King James Version

What Does Lamentations 2:19 Mean?

Lamentations 2:19 in the King James Version says “Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord...” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.”

Lamentations 2:19 · KJV

Context

17

The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

18

Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.

19

Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

20

Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? of a span: or, swaddled with their hands?

21

The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Urgent nighttime prayer: "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord" (kumi ronni va-laylah le-rosh ashmurot shiphkhi kha-mayim libeikh nokach penei Adonai). "Arise" (kumi) demands action—don't remain passive. "Cry out in the night" (ronni va-laylah)—nighttime prayer demonstrates urgency and desperation (Psalm 119:62, Acts 16:25). "In the beginning of the watches" (le-rosh ashmurot) refers to ancient night watches (three 4-hour periods, Judges 7:19, or four 3-hour periods in Roman times). Beginning prayers at watch-changes means continual intercession through the night. "Pour out thine heart like water" (shiphkhi...libeikh) describes complete emotional honesty—hiding nothing, expressing all anguish. "Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street" (se'i elav kapayim al-nefesh olalayikh ha'atufim be-ra'av be-rosh kol-khutsot). The fainting children motivate desperate prayer.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Nighttime prayer was practiced by faithful Israelites. Psalm 119:62 states: 'At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee.' Psalm 63:6: 'When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.' Daniel prayed three times daily, facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). The crisis of siege would intensify prayer frequency and fervency. When children are dying, sleep becomes impossible; prayer becomes constant. The image of children fainting from hunger at street corners was literal reality during sieges. Lamentations 4:4 describes similar scenes. The call to 'pour out your heart like water' echoes Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 1:15) and anticipates New Testament teaching on bringing all concerns to God (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7). The phrase 'like water' suggests abundance—don't measure or ration prayers, but pour them out lavishly.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does nighttime prayer 'at the beginning of the watches' teach about urgency, persistence, and making time for God despite exhaustion?
  2. How does 'pouring out your heart like water' model the kind of honest, unguarded prayer God desires rather than formal, controlled petitions?
  3. When should the suffering of others (like starving children) motivate our intercession, and how does James 5:16 encourage effectual, fervent prayer?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
ק֣וּמִי׀1 of 22

“Arise”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

רֹ֣נִּי2 of 22

“cry out”

H7442

properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e., to shout (usually for joy)

בַלַּ֗יְלָ3 of 22

“in the night”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

בְּרֹ֥אשׁ4 of 22

“in the beginning”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת5 of 22

“of the watches”

H821

a night watch

שִׁפְכִ֤י6 of 22

“pour out”

H8210

to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc

כַמַּ֙יִם֙7 of 22

“like water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

לִבֵּ֔ךְ8 of 22

“thine heart”

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

נֹ֖כַח9 of 22

“before”

H5227

properly, the front part; used adverbially (especially with preposition), opposite, in front of, forward, in behalf of

פְּנֵ֣י10 of 22

“the face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

אֲדֹנָ֑י11 of 22

“of the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

שְׂאִ֧י12 of 22

“lift up”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֵלָ֣יו13 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כַּפַּ֗יִךְ14 of 22

“thy hands”

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

עַל15 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙16 of 22

“toward him for the life”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ17 of 22

“of thy young children”

H5768

a suckling

הָעֲטוּפִ֥ים18 of 22

“that faint”

H5848

to shroud, i.e., clothe (whether transitive or reflexive); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish

בְּרָעָ֖ב19 of 22

“for hunger”

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

בְּרֹ֥אשׁ20 of 22

“in the beginning”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

כָּל21 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

חוּצֽוֹת׃22 of 22

“of every street”

H2351

properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Lamentations. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Lamentations 2:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Lamentations 2:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 62:8Isaiah 26:9Psalms 119:147-148Psalms 142:2Mark 1:351 Samuel 1:15

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