricting freedom, and delivering people into the hands of oppressive powers. The setting is the broader siege and subjugation, where political defeat becomes a spiritual and moral indictment. The lament makes explicit that God’s discipline reaches into the body and the social order, not just the outward circumstances.
Theologically, the verse emphasizes accountability, repentance, and the seriousness of covenant fidelity. It presents sin as something that tangibly binds and restricts, requiring divine intervention for release. It also challenges simplistic narratives of divine abandonment; rather, the discipline is part of God’s corrective activity within his covenant relationship. The imagery anticipates future theological themes of restoration, where the binding power will be broken, and renewed life will emerge through repentance and grace.
Practically, this verse invites self-examination: where do we feel bound or unable to rise because of past choices? It encourages confession and seeking release through repentance, coupled with practical steps to break patterns (seeking accountability, changing routines, addressing addiction or unhealthy processes). In a community context, it invites leaders to recognize when collective sins have consequences, guiding congregations in repentance and restorative justice. The verse also underscores the weight of guilt and the need for mercy, reminding us to carry one another in prayer as we seek God’s intervention to “rise up” again.
Cross-References: Leviticus 26:40-42; Psalm 44:9-10; Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:8; Galatians 5:1