King James Version

What Does Lamentations 3:56 Mean?

Lamentations 3:56 in the King James Version says “Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.” — study this verse from Lamentations chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.”

Lamentations 3:56 · KJV

Context

54

Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

55

I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

56

Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57

Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

58

O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's response asserted: "Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry." The Hebrew koli shamata al-talem aznekha lervacha leshavati (קוֹלִי שָׁמָעְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵם אָזְנְךָ לְרַוְחָתִי לְשַׁוְעָתִי) begins with confident assertion: koli shamata (קוֹלִי שָׁמָעְתָּ, "my voice you have heard"). The perfect tense indicates completed action—God has indeed heard.

The plea continues: "hide not thine ear" (al-talem aznekha, אַל־תַּעְלֵם אָזְנְךָ). Alam (עָלַם) means to hide, conceal, or close. The prayer asks that God not close His ear to "my breathing" (lervachati, לְרַוְחָתִי, "my relief, my breathing") and "my cry" (leshavati, לְשַׁוְעָתִי, "my cry for help"). The pairing of "breathing" and "cry" captures both whispered gasps and loud shouts—the full range of desperate prayer.

Theologically, this verse moves from past deliverance ("you have heard") to present/future petition ("don't hide your ear"). It demonstrates that past experience of God's faithfulness grounds ongoing appeals for continued help. Believers aren't presumptuous in repeatedly crying to God because He has proven faithful before. Hebrews 4:16 encourages: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

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Historical & Cultural Context

The confident assertion "you have heard my voice" reflects Jeremiah's rescue from the cistern (Jeremiah 38:10-13). Ebed-melech intervened at precisely the right moment, demonstrating divine providence. Jeremiah could testify from experience that God hears prayers even from pits.

The plea not to hide His ear suggests awareness that God sometimes does withhold hearing as judgment (Isaiah 1:15, 59:2, Jeremiah 11:11, 14:12, Lamentations 3:8, 44). The speaker appeals that though past sin warranted such treatment, God's character inclines toward mercy. Psalm 102:1-2 makes similar appeal: "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me."

The terms "breathing" (revachah) and "cry" (shavah) encompass all prayer—from sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26) to loud cries of anguish. Ancient Israelite prayer wasn't merely quiet meditation but often involved physical expression—loud cries, tears, outstretched hands, prostration. Hannah's silent prayer was so unusual that Eli thought she was drunk (1 Samuel 1:12-14). The exile taught Israel to cry out desperately, which prepared them to appreciate God's listening grace.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does past experience of God hearing our prayers (verse 55) give us confidence to cry out again in new troubles (verse 56)?
  2. What does the pairing of 'breathing' and 'cry' teach about the range of valid prayer—from whispered sighs to loud shouts?
  3. In what ways does Christ's intercession (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) assure us that God's ear is always open to believers?
  4. How should we understand passages about God hiding His ear (in judgment) alongside promises that He always hears His people's prayers?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
קוֹלִ֖י1 of 7

“my voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ2 of 7

“Thou hast heard”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אַל3 of 7
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תַּעְלֵ֧ם4 of 7

“hide”

H5956

to veil from sight, i.e., conceal (literally or figuratively)

אָזְנְךָ֛5 of 7

“not thine ear”

H241

broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)

לְרַוְחָתִ֖י6 of 7

“at my breathing”

H7309

relief

לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃7 of 7

“at my cry”

H7775

a hallooing

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 3:56 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 3:56 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 34:28Isaiah 38:5Psalms 88:13-14Psalms 6:8-9Psalms 55:1Psalms 34:6

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