Lamentations 1:16
For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
Lamentations 1:16
Verse 16 returns to lament’s personal pain: “For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water.” The repetition emphasizes overwhelming emotion. The “comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me” points to missing communal consolation—no friend, no counselor, no divine reassurance providing relief. The line “my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed” ties personal grief to the city’s defeat, stressing that the suffering penetrates into the family, leaving children vulnerable. The verse is a poignant expression of grief that refuses to hide sorrow and seeks solidarity with God in the midst of desolation. The imagery resonates with lament traditions that use tearful lament as a legitimate and faithful response to catastrophe.
Theologically, the text honors lament as a faithful practice before God, acknowledging grief as a proper response when justice and righteousness seem eclipsed. It recognizes that divine comfort may feel distant, yet the act of lament trusts that God hears and sustains. The suffering of children deepens the moral seriousness of the situation, challenging readers to consider the impact of national sin on the vulnerable and to maintain hope for future restoration.
Today, this verse invites believers to grieve with those who grieve, particularly families in crisis or communities facing loss. It encourages naming pain honestly in prayer and community, rather than masking it with pious platitudes. Practically, this could mean organizing support groups, counseling services, or communal prayer vigils for families shattered by violence, poverty, or displacement. It also calls pastors and leaders to uphold the dignity of lament, recognizing its therapeutic value and its role in moving toward reconciliation and rebuilding. In personal life, it reminds us to seek emotional and spiritual support when experiencing deep sorrow and to rely on God’s presence even when relief seems distant.
Cross-References: Psalm 6:6; Psalm 42:4; Jeremiah 8:18-21; Lamentations 2:11; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4