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
Verse 13 uses a striking rhetorical question: “What thing shall I take to witness for thee? … what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee…? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?” The speaker struggles to find a measure or equivalent to Jerusalem’s ruin. The “breach” refers to the city’s broken walls and broken relationship with God. The rhetorical questions underscore human helplessness in the face of divine judgment. The sea’s vast breach emphasizes scale—there is no easy remedy or consolation adequate to restore what was lost. It’s an expression of profound lament that acknowledges the limits of human wisdom and power to mend what is broken by divine discipline. The verse also foregrounds the longing for a wisdom or wisdom figure capable of offering real comfort and restoration.
Theologically, the verse acknowledges human inability to repair fundamental ruptures caused by sin and judgment. It points to the necessity of divine intervention for true healing. In the broader biblical arc, these moments heighten longing for God’s restorative work—ultimately fulfilled in Messiah as the one who heals and reconciles. The lament invites readers to hold in tension human desperation and the hope that God can and will heal what is broken when people turn back to him. It also serves as a critique of easily offered consolation that cannot address the root cause—spiritual disobedience.
For readers today, this verse challenges you to seek real, lasting healing rather than quick fixes. If a relationship, community, or institution is fractured, name the breach honestly and pursue comprehensive healing: confession, restitution, reform, and renewed commitment to shared values. Practical steps include mediating conversations, seeking restorative justice, and investing in long-term reconciliation efforts rather than short-term relief. Recognize that some wounds require external help—professional counseling, mediation, or leadership renewal—just as Jerusalem needed a divine healing beyond human schemes. The verse invites hopeful realism: acknowledge the severity of the breach while leaning into God’s capacity to heal.
Cross-References: Zechariah 9:11-12; Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 147:3; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Luke 4:18-19